The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ performance this season has been remarkable. Entering the year without Chris Godwin and later losing Mike Evans, the team still managed to persevere without their top two receivers, climbing to a 5-1 record thanks to clutch offensive play and Baker Mayfield’s leadership.
A key factor in overcoming those setbacks has been the breakout of rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. The first-round pick has been a revelation for Tampa Bay, emerging as one of the league’s most impressive receivers regardless of experience. However, he suffered an injury in the second half of the Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, leaving questions about his availability for Week 7.
Emeka Egbuka Injury Update for Week 7
Following a strong showing at Ohio State, Egbuka was taken as the 19th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft for a Bucs squad entering the year with Chris Godwin on the injured list.
The rookie’s production, though, minimized his absence. In his debut, he started off with an electric 67-yard and two-touchdown performance, including the game-winning touchdown in a 23-20 victory.
From there on, Egbuka has just gone from strength to strength, increasing production seemingly every week. He’s up to 469 receiving yards and five touchdowns through six weeks, while ranking in the top-10 on PFSN’s WR Impact.
Those numbers for any wide receiver, much less a rookie, sound absurd. But they could have been even better had Egbuka not gone out of the game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 6 with a hamstring injury.
Ian Rapoport reported, “My understanding is it’s not quite as serious as Mike Evans. But he is expected to miss some time, is expected to miss this week.” The first inclinations out of practice on that front haven’t been positive for the Buccaneers.
Egbuka made a surprising return to practice on Saturday, catching many off guard as few expected him back so soon. His participation suggests the rookie won’t be sidelined much longer.
According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, Egbuka is listed as questionable for Week 7 but has a legitimate chance to play against the Lions.
“Buccaneers WRs Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka both are listed as questionable for Monday night’s game in Detroit,” Schefter wrote on X. “Evans is likely to play and Egbuka, in the words of a source, “has a real chance to play” despite his hamstring injury. It’s a low-grade hamstring, making it possible.”
On Sunday, Schefter dropped another update on Egbuka’s status. “Despite both wide receivers being listed as questionable for Monday night’s game at Detroit, Mike Evans is likely to play and Emeka Egbuka has “a real chance to play” despite suffering a low-grade hamstring strain last Sunday, per sources,” he wrote on X. “Bucs will not decide on Egbuka’s status until pre-game warmups.”
Facing a 4-2 Detroit Lions team, the Buccaneers have a chance to gain a sizeable lead atop the NFC. However, after a 30-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in a marquee matchup, the Lions will be eager to bounce back in Week 7.
That makes the potential absence of Egbuka a significant factor in Tampa Bay’s chances against Detroit. Still, fans can take comfort in knowing that for a Super Bowl contender like the Buccaneers, keeping the roster healthy for the postseason remains the top priority.
Egbuka’s Fantasy Outlook
Here’s what PFSN’s Kyle Soppe wrote about Egbuka’s fantasy outlook for Week 7:
If only we had known that wide receivers in Tampa Bay were contagious before putting all our hopes and dreams in Emeka Egbuka.
The outstanding rookie suffered a hamstring injury in the third quarter last week and is expected to be sidelined for some time. The Bucs get the Saints next week before going on bye in Week 9; we don’t yet have a Week 10 target return date, but it’s easy to see a path to that.
Tez and Kameron Johnson are the names to know in this offense if you want a piece of the Baker Mayfield for MVP campaign, especially indoors in a potentially offensively charged contest.
It’s a little hard to imagine, but if the manager with Egbuka has a losing record, why not start a trade conversation? If that’s the case, the rest of the roster is likely depleted, giving you the ability to swoop in with a volume deal that lands you an elite asset who closes the fantasy season with the Panthers and Dolphins in Weeks 16-17.