Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) kneels at the end zone before the start of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Raymond James Stadium.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had a rough go of things at the wide receiver position.

Rookie breakout receiver Emeka Egbuka, the team's first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, was sidelined with a hamstring injury he suffered in Week 6. According to the latest report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Egbuka will likely become the third receiver from the Bucs' top trio to miss some time.

Egbuka will join veterans Mike Evans and Chris Godwin on the injury report. Evans has missed three games with a hamstring injury himself. Godwin was inactive in Week 6 with a fibula injury after playing in Weeks 4 and 5 in a return from the dislocated ankle he suffered last year.

All three members of the Buccaneers' expected starting trio could miss more time in Week 7. Tampa Bay will have to rely on some other names further down the depth chart in the passing game. It's not ideal for a team already dealing with an injury to lead running back Bucky Irving.

Here's everything we know so far about Egbuka's injury and possible return:

How long is Emeka Egbuka out?

Egbuka is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday, according to Rapoport, which will determine the severity of his hamstring injury.

Rapoport said the injury "doesn't seem to be that serious," though Egbuka should still be expected to miss some time. However, the rookie wideout should be expected to avoid landing on the injured reserve, which would require him to miss a minimum of four games.

With results of the MRI still pending as of Monday morning, current signs point to an Egbuka return coming as early as Week 8.

Buccaneers WR depth chart

  • Mike Evans (out – hamstring)
  • Chris Godwin Jr. (out – fibula)
  • Emeka Egbuka (out – hamstring)
  • Sterling Shepard
  • Tez Johnson
  • Ryan Miller
  • Kameron Johnson
  • Jalen McMillan (IR – neck)
  • Jaden Smith (IR – undisclosed)

The Buccaneers' group of receivers has been devastated by injuries this year. Evans has missed three straight games after sustaining his injury in Week 3. Godwin, who was working his way back from a dislocated ankle, played in Weeks 4 and 5 before missing Week 6 with a fibula injury. Now Egbuka, who had become the Buccaneers' de facto WR1, will likely miss time with his own hamstring injury.

Outside of the top three, McMillan, the third-round pick for the team and rookie breakout with eight touchdowns, has missed every game this year after suffering a severe neck strain in the preseason. Tez Johnson is also notable as a seventh-round pick by the Buccaneers in this year's draft.

Miller, Smith and Kameron Johnson are all former undrafted free agent signees. Shepard rounds out the group as a veteran wideout in his second season with Tampa Bay.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How long is Emeka Egbuka out? Buccaneers WR injury update

Reporting by Jack McKessy, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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