“They Ran Around Pretty Good”
September 7th, 2026
Encouraging news from Todd Bowles today.
The head coach told media this afternoon that receivers Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan finally returned to practice. Egbuka has a healing foot sprain and McMillan is dealing with a knee issue.
“They got their first taste out there. So, we’ll see how the week goes, but they ran around pretty good today,” Bowles said.
Joe’s hope is that at least one of those guys is truly 100 percent for Sunday’s opening day.
Allegedly, and the Bucs don’t have to release an official injury report until Wednesday, McMillan’s knee was only a bruise.
Winning against the high-octane Bengals on Sunday likely will require 30 points. Healthy receivers will be an extra valuable commodity.
September 7th, 2026 at 1:54 pm
Good news. Don’t know how you go from zero conditioning and training camp to a full game but more power to them.
September 7th, 2026 at 2:01 pm
Encouraging news
GO BUCS
September 7th, 2026 at 2:06 pm
If the Dline can harass burrow all game and I mean get after him like we did mahomes in the SB we won’t need 30 pts to win. Prob just 10 lol but if we can’t breathe on burrow it’s going to be a long game burrow prob has career highs maybe even sets a record lol. Deff don’t want that.
September 7th, 2026 at 2:18 pm
If the Bucs running game is effective and they can dominate time of possession I’ll feel better about our chances, but we better get serious pressure on Burrow.
September 7th, 2026 at 2:21 pm
L
September 7th, 2026 at 2:28 pm
Both the Bucs and Bengals defense saw several new players on display in the preseason so predicting the winner is somewhat shaded on the Bengals winning their home opener. Baker has been saying the Bucs will be surprising a lot of teams. Don’t know if thats just talk 🤔 or the Bucs are really an improved team.
Winning their opener in Cinnanati will be a big confidence boost for the new rookies and the Bucs fan base.
GO BUCS
September 7th, 2026 at 2:28 pm
JMark, those guys were healthy most of the offseason. 3 weeks off isn’t ideal but manageable for these young stallions.
September 7th, 2026 at 2:31 pm
They ll both be game time decisions all week – as per Bowles magnificent cunning and Wiley guile
September 7th, 2026 at 2:34 pm
I’ll take it!
September 7th, 2026 at 2:37 pm
well.. baker has only lost one game to the bengals when he was the starting quarterback, and he scored 3 tds in that one. in fact, some of his best games were against that team. even when he played for the panthers and they didn’t put him in the game until after halftime when they were way behind (35-0), he quickly put up 21 pts.
in 2020, he scored 5 tds in one game against the bengals. i wouldn’t bet against them in this game.
September 7th, 2026 at 2:52 pm
If Bucs need 30 points to win this game vs Bengals, Mayfield will likely have another 2 turnover performance which is Not Likely the 1st game.
Bucs Healthy D holds the Bengals to 20 points and Bucs win a close one by 3 or less.
September 7th, 2026 at 2:52 pm
Glad to hear both EE and JMac are practicing.
Hoping that means EEs toe injury was fairly minor…. and that he can progress forward without any setbacks. Turf Toe has a high rate of re-injury even when you are being conservative with pushing it…. so we’ll see.
I expect the Bucs defense to hold the Bengals to 24 points or less…. so 25 points from Baker and Co. should be enough to win. Very doable if everyone on offense is healthy – and considering the Bengals have little idea nor tape of what this offense is really going to look like with Robinson moving all these good chess pieces around…..
Bucs fans really have no idea either – how this offense is going to look. Other than knowing we have a great Oline, a very good QB, 3 good RBs and a plethora of good to very good receiving options that runs about 8 deep when you include Otton and the RBs…. and that Robinson’s system is allegedly 50% or more similar to what Liam Coen ran…. We shall see…..
Red Zone efficiency is the key IMO – Bucs simply did NOT have it last year.
Really hoping the Bucs can get back to lighting up the scoreboard this year – Because if they can – we are looking at a real SB contending team. I already have confidence the Defense (pass rush in particular) is going to be substantially improved in 2026.
Game week is FINALLY here! YAY!
September 7th, 2026 at 2:54 pm
CG 14, EE 2, McMillan, Tez, Hurst, Otten, we need all of them to win !!
Go Bucs !!
Beat the Bengals !!
September 7th, 2026 at 2:55 pm
Joe, please keep us up to date on the statuses of Chase and Higgins, too…
September 7th, 2026 at 3:55 pm
Good to hear the Bucs WR’s are healing. We’re gonna need ’em. Sidenote: I took a flyer on Ted Hurst in my Fake Fantasy league with the last pick.
September 7th, 2026 at 4:06 pm
Be great to be full strength on offense against Cincy
September 7th, 2026 at 5:08 pm
I like the optimism on the but the ESPN and CBS pundits predict the Bucs at 7-12. Hopefully we can start this year with a W and sneak up on everyone else.
September 7th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
It’s going to be fun actually know anything about this team soon
September 7th, 2026 at 5:33 pm
Must be the other Joe, he said “hope”.
September 7th, 2026 at 7:30 pm
@ sunny says: “they didn’t put him in the game until after halftime when they were way behind (35-0), he quickly put up 21 pts.”
Yes, right! When it didn’t matter. Sounds familiar, and VERY typical from the “King of Empty Stats.” NO ONE loves them some “garbage-time” stats more than HE does.
September 7th, 2026 at 7:35 pm
@ Simple T Says: “Be great to be full strength on offense against Cincy.”
That’s right. NO EXCUSES.
September 7th, 2026 at 7:40 pm
McMillan is injury prone, it sucks but your best ability is availability. He’s missed games every season he’s been here. I knew this when we drafted him. He is very talented we need him to stay on the field.
September 7th, 2026 at 8:28 pm
31 – 17 with the Bucs winning and ten of the Cincy boys points come in the fourth quarter.
September 7th, 2026 at 9:40 pm
I don’t think the Bengals will score more than 24 against the Bucs.