“Probably The Best Compliment You Could Get”
October 27th, 2025
Emeka Egbuka is learning about life as the Bucs’ No. 1 receiver.
With Mike Evans injured through more than half of the young season, Egbuka has taken on a steady diet of double teams in Evans’ absence.
He talked about it this evening on the Buccaneers Radio Network.
“It’s probably the best compliment you could get,” Egbuka said.
“Then, you know, after the game, the coaches from the other team run up to me and they’re like,’Yeah, I’m sorry we had to do that.’ And it’s like, ‘man, just let me play football.’ You know what I mean? But it comes with it. That just opens up the door and gives opportunities to more guys. The last like two or three weeks have been some of [Tez Johnson’s] best games. And I think that’s attributed partially [to the double-teaming]. … And I think what people don’t realize is how dangerous the other receivers in our room are. So you can’t do that too much.”
Of course, it wasn’t supposed to be this way. Evans was to be the top dog and Chris Godwin was supposed to be on the field.
In the long run, Joe believes, it’s great for Egbuka to shoulder the challege of being a double-team target of defensees, and it’ll let the Bucs see if he can handle being a No. 1.
Joe thinks Egbuka will be just fine, but Joe also would love to see the Bucs add a receiver by the Nov. 4 trade deadline, a guy good enough to relieve pressure on the rookie.
October 27th, 2025 at 9:53 pm
Did e2 talk about playing with more injuries than we were told about yesterday? He sure seemed sluggish – even compared to last Monday, and I know it certainly wasn’t lack of effort.
Anywho, he’ll be fine. Actually more than fine as he’ll be a year in, year out, PRO Bowler and hopefully an ALL-PRO.
Can’t wait to hear updates on Godwin, McMillan, and Luke. Just imagine if they get all three back coming out of the break … and Evans ends up being on the short end of his recovery window and is back in 5-weeks, just enough time to go out and put up some 200 yard games and get the 1000 yard record. We can dream.
October 27th, 2025 at 10:01 pm
Bowles is playing possum with the injuries, like Harbaugh in Baltimore. MacMillan and Godwin and Goedeke and Irving and no need for trades.
October 27th, 2025 at 10:40 pm
All I know is this bye could not be coming at a better time. Go Bucs!
Great start to the season. 6-2 with that schedule? Kudos.
October 27th, 2025 at 10:55 pm
Wow Rod! That’s as positive and optimistic a take as I’ve ever read from you! Were you visited by some kindly Halloween ghosts recently? It’s nice to read!
October 27th, 2025 at 10:57 pm
This team could use an edge rusher, ILBEr and a guard. WR seems like a luxury with Embuka, Tez, Shep and JMac and Godwin coming back. Unless Joe knows something more about Godwin and JMac..doubt it
October 27th, 2025 at 11:25 pm
I would love for the Bucs to add a WR The Guy from the Raiders intrigues me Jakobi Meyers I think he would be great in Tampa a team first guy to add with Chris JMac Emeka Shep an Tez thought we would see more of Kam Johnson after his Breakout game but but they should add someone in case Chris an JMac need longer to get back to there Form it would be insurance policies
October 28th, 2025 at 12:03 am
Officials now being guided by New York.
Betting is legal.
They’ve removed physical chains for a digital measurement.
The Bucs have overcome opponents refs, more.
Go Bucs!
October 28th, 2025 at 12:30 am
EE and Bake need to hit the healing pond together and then get their groove back. Either Baker is sailing them or EE is dropping them
Fix it, we know it’s up to you guys. Players have to self coach on this team.
October 28th, 2025 at 12:38 am
Love-spiral Says:
October 28th, 2025 at 12:03 am
Officials now being guided by New York.
Betting is legal.
They’ve removed physical chains for a digital measurement.
The Bucs have overcome opponents refs, more.
———-
Heh… easy, Love-spiral. You start connectin’ dots out loud like that, somebody in a nice suit’s gonna start wonderin’ how you got the picture. Best to keep those thoughts between friends and the walls, capisce?
October 28th, 2025 at 12:55 am
If Godwin is not coming back after the Bye real close to 100% then they should get another receiver.
If he is, then him, Emeka, Tez, KAM, Shepherd, Bucky and OTTON… will be good
October 28th, 2025 at 2:05 am
If Godwin isn’t coming back after the bye, then they need to be firing some people because he should have went on IR since he was out 4+ weeks. Same with Bucky.
October 28th, 2025 at 5:37 am
“…Joe also would love to see the Bucs add a receiver by the Nov. 4 trade deadline…”
Maybe, it would be nice. But the Bucs have receiving talent they are not utilizing in White and Otten. Last year, everyone talked about RW going into motion into the slot. He was as good a receiver as anyone we had (have!).
Same with Otten. Last year when we needed him, CO was our go to guy. now he is Casper, and not in a good way. The Bucs are running a lot of 12 personnel, so we have the blocking we need. Why are we not passing the ball to RW and CO?! Is it better to have Otten predictably go into motion for a run up the gut for NO game?
And as Rod pointed out, we are hopefully getting Godwin and McMillan back, so I don’t really see JL trading for a WR.
I still love trading for Jeffery Simmons. He fits the Bucs in every way. He is that man and he is strong in the middle for Todd.
October 28th, 2025 at 8:27 am
Rod if that is the case (Bucky and Chris not coming back) a training and medical staff reorganization is definitely in order.
October 28th, 2025 at 9:48 am
I still love trading for Jeffery Simmons. He fits the Bucs in every way. He is that man and he is strong in the middle for Todd.
BINGO!!!!!!!
6-2!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!