Rookie Emeka Egbuka has been huge in keeping the injury-riddled Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense running through the first four weeks of the season. He will have to continue to step up in Week 5 if the Bucs want to have a chance in their matchup against the 3-1 Seattle Seahawks. With six-time Pro Bowl Wide Receiver Mike Evans out for another couple of weeks and starting Running Back Bucky Irving also ruled out with a foot injury, Egbuka will have to continue to play a big role for the Bucs.
Egbuka Steps In and Contributes Immediately
The Buccaneers’ offense can’t seem to catch a break. They lost second-year Wide Receiver Jalen McMillan to a neck injury in the preseason. McMillan, who caught eight touchdowns in 13 games last season, is not expected back until after the team’s Week 9 bye. Tampa Bay just got Wide Receiver Chris Godwin Jr. back last week, but now the team has learned that starting Running Back Bucky Irving will miss at least one game with a foot injury. Along with the Evans injury, there is a lot of production missing from the lineup.
Evans has been a consistent weapon for the Buccaneers for more than a decade. The Texas A&M product had played in 13 or more games in all 11 of his seasons as a pro going into 2025. He has collected more than 1000 receiving yards every year and has scored double-digit touchdowns in six of those seasons. Evans is currently the active NFL leader in receiving touchdowns. Those are big shoes to fill.
Egbuka has been the man filling those shoes. With Godwin and McMillan out early in the season, Egbuka, the Bucs’ first-round pick out of Ohio State, has stepped in and excelled. The rookie leads the team in receiving yards (282) and touchdown catches (4) through the first four games.
Big things were expected from Egbuka when he was drafted, and he has delivered. Quarterback Baker Mayfield will need to rely heavily on Egbuka now that Irving is out, too, as the running back was a huge part of the passing game (19 catches, 193 yards, 2 touchdowns). Look for Sterling Shepard to get more targets as the third receiver, as well.
How Will The Bucs’ Offense Fare Against the Seahawks
With Devon Witherspoon, Julian Love, and DeMarcus Lawrence all out with injuries for Seattle, Mayfield may get some good looks in the passing game. While backup Running Back Rachaad White is no Irving, he is a steady runner and has been a reliable pass catcher out of the backfield over the years. If Godwin is healthy now and Egbuka continues to shine, the Bucs offense should put up enough points to win on Sunday. It would help, though, if the Bucs could find a way to get their tight ends involved. Tampa Bay tight ends have only six catches for 34 yards this season, all by Cade Otton.
