New NFL Rumors Update Emeka Egbuka Injury Status as Bucs WR Exits Practice With Toe Issue

It seems like Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka avoided a serious setback when he suffered a toe injury during Wednesday's practice.

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported the injury is "considered minor" and noted running back Bucky Irving told NFL Network's Maurice Jones-Drew, "I think he's pretty good. He just got rolled over on."

That is welcome news for both Egbuka and the Buccaneers, as he figures to be a go-to target in the post-Mike Evans aerial attack.

Egbuka broke onto the scene as a first-rounder in the 2025 NFL draft with 63 catches for 938 yards and six touchdowns. The Ohio State product finished fifth in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting and showed instant chemistry with quarterback Baker Mayfield.

In fact, Egbuka posted back-to-back games with more than 100 receiving yards and a touchdown in just his fourth and fifth games of his career.

While he passed the 100-yard mark just once the rest of the season, it was still an excellent start and a sign of things to come for the wide receiver.

A second-year leap would be anything but surprising, especially if he takes on an even larger role after Evans departed for the San Francisco 49ers. Tampa Bay still has Chris Godwin Jr., Jalen McMillan and Tez Johnson, but Egbuka figures to be the No. 1 option.

Losing him to a long-term injury before the season even started would have been quite a blow in Tampa Bay, so the reported diagnosis is all the more noteworthy.

Egbuka surely won't see much playing time, if any, during the preseason opener on Friday against the New York Jets as both he and the team continue to prepare for the season opener on Sept. 13 against the Cincinnati Bengals.