Buccaneers Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka Ruled Out vs. 49ers

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jay Canale | Last updated Oct 12, 2025 7:05 PM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has been ruled out for Sunday’s game vs. the San Francisco 49ers, per Buccaneers beat writer Scott Smith.

Egbuka exited the contest in the third quarter with a hamstring injury, a frustrating setback for a Buccaneers team that has faced numerous injuries to its wide receiver room. Egbuka now joins fellow pass catchers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin on the injury report.

The Buccaneers have impressive depth, with Sterling Shepard demonstrating he's a dependable pass-catcher last season, and rookie wide receiver Tez Johnson showing flashes in recent weeks.

Given how finicky hamstring injuries can be, however, this could spell disaster for Tampa Bay's season.

Oct 12, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA: Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) runs for a gain past San Francisco 49ers linebacker Tatum Bethune (48) during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images

Johnsons Step Up

Shortly after the news of Egbuka’s injury broke, Tez Johnson broke free deep downfield and caught a 45-yard touchdown, seen below.

TEZ JOHNSON TD! WHAT A CATCH AND WHAT A FLIP

SFvsTB on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/UtKZZW6YXw
— NFL (@NFL) October 12, 2025

While having Godwin, Evans, and Egbuka sidelined long-term would be a serious challenge for Tampa Bay, Johnson is the latest example of General Manager Jason Licht’s ability to fill out the team's roster behind its stars.

Sterling Shepard has a longstanding connection with quarterback Baker Mayfield due to their time together at Oklahoma in 2015, which was evident after Godwin suffered a season-ending injury in Week 7 last season. From then on, Shepard totaled 17 catches for 241 yards.

Kameron Johnson, an undrafted second-round receiver out of Barton College, also caught a touchdown from Mayfield to close the first half. Per Pro Football Reference, this was the first regular-season catch of Johnson’s career.

Baker Mayfield to Kameron Johnson for 6!

SFvsTB on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/wekh9o5I5q
— NFL (@NFL) October 12, 2025

As mentioned earlier, Tampa Bay’s depth has been tested so far this season, and Egbuka’s injury continues that trend. This issue will hopefully be resolved by next week, as the Buccaneers head to Detroit to face the Lions on Monday Night Football. If Egbuka can't go, it will be a real challenge for Tampa Bay to secure a win.

Given Baker Mayfield’s level of play this season, however, it could set the stage for a storybook performance to continue bolstering his case for the 2025 NFL Most Valuable Player Award.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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