The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have yet to see the second-year surge they hoped for from wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. The concern is heightened by the production of Matthew Golden and Luther Burden III, the next two receivers selected in the same draft.
Egbuka has recorded 31 catches for 278 yards on 54 targets. Golden, now with Green Bay, has 53 receptions for 783 yards, while Chicago’s Burden has 49 catches for 644 yards. Both have more than twice Egbuka’s receiving total.
The comparison looked very different during the first half of their rookie seasons. Egbuka opened his NFL career with 34 catches for 532 yards in eight games, while Golden had 262 yards and Burden had 171. Injuries then disrupted Egbuka’s season: Baker Mayfield was hurt, and Egbuka also missed time. Golden and Burden, meanwhile, had notable playoff performances.
Both receivers entered this season with expanded opportunities. Chicago lost D.J. Moore, and Caleb Williams took a step forward. In his second season, Burden has received more work from coach Ben Johnson and has made the most of it. Green Bay lost Dontayvion Wicks and Romeo Doubs in the offseason, then saw Jayden Reed get injured. With the Packers also struggling to establish their running game, Golden has received a large share of targets.
### Injuries Have Limited Egbuka’s Opportunity
Egbuka and Mayfield have not been healthy at the same time since the first half of 2025. Egbuka’s offseason toe injury lingered into Week 1, and he missed much of training camp. The Buccaneers got off to a slow start, and Mayfield was injured in Week 3.
Mayfield returned in Week 6, but Egbuka left that game with a concussion and a foot injury. Week 9 marked the first time they had played together since Week 3, when Egbuka was still recovering from his toe problem.
The Buccaneers will hope both players are healthier after the bye week and can recapture the form they showed earlier in the season. Egbuka has a chance to get back on track in Week 11, when Tampa Bay faces the Detroit Lions. The Lions’ defense has been improving, but the matchup offers Egbuka an opportunity to make an impact.
