TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka suffered a hamstring injury during the 30-19 victory against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday and was ruled out of the game. Egbuka, the Buccaneers’ No. 19 draft pick, 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 provided no update, only saying that Egbuka was still being evaluated. Egbuka’s absence left quarterback Baker Mayfield, considered by many to be a possible MVP candidate, with fewer options 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 and 14, connecting with rookie Tez Johnson for a 45-yard touchdown that put the score at 27-19 in the fourth 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 due to a hamstring injury. In addition, Chris Godwin suffered a fibula injury two games after returning from ankle surgery. This was also the second absence for 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 is expected to be able to return after the Bucs’ bye week in week 9. Evans has not yet returned to training, but the initial estimated timeframe for his recovery was three to four weeks, which means 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
