The Tampa Bay Buccaneers currently hold the third-longest active streak of winning their division with four consecutive titles to their name. A big reason for that success has been an electric offense, led by Tom Brady and a resurgent Baker Mayfield in that timeframe. However, this year, they’re facing a few challenges in the form of injuries to the recently re-signed Chris Godwin and last year’s rookie addition Jalen McMillan.
As a result, the onus is going to be on the rest of the roster to pick up their slack. Who among the group stands out as a viable candidate for that job?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Wide Receiver Depth Chart
The bigger blow among the two, from Tampa Bay’s perspective at least, is going to be the loss of a former Pro Bowler in Godwin to begin the year. However, McMillan came into his own after injuries ravaged the Buccaneers’ roster last year.
This time around, their primary option in Godwin and McMillan’s absence is going to be the ever-reliable Mike Evans. But they’ll need someone else from the group of Tez Johnson, Emeka Egbuka, Sterling Shepard, and Kameron Johnson to step up in a big way.
Who Is Mike Evans?
A first-round pick in 2014, Evans has developed a Hall of Fame-worthy career. Throughout his time in the NFL, he has been one of the most reliable weapons on the outside, with 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to start his career (tied for most all-time).
With six Pro Bowl appearances to his name, he is a proven commodity and a major reason for the Bucs’ turnaround over the last half-decade. Last year, despite missing time with an injury, he finished the season with 1,004 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Who Is Emeka Egbuka?
Selecting Egbuka with the 19th overall pick seemed like a conscious choice from Tampa Bay to make their offense even more dynamic. However, with the injury and age concerns in the skill position group, he could also serve as the perfect insurance policy.
A product of the Ohio State Buckeyes, he was a big part of their success last season as they captured the college football playoffs national championship. In 2024, Egbuka added 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns, his second year with those numbers for the Buckeyes.
The likely WR3 once Godwin makes his return, he might be elevated to the WR2 spot, depending on the schemes the Buccaneers want to deploy.
Who Is Tez Johnson?
The other rookie wide receiver that the Bucs added to the roster, Tez Johnson, was their pick in the seventh round. On the official depth chart, he stands behind Egbuka as the backup WR3.
However, the domino effect from Godwin and McMillan’s injuries could rest in his role expanding to a more comprehensive part of the offense. Splitting time between Troy and Oregon, he tallied over 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns during his two seasons at the latter program.
Who Is Sterling Shepard?
First on the depth chart behind Godwin for the WR2 spot, Sterling Shepard has had a long tenure in the league. A second-round pick in 2016, he spent the first eight years of his career with the New York Giants.
Last year, he joined Tampa Bay and contributed 334 yards in 14 games, with five starts to his name. The onus is going to fall heavily on Shepard to carry the offensive load, especially as the rookies adjust to life in the NFL.
Who Is Kameron Johnson?
Right behind Shepard, the Buccaneers have Kameron Johnson on the depth chart for the WR2 spot. An undrafted free agent in 2024, he cracked the official roster for the Bucs last year. However, he didn’t get a ton of playing time, totaling just 19 snaps in five appearances.
In those appearances, he got two rushing opportunities where he added 11 yards, while also making one return for the same yardage. His role might expand this year, both because of his growth and the pressing need for the franchise.
What Happened to Chris Godwin?
Godwin suffered an ill-fated ankle injury in Week 7 of the 2024 season. The star wideout suffered a dislocated ankle against the Baltimore Ravens, and it was recently revealed that he also fractured his fibula and tore his deltoid.
The injuries required surgery and caused him to miss the remainder of the season. Now, after undergoing a second surgery during the offseason, there is some concern that he’ll miss time early in the 2025 campaign as well.
Bucs GM Jason Licht breaks news on WR Chris Godwin. How does this make you feel?#WeAreTheKrewe @TKras pic.twitter.com/TO1nylFtuk
— 95.3 WDAE & AM620 (@953WDAE) August 28, 2025
However, he’s officially been taken off the PUP list to start the year, allowing him to return at any point during the season depending on his health. The likely estimates, though, still place him as a no-show until October.
What Happened to Jalen McMillan?
The final week of the preseason, as Tampa Bay squared off against the Pittsburgh Steelers, saw McMillan land awkwardly on the back of his neck, leading to a designation of a severely sprained neck.
Almost immediately, there was talk of putting him on IR, which would delay the start of his season to October at the bare minimum. Eventually, that decision came to pass, which puts his return, at the earliest, for Week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks.
