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Emeka Egbuka is the latest player to join Bucs' nightmare scenario
Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Emeka Egbuka is the latest member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to join the team's incredulously long list of injuries after injuring his hamstring against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

The injury was first reported before the start of the Bucs' first drive of the second half, so it's logical to assume it happened at some point in the first half. The Bucs have listed him as doubtful to return, which doesn't bode well for the rest of the game.

The news leaves the Bucs without their top four receivers, as Mike Evans deals with his own hamstring injury, Chris Godwin Jr. deals with a lower leg injury, and Jalen McMillan recovers from the neck injury he suffered during the preseason.

Update: Egbuka was officially ruled out in the fourth quarter.

We won't know anything about the extent of Egbuka's injury until Tuesday at the earliest

Bucs fans and the NFL fantasy fans shouldn't hold their collective breath as they await word on the extent of Egbuka's hamstring injury. He'll likely undergo an MRI, which doesn't happen until Monday or Tuesday, and then the team has to get the results.

McMillan will definitely miss Week 7 against the Detroit Lions, and it's looking like Evans and Godwin Jr. will, too. If Egbuka can't go, then it will take Todd Bowles' and Josh Grizzard's best coaching jobs of the year if they want to move the ball on Monday Night Football.

But, obviously, Egbuka's status remains to be seen. However, it will undoubtedly hurt the Bucs' passing attack if he misses time. He was the frontrunner for Offensive Rookie of the Year, thanks to his ability to make plays across the offense. It could be yet another obstacle for Baker Mayfield and Co. to overcome.

Bucs currently have four other starters out with injuries on top of the wide receivers

Starters Cody Mauch (RG ), Luke Goedeke (RT), Calijah Kancey (DL), and Zyon McCollum (CB) were all out before the game started. Mauch and Kancey are done for the year, while the Bucs are hopeful Goedeke makes it back at some point by season's end. His timeline is very unclear.

McCollum's injury is the least extensive, but it still forced him to miss the game against the 49ers, and it remains to be seen if he'll suit up against the Lions.

The Bucs are going through it — not many teams have to deal with this. The wild part, however, is that they're still finding ways to win games. We'll see if they can keep it up against the 49ers.


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This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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