TAMPA, Fla. – Emeka Egbuka, rookie wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, suffered a hamstring injury during the game against the San Francisco 49ers, in Sunday’s 30-19 victory, and was ruled out. Egbuka, the Buccaneers’ draft pick number 19, had accumulated 445 receiving yards before Sunday’s game, the fourth-most in the league. His five touchdowns were tied for second in the league. After the game, Bucs coach Todd Bowles offered no further update beyond saying Egbuka was still being evaluated. Egbuka’s absence left quarterback Baker Mayfield, whom many have labeled as a possible MVP candidate, even more limited in the passing game on Sunday. However, moments after the announcement of Egbuka’s absence, Mayfield avoided a sack and ran 15 yards on third down and 14 to go, connecting with rookie Tez Johnson on a 45-yard touchdown to make the score 27-19 before the final quarter.
“It was huge,” Bowles said of the plays. “Every time something negative happens, he turns it into something positive and does something to give everyone hope and that run was one of them.”
Todd BowlesThe Bucs are already without wide receiver Mike Evans, who has missed three games with a hamstring strain. In addition, Chris Godwin suffered a fibula injury two games after returning from ankle surgery. This was also the second game missed by running back Bucky Irving, who is dealing with a foot sprain and a shoulder subluxation. Wide receiver Jalen McMillan, who suffered a neck sprain in the second preseason game, is on the injured reserve list, but the hope is that he can return after the Bucs’ bye week in week 9. Evans hasn’t returned to practice yet, but his initial projected recovery timeline was three to four weeks, meaning he could return next week against the Detroit Lions. Coach Todd Bowles said Godwin’s injury is “week-to-week”.“You don’t have to have the perfect play when all your guys are fighting for each other and are on the same page and that’s an example of that.”“I really trust the guys that are out there,” Mayfield said. “They’re ready. We talked all week. The guys are on the same page and that’s real. I trust these guys, even though some of them haven’t played much, but if we’re on the same page, good things happen.
Baker Mayfield
