Emeka Egbuka already looks like a Pro Bowler in OTAs and it’s exactly what the Buccaneers need after losing Mike Evans
There’s a major void to fill in the Buccaneers’ receiver room after the Mike Evans departure and Emeka Egbuka is already stepping up during OTAs.
Emeka Egbuka had a sensational year as a rookie and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need him to take the next step after losing the legendary Mike Evans.
The Buccaneers already have a plan to help Emeka Egbuka make that happen by settling him more into one position, which will be the “Z”position.
Well, it took just one day of OTAs, albeit the first day, for him to make a highlight reel-type play on the practice field. At one point, Emeka Egbuka leapt into the air and hauled in a one-handed catch while spinning. He then outraced the entire Buccaneers defense for a would-be touchdown:
It’s an incredible play that looks like the 27-yard catch-and-run he had in the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks back in Week 5. Obviously, minus the one-handed and touchdown aspects, of course.
Still, this is exactly what the Buccaneers offense needs, even if it’s OTAs/t-shorts and shirts. They don’t need anyone to take the time and figure things out. They need these guys to hit the ground running and establish themselves from Day 1.
“I mean, obviously he was a huge part of this program, and we can’t replace him,” Jalen McMillan told reporters Tuesday. “But like I’ve been saying, he’s left this room in great hands. He’s given so much knowledge to us. … I’m just excited to step in to see what we could do, and this is where we’re going to gain confidence.”
McMillan had a front row seat to the play and helped fend off Buccaneers defenders as Egbuka raced toward the end zone. He was clearly hyped for his teammate, afterward, as shown in the video.
Talk about a fast start. Now, Egbuka and Co. need to keep carrying it over into each practice until Week 1’s kickoff against the Cincinnati Bengals rolls around.