After the loss, head coach Todd Bowles faced questions about whether the team has a reliable go-to target. He said, “I don’t think so,” when asked if there is a clear top receiver for the offense. Yet when pressed on identifying a specific player in that role, Bowles did not provide a definitive answer.
Bowles acknowledged the issue, noting that production should change from game to game and that different players need to get open and make plays. His comment suggested there isn’t a single established “go-to” option right now.
Tampa Bay’s Week 6 performance saw second-year wideout Emeka Egbuka lead the receiving corps with seven catches for 48 yards, followed by veteran Chris Godwin with four catches for 37 yards, and tight end Ted Hurst with three for 40 yards. The rest of the group accounted for eight receptions for 39 yards. Through the season, Egbuka has 28 receptions for 241 yards, Godwin 23 for 216, and Hurst 11 for 168, but none of them have stood out as a standout No. 1 option.
Egbuka was expected to lead the wide receivers, yet his efficiency has declined from 1.75 yards per route run as a rookie to 1.12 in his second NFL season. Godwin has previously been the team’s primary target, but injuries and age have affected his production. Hurst, a rookie, has shown potential, but the group as a whole hasn’t established a dominant clear target.
The coaching staff continues to emphasize that different players can emerge based on coverages, but the absence of a bona fide star in the receiving corps is noticeable. In 2024, Mike Evans topped the targets with 114, followed by Cade Otton with 86, and Godwin with 60. Evans previously provided a dominant target share, which the current group has not matched.
As Baker Mayfield is expected to return next week, there will be an opportunity to see whether he can rebuild chemistry with Egbuka and help uplift the passing attack.
