With Emeka Egbuka out, the Buccaneers are going to need a different set of pass-catchers to carry the load, and Sunday’s matchup with the Carolina Panthers could force that shift into focus. Baker Mayfield is back, which gives Tampa Bay a needed lift on offense, but the injury situation still leaves plenty of holes to patch, especially with Egbuka and Luke Goedeke both sidelined.
That opens the door for Ted Hurst III, who looks primed for a bigger role. The rookie has already shown he can earn Mayfield’s trust, and when healthy, the quarterback went to the Georgia State product early and often. Hurst’s most recent outing, a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, was his best statistical showing so far, as he tied his NFL career-high with 40 yards on three catches.
There’s reason to believe that number can climb. In the Buccaneers’ draft profile on Hurst, Jeremy Ballreich pointed to the traits that make him such an intriguing target.
"Patient off the line, deceptive in his pacing, and sharp at the top of his stems,” Ballreich wrote. “He understands how to manipulate leverage, set up defenders, and create separation without wasted motion. His footwork is crisp, and he consistently wins with timing and precision."
Hurst brings a rare blend of length and speed, with a 6-foot-4, 206-pound frame and 4.42-40 speed. That kind of profile tends to play when a quarterback is looking for a reliable, big-bodied option to settle in with, and Mayfield may lean on him as he gets back into rhythm.
Chris Godwin Jr. is another name Tampa Bay needs to get going. He still hasn’t topped 50 receiving yards in a game this season, and while injuries have been part of his story over the past few years, he did have a very encouraging offseason.
Todd Bowles had strong words for his veteran receiver.
“He's working out. He’s tough.
He's very smart," head coach Todd Bowles said about his longest-tenured player. "They rely on him for a lot of the mental part of it. and he's very helpful that way, but he also makes plays, and he looks good.”
Godwin has yet to find the end zone, but he’s still second on the team in receiving with 216 yards, behind only Egbuka’s 240.
Tez Johnson should also see more chances, especially with the depth chart pushing him into the WR4 role. Even in a reduced role, he’s flashed the kind of explosive playmaking that turned heads in college and during his rookie season. Tampa Bay’s only win of the year featured one of those moments, when Johnson turned his lone target into a 64-yard catch - the team’s longest play of the season.
That kind of speed element could matter here. Carolina’s secondary has been vulnerable to big passing plays, and with the Panthers leading the division, Zac Robinson may have no trouble taking a shot downfield for Johnson.
In Other News...
Bucs Legend Warren Sapp Draws Heat For Another Off-Field Controversy
Warren Sapp has spent decades as one of the most recognizable figures in Buccaneers history, a Hall of Fame defensive tackle whose playing career and later coaching stops have kept him in the football conversation long after his retirement. But a viral video that surfaced this week has shifted the attention back to something far less flattering, adding another uncomfortable chapter to the public image of one of Tampa Bays most celebrated legends.
The clip reignited scrutiny over Sapps conduct off the field, coming after another widely circulated run-in earlier this year drew a different kind of attention. For a player whose football rsum still carries real weight in Tampa Bay circles, the latest controversy only deepens the sense that his post-playing legacy keeps getting complicated by incidents that have nothing to do with the game itself. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Suddenly Need Help At One Position Before Panthers Game
The Buccaneers are heading into their matchup with the Panthers with another roster shuffle on their hands, and this one hits a spot where depth already mattered. Christian Rozeboom had been a useful piece at inside linebacker, giving Tampa Bay some stability behind the starters, but the team moved him to injured reserve as it adjusts for the stretch run.
In the same transaction window, the Bucs brought David Sills V back from injured reserve, giving them an extra body at receiver at a time when that group is taking hits of its own. The timing matters because Tampa Bay may need him sooner rather than later, which leaves the defense to sort out how it replaces Rozeboom while the offense keeps bracing for more attrition before Sunday. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Get Encouraging Injury News With Sunday Still In Doubt
The Buccaneers got a little healthier on the practice field this week, with several players back after dealing with illnesses. Bucky Irving and Zyon McCollum were both limited participants, while Calijah Kancey was able to log a full workout, giving Tampa Bay at least some encouraging signs as it prepares for a divisional matchup with Carolina.
Emeka Egbukas status remains one of the bigger questions hanging over the week, and right tackle Luke Goedekes availability is also still unclear. With both sides releasing full injury reports, the Bucs have some positives to work with, but the final picture for Sunday still feels far from settled. [Read more 🡒]