That headline will give you pause, regardless of your allegiance to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dealing with injuries is never an easy scenario for any team, but this squad has been especially unlucky through the first five-plus weeks of the season. Starting the year without Chris Godwin, they lost Mike Evans midway through the year with a hamstring issue.
Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse even after the former returned to the lineup. Trying to get his footing back in the game, he had to miss Week 6 again. But, early in the second half, things took a dramatic turn for the Buccaneers, with their superstar rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka also being taken out of the game with a hamstring injury.
Both Egbuka and Evans were cleared to play in Week 7, but the latter unfortunately suffered another injury in the second half against the Detroit Lions. Here’s how the Buccaneers WR depth chart looks like behind Evans, Godwin, and Egbuka:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Wide Receivers
Sterling Shepard
A second-round pick by the New York Giants in 2016, Sterling Shepard made an immediate impact with a 683-yard rookie season that earned him a spot on the All-Rookie team. Despite that strong start, he was never able to fully make the leap into superstardom.
Hovering around the 50-yard per game mark, Shepard’s career was repeatedly hampered by injuries, managing more than 15 games in a season only three times over eight years with the Giants. After his contract expired in New York, he signed a modest one-year deal worth $2.25 million with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Serving as the designated backup to Mike Evans when fully healthy, Shepard appeared in 14 games for the Bucs in 2024, totaling 334 yards and a touchdown. This season, he has been used more frequently, and has recorded 242 receiving yards.
Kameron Johnson
An undrafted free agent last season, Kameron Johnson joined the Buccaneers after a four-year career at Barton, where he racked up 2,316 yards and 19 touchdowns. In his first NFL season, he was largely a non-factor, seeing just one target.
This year, his stat line remained empty, even though he was listed as the third-string WR1 on the full depth chart. However, with injuries piling up in Week 6, Tampa Bay turned to Johnson, and he delivered immediately. Targeted once for a 34-yard touchdown bomb, Johnson made the most of the opportunity, helping the Buccaneers add to their scoring total.
Tez Johnson
A seventh-round pick this season, Tez Johnson was supposed to have a minor role in the offense as the backup to Chris Godwin at the WR2 spot. However, he has gotten some burn through five weeks, tallying five receptions for 67 yards.
But with the state of the wide receiver room in Week 6, his responsibilities saw a significant uptick, and he immediately delivered. Targeted three times, he caught a long ball for a 45-yard touchdown, helping Tampa Bay maintain the lead over San Francisco.
Ryan Miller
Another undrafted free agent, this time from 2023, Ryan Miller did not get any opportunities on the team in his rookie season. However, entering his second year, he saw some burn, as he hauled in 20 catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns.
This year, his workload saw a slight dip, as he caught just one pass. However, he made it count, recording a 20-yard touchdown on that attempt.
