Emeka Egbuka exploded into the 2025 NFL season like a cannon shot, immediately validating the hype that surrounded him as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 19th overall pick out of Ohio State. The 23-year-old wideout quickly became Baker Mayfield’s go-to target, and as of this writing leads all Buccaneers receivers with 54 receptions for 806 yards on the year.
Egbuka wasted no time making an impact. In his debut against the Saints, he hauled in 4 passes for 67 yards and found the end zone twice, declaring himself as a major piece of Tampa Bay’s offense. He continued to shine in the following weeks: in Week 4 against the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles, he posted 4 catches for 101 yards and a touchdown, and in Week 5 he erupted for 7 receptions and 163 yards to help lift the Bucs to a 38–35 victory over Seattle. By Week 10, he again delivered a strong performance, logging 6 catches for 115 yards and another touchdown against the Patriots.
Since that hot start, however, Egbuka has cooled off. Aside from his impressive Week 10 outing, he hasn’t topped 60 receiving yards in a game since Week 5.
Whether this recent quiet stretch is simply a midseason dip, the result of defenses finally adjusting to Egbuka now that they have real tape on him, or a byproduct of Baker Mayfield still battling the lingering effects of the low-grade AC joint sprain in his left shoulder — an injury that forced him out of the Buccaneers’ Week 12 loss to the Rams — remains to be seen.
Egbuka addressed his struggles and in particular, a dropped pass in the endzone which would have tied the game in an eventual 24-20 loss to the Saints on Sunday after the game.
“It’s a huge honor to play for this team and be part of this brotherhood,” Egbuka told reporters. “I can’t help but feel like I let them down today. I’m on this team for one reason and it’s to catch the ball and I didn’t.”
Egbuka added, “We have to do our best to flush this one.”
Bucs rookie Emeka Egbuka on his dropped pass in the end zone that would’ve given the Bucs the lead in the fourth quarter. “You know, I can’t help but feel I let them down today. I’m on this team for one reason and it’s to catch the ball.” pic.twitter.com/goVGKvGYCP
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) December 7, 2025
Despite his struggles, quarterback Baker Mayfield went to bat for Egbuka, stating that ups and downs are part of the game.
“Mek (Emeka) is a professional,” Mayfield said. “Obviously, he’s going to beat himself up about that. After [the drop] I went up to him and told him, ‘The ball is going to find you again in this two-minute drive when we get it back, so we’re gonna need you.’”
Mayfield added, “It’s just the nature of the game. Telling people to catch the ball doesn’t do anything. They’re not trying to drop it, so I just [told] him to pick his head up. Stuff happens – we’ve gotta move forward [and] gotta play the next play.”
What’s behind Tampa Bay Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka’s midseason dip? Share your thoughts in the comments.
