The Bucs got a welcome update on Thursday: every player on the 53-man roster took part in practice, and only a small group was limited. That puts Tampa Bay in a strong spot heading into Week 1 and suggests the team is trending toward a healthy start.
One of the more encouraging developments came with Sean Tucker. The third-string running back sat out Wednesday, but he was back on the field in a limited role Thursday. Tucker was a meaningful piece of the offense last season, so his availability matters for Tampa Bay.
Rueben Bain Jr. was another name worth watching, and the rookie outside linebacker moved all the way back to full participation. Bain had been dealing with a minor shoulder injury that happened during Tampa Bay’s joint practice at Jacksonville, which had kept him limited, including on Wednesday. Now he appears to have put that issue behind him, and Sunday would mark the first-rounder’s regular season debut if he remains healthy.
Overall, the Bucs are entering the opener in better shape than they have in some recent years. The only players listed as limited on Thursday were Jalen McMillan, Christian Rozeboom, Justin Skule and Sean Tucker, while Rueben Bain Jr., Emeka Egbuka and Billy Schrauth were all full participants.
Thursday’s Bucs injury report:
- Jalen McMillan - Knee - Limited
- Christian Rozeboom - Foot - Limited
- Justin Skule - Oblique - Limited
- Sean Tucker - Hamstring - Limited
- Rueben Bain Jr. - Shoulder - Full
- Emeka Egbuka - Toe - Full
- Billy Schrauth - Knee - Full
For Cincinnati, Jonathan Allen did not practice for rest, while B.J. Hill, Shemar Stewart and D.J.
Turner II were limited. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins were both full participants.
Thursday’s Bengals injury report:
- Jonathan Allen - Rest - DNP
- B.J. Hill - Rest - Limited
- Shemar Stewart - Knee - Limited
- D.J.
Turner II - Hamstring - Limited
- Ja’Marr Chase - Knee - Full
- Tee Higgins - Foot - Full
In Other News...
Emeka Egbuka Is Already Shaping More Than The Bucs Offense
Emeka Egbuka has quickly become part of the Buccaneers everyday conversation for reasons that go well beyond what he does on the field. In his second NFL season, the wide receiver has leaned into a Christian faith that he says anchors his life, and that foundation has carried into the Tampa Bay locker room, where he has taken part in Bible studies with teammates and found support from players and staff who have helped shape his spiritual growth.
For Egbuka, faith is not just a personal detail tucked away from football, but something he says gives him hope, strength and peace in a demanding profession. That kind of presence can matter in a locker room, especially for a young player still growing into his role, and it helps explain why his influence around the Bucs has started to stretch well beyond the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Receivers Just Added A Wild New Twist To Franchise History
The Buccaneers receiver room found itself in an unusual bit of franchise history this season, with Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka both turning in the kind of scoring sequence that stands out even in a league that has seen nearly everything. Sports Illustrated recognized the pair as co-winners of its 2025 Octopus of the Year award, honoring players who score a touchdown and then follow it with two successful two-point conversions in the same game.
Godwin did it against the Falcons in Week 15, while Egbuka pulled off the same rare sequence earlier against the Seahawks. Together, their efforts accounted for two of the three such scoring feats in the NFL this season, a quirky distinction that speaks to just how impactful Tampa Bays pass catchers were when the offense needed points in tight spots. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Suddenly Have A Bigger Ayden Garnes Question Than Expected
Ayden Garnes went from undrafted rookie to one of the more intriguing names in Buccaneers camp almost as soon as the pads came on. He flashed in training camp, then backed it up in the preseason with an interception returned for a touchdown in the opener, the kind of play that gets a player noticed quickly in Tampa Bay. By the time the roster was trimmed, he had earned a place on the 53-man roster and looked like a backup corner with a real chance to push for more.
Now the question around Garnes is no longer whether he belongs in the conversation, but how soon the Buccaneers might need him to be more than depth. A player who impressed enough to make the team after entering as an undrafted rookie naturally carries a different kind of intrigue once the season begins, especially at a position where opportunity can appear fast. For Tampa Bay, Garnes has already gone from camp story to rostered defender, and the next step may be just as revealing. [Read more 🡒]