The Buccaneers got a welcome opening-week update Wednesday as they started official preparations for their 2026 season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Tampa Bay’s first injury report of the week was light, and the biggest takeaway was that most of the roster was able to take part in some capacity. The lone player clearly held out was running back Sean Tucker, who is working back from a hamstring injury and remains a game-time decision.
Outside linebacker Rueben Bain was also on the report after suffering a minor AC joint sprain during joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was limited Wednesday, but the expectation is that he’ll be ready to go Sunday.
The most encouraging news came at receiver. Jalen McMillan was limited because of a knee injury, but head coach Todd Bowles said Wednesday that he’s "running around well."
Even better for Tampa Bay, Emeka Egbuka was a full participant after spraining his toe in joint practice against the New York Jets. That strongly points to him being available when the Buccaneers open against the Bengals.
Egbuka is expected to play a major role in Zac Robinson’s offense in the "Z" spot, and he has a real case to be the team’s WR1 if he picks up where he left off in the first half of 2025. Getting him back at full speed this early is a major boost for Tampa Bay.
If McMillan and Egbuka are both on the field Sunday, the Buccaneers will have a much healthier group of weapons than many teams can count on in Week 1.
Tampa Bay and Cincinnati kick off at 1 p.m. on Sept. 13 in Cincinnati.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Future Just Pulled A Familiar Name Into The Bowles Debate
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For the Buccaneers, the bigger question is less about one name than about where the franchise is headed by then. If Bowles keeps the team winning, the conversation shifts. If the results change or retirement becomes part of the picture, the search could quickly turn toward an established coach with Tampa Bay ties, which is why Tomlins name is already in the mix even this far out. [Read more 🡒]
Todd Bowles Enters A Buccaneers Season With No More Excuses
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The Athletic recently put Bowles third on its list of NFL head coaches most likely to be fired in 2026, a reminder that the league is always quick to turn up the heat when results lag behind talent. For Bowles, the next stretch is less about explaining away setbacks and more about proving the Buccaneers can take the next step with the pieces already in place. The margin for patience is shrinking, and the season ahead may say plenty about how long that leash really is. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Just Made Their Baker Mayfield Commitment Impossible To Ignore
Baker Mayfields rise in Tampa Bay has gone from short-term reclamation project to long-term foundation piece, and the Buccaneers made that reality official with a new multi-year extension. Since arriving in 2023, Mayfield has delivered the kind of stability the franchise had been searching for at quarterback, pairing production with the kind of command teammates and team officials have repeatedly pointed to as part of his value.
The move also signals how firmly the Bucs have tied their present to Mayfields future, even as the organization continues to build around him. In the teams eyes, his impact has gone well beyond the box score, with executives crediting both his leadership and his presence in the locker room, the sort of commitment that only grows more notable now that the next chapter is already taking shape. [Read more 🡒]