Bucs WR Egbuka 'full go' for opener, says Bowles

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  Jenna LaineSep 11, 2026, 02:36 PM ET

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  Jenna Laine covers the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She started covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has covered the team since 2009. Jenna is a former cheerleader at the University of South Florida and speaks to the consistency of the program as being one of the top best in the nation.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said Friday that wide receiver Emeka Egbuka will be "full go" for Sunday's season opener at the Cincinnati Bengals, while fellow starting wide receiver Jalen McMillan and running back Sean Tucker will be listed as "doubtful."

Egbuka suffered a toe sprain at joint practices at the New York Jets one month ago but was a full participant in practice this week. McMillan has been working his way back from a knee injury he suffered in early August, though he did participate in practices this week in a limited capacity. Tucker, the team's third running back on the depth chart, recently sustained a hamstring injury during the team's final preseason game.

Even with the departure of franchise scoring leader Mike Evans, the Bucs have felt they are very strong depth-wise in their receiving corps. Chris Godwin Jr., who is entering his 10th season, is coming off a very strong camp and as quarterback Baker Mayfield put it, is "as good a Chris Godwin as I've seen."

The Bucs also have second-year wide receiver Tez Johnson, who had five touchdowns his rookie season and their return specialist, Kameron Johnson.

The team is also excited about the progress of rookie Ted Hurst III, who feels he benefitted from more reps in McMillan and Egbuka's long absences, in addition to Johnson missing some time in camp with a groin injury.

"I mean, I think you saw in the preseason -- it's invaluable to a rookie because he gets reps and he gets smarter," Bowles said of Hurst. "It's more or less the playbook. We know what his physical skills are, but it's about getting everything down mentally, and he's done a really good job at that."