The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got a reassuring sight on Labor Day: Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan were both out there for practice.
That matters because both receivers had been questions entering Week 1. Egbuka dealt with a toe sprain in joint practice against the New York Jets, while McMillan hurt his knee at some point during training camp. Last week, both were working off to the side during the Bucs’ two bonus practices, so Monday’s session offered a much better sign for Tampa Bay as it gets ready for Sunday’s opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Both wideouts stretched with the team and then took part in team drills, which is a notable step forward even if it doesn’t lock in their status just yet.
New offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is expected to use as many pieces as he can early in the season, and he has spoken at length about putting Egbuka in a “Z” wide receiver role in his offense. If either receiver had been unavailable, the next names up would have been second-year wideout Tez Johnson and rookie Ted Hurst.
It’s still too soon to say Egbuka and McMillan are fully out of the woods. A snap count or some other limitation would not be surprising depending on where they are in recovery. Even so, full participation in Monday’s bonus practice is a strong indicator, and the next real test will come Wednesday, Thursday and Friday when the Bucs officially begin their practice week.
Tampa Bay opens the season against Cincinnati on Sept 13, and Todd Bowles has not lost a Week 1 game as the Buccaneers’ head coach since taking over in 2022. The Bucs, for their part, haven’t dropped a Week 1 game since 2020.
If Egbuka and McMillan are both ready to go, those streaks will have a better chance to stay intact.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Future Just Pulled A Familiar Name Into The Bowles Debate
Todd Bowles future in Tampa Bay is going to shape plenty of offseason discussion, but the early speculation is already reaching beyond the current staff. A Bleacher Report piece floated Mike Tomlin as a possible Buccaneers candidate in 2027 if Bowles is no longer on the sideline, and the idea is easy enough to see why it has legs. Tomlin knows the organization from his time here as a defensive backs coach, and he has stayed visible while working in sports broadcasting.
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 🡒]
Bucs Get Encouraging Week 1 Injury News Before Bengals Opener
The Buccaneers got their first injury report of the 2026 season this week, and the early read before the opener against Cincinnati is mostly encouraging. Sean Tucker is still working back from a hamstring injury and is listed as a game-time decision, while Emeka Egbuka, who had been dealing with a sprained toe, was a full participant in practice and looks on track for Sunday.
Jalen McMillan was limited with a knee injury, but the signs around him have been positive, and outside linebacker Rueben Bain also practiced in a limited role because of a minor AC joint sprain. Even with a few players still being managed carefully, the Bucs appear to have avoided the kind of early-season injury pileup that can complicate a Week 1 game plan. [Read more 🡒]
Todd Bowles Enters A Buccaneers Season With No More Excuses
Todd Bowles heads into the Buccaneers 2026 offseason with the kind of pressure that comes with stability, not chaos. Baker Mayfield is under contract, key players are healthy again, and the roster looks positioned to justify bigger expectations than the ones Tampa Bay has been living with in recent years. That changes the conversation around Bowles, because the usual injury excuses and quarterback uncertainty are no longer there to soften the edges.
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 🡒]