TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said Friday that star rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is questionable for Sunday’s home opener against the New York Jets due to hip and groin issues. Egbuka, the Buccaneers’ No. 19 draft pick, who is tied for the league lead with three touchdown receptions in two games, missed two days of practice this week. He returned to practice on Friday, but with limitations, according to Bowles. “He’s questionable at this point,” Bowles said. “We’ll see Sunday morning. We have to see how he feels after today.”
In the event that Egbuka is unable to play, the Bucs will rely more on undrafted free agent Ryan Miller, who scored the first touchdown on Monday night in Houston, as well as Sterling Shepard, rookie Tez Johnson, and Kameron Johnson, who had a 54-yard punt return against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1.
In addition to the loss of starting right guard Cody Mauch and starting right tackle Luke Goedeke, who will go on injured reserve, right guard Michael Jordan has what Bowles described as a “sore knee” and has not practiced during the portion of practice open to the media this week. Jordan has been called up from the practice squad the last two weeks and, therefore, has not been present on the team’s official daily injury reports.You’re not always getting the reps with the first team, but you just have to know your assignment, know what you’re doing, and you have to be ready to go in at any point in the game, so you just have to be prepared.
Ryan Miller
“He has a sore knee right now, so we’re running some tests to see where he’s at,” Bowles said. Even if Jordan were to play, the Bucs would be without three of five starters on the offensive line, between Mauch and Goedeke, but also All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs, who has been recovering from knee surgery. Neither he nor Pro Bowl wide receiver Chris Godwin, who is still recovering from offseason ankle surgery, will play.
Todd Bowles
The Bucs have started with a 2-0 record in each of the last three seasons, but haven’t had a 3-0 start since 2005.That’s why we all have reps together during the spring and during training camp before we get into this,” center/guard Ben Bredeson said, “so we’re prepared for moments like these.
Ben Bredeson
