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    Egbuka leaves practice early with injury

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    TB Wide Receiver #2
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    Emeka Egbuka left practice Wednesday with an apparent injury.

    Egbuka reportedly limped off the practice field Wednesday with the help of Bucs trainers and was examined on the sideline for a while before watching the rest of practice with his cleats off. Though the Bucs are likely being cautious with the second-year stud receiver, Egbuka’s status will be well worth monitoring in the coming days. An Egbuka absence would open up an opportunity for WR Ted Hurst, who has impressed throughout the offseason.
Latest on Mayfield, Nacua extensions
Ross Tucker joins Dan Patrick to discuss recent NFL news with the Vikings announcing Kyler Murray as the starter, Baker Mayfield and Puka Nakua's contract talks.

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  • TB Wide Receiver #2
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    As Garafolo notes, Bucky Irving said after practice that he thought Egbuka was okay, so this news shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Still, it’s good to have that comment confirmed so quickly. For now, expect Egbuka to miss some time in practice while recovering from the issue. That will free up routes for rookie Tedd Hurst, who has already made a good impression at training camp. Fantasy managers can keep drafting Egbuka as a high-ceiling WR2 until further notice.
  • TB Wide Receiver #17
    Please don’t let Slivon’s corny phrasing distract you from the fact that Hurst is playing well in the X-receiver role that the team drafted him to fill. While WR Jalen McMillan (knee) sits out, Hurst is reportedly displaying “amazing body control” while making leaping grabs, effectively “using his 6-foot-4 height to his advantage.” The third-round rookie is a no-brainer dice roll as a late-round draft target. He is not guaranteed to be a hit, but reports continue to be positive, and in-season rookie breakouts are always a big fantasy factor down the stretch.
  • TB Wide Receiver #11
    McMillan was one of several Bucs wideouts held out of practice yesterday, but it sounds like the others were largely maintenance days. McMillan, on the other hand, is dealing with a rather mysterious injury, given that we have no timeline for his return. It could ultimately be a minor issue, but his absence in practice will free up reps for rookie Ted Hurst. The two are likely competing for the final starting spot in three-receiver sets. McMillan’s knee issue now has Hurst firmly on the sleeper radar for the remainder of camp.
  • TB Wide Receiver #14
    Fox Sports’ Greg Auman reported the three lead Buccaneers receivers got the day off Tuesday. For Godwin, it is a veteran maintenance day as he aims to open the season fully healthy; expect him to see more maintenance days heading into preseason. Egbuka and McMillan are dealing with lower-body soreness and were held out of practice out of precaution. Ultimately, no major injury concerns as the Bucs play it safe with their top three wideouts in training camp.
  • TB Wide Receiver #2
    As a 2025 rookie, Egbuka went straight from a championship season at Ohio State to training for the NFL Scouting Combine. From there, he went right into spring workouts and was never really able to take time off. He admits to wearing down in his first season with the Bucs, but he was finally able to take time off earlier this year and now feels like he is good shape for the 2026 season. Egbuka picked up hip and hamstring injuries in September and October and went from being the PPR WR10 in Weeks 1-10 to the WR55 in Weeks 11-18. Former Bucs WR Mike Evans returned from injury in Week 15 and QB Baker Mayfield was reportedly playing through multiple injuries of his own. The confluence of events certainly did not help Egbuka, and we find his weariness explanation plausible enough. A big-time bounce-back season for the second-year wide receiver is in the range of outcomes, especially since Evans is leaving a target vacuum.
  • TB Wide Receiver
    Hurst has gotten much attention out of Bucs rookie minicamp as a true X receiver in the offense. Robinson praised the versatility of Jalen McMillan, Emeka Egbuka, and Chris Godwin Jr., but said having a true X receiver is “an absolute threat.” Whether Hurst is a legitimate threat as a deep target or is simply running a go-route as a “sacrificial X”, Robinson seems to like having the option of a tall receiver to stretch the defense. Hurst is still outside the top-three on the pass-catching pecking order in Tampa Bay, but could certainly be worth a dart throw with boom-or-bust upside running outside deep routes as an X receiver.
  • TB Wide Receiver #2
    Egbuka floundered a bit down the stretch for fantasy managers after a strong first half of the season — some of that was Mike Evans coming back from injury, some of it was Baker Mayfield apparently playing through several injuries on his own. Still, based on what he did in the first half of the season, it’s plausible to believe he could challenge for a low-end WR1 fantasy ranking in his second season. Robinson certainly had no problem loading up his best receiver (Drake London) with targets last year.
  • TB Wide Receiver
    Per Stroud, Hurst earned more targets and caught more passes than any other Buccaneer over the last two days of practice. Hurst, 21, has a chance to compete for the Buccaneers’ X-receiver role this summer. He has the frame (6'4/206) and speed (4.42-second 40) to do it. With WRs Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, Tez Johnson and Jalen McMillan already in-house, the Bucs can field an effective three-receiver set this year, if Hurst is not ready to contribute. Buccaneers assistant general manager Rob McCartney made clear that the team is “not expecting for him to just come in and just take over and be a big part of our offense,” but at the same time, “there’s nothing that says he can’t if he comes in and proves himself.” Should he impress coaches in training camp this spring and summer, he could work his way into a fantasy-relevant role. Keep an eye on him.
  • TB Wide Receiver
    Given the Buccaneers’ crowded wide receiver corps, Hurst could have a tough time getting on the field this season. Hurst was an efficient player in his third and final college season, averaging 2.42 yards per route run and the Buccaneers have done well drafting wide receivers in recent seasons. He is an intriguing pick in dynasty rookie drafts. Reports from earlier today said Hurst had signed his rookie contract, but Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud later clarified that Hurst and the team had only agreed to terms. Hurst is reportedly en route to the team’s facility to finalize the deal.
  • TB Wide Receiver
    Hurst (6’4/206) was a zero-star recruit coming out of high school. He cut his teeth at Valdosta State for two years before joining Georgia State via the transfer portal. Hurst was purely a burner in his first season, averaging 17.2 yards per catch with an identical average target depth. He parlayed this role into a team-high 961 yards and nine scores. After realizing what they had in Hurst, his coaches made the passing attack revolve around him in 2025. Hurst’s aDOT dropped to a more normal 12.6 and he pushed his receiving total to 1,004 yards on 71 grabs. Hurst is a physical receiver at the catch point and his 4.42 40-yard dash shows up on tape, but the jump from Sun Belt competition to the NFL will be a true test of his abilities. He will likely begin his career as a backup Z receiver, though a starting role down the road should be the expectation.

Rotoworld

  • BAL Quarterback #11
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    Ravens placed QB Skylar Thompson on injured reserve.

    Thompson signed with the Ravens in the offseason but dealt with an undisclosed injury in training camp. He heads to injured reserve, likely ending his season; he and the team may reach an injury settlement in the coming days. The Ravens signed former UFL quarterback Austin Reed in his place. Reed figures to get some game time during preseason as the team’s fourth-string quarterback.
  • MIN Quarterback #9
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    When asked about his future with the Vikings, QB J.J. McCarthy said, “this is the place I want to be.”

    With the Vikings naming Kyler Murray as the starter, McCarthy’s future in Minnesota is in question. The 23-year-old is entering his third season and still has plenty to work on, though losing the Week 1 starting job indicates his chances to start for the Vikings again are dwindling. When asked about his future, McCarthy stated he wants to be in Minnesota and will “continue to just do whatever [he] can for this team and this organization.” The room for error for young quarterbacks is thin in the NFL and though he is saying the right things to the media, McCarthy is a former first-rounder that may want to move on, should he have no future as a starter with the Vikings. He will start the season as the backup while the Vikings evaluate their quarterback room throughout the season; it wouldn’t be a surprise to see McCarthy depart Minnesota between now and this time next year.
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    ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Deshaun Watson will start the Browns’ preseason opener against the Bears.

    Per Schefter, Todd Monken informed the quarterbacks this afternoon that Watson will get the first preseason start and Shedeur Sanders will draw the second. He will face Buffalo. We don’t want to read too much into the order of the starts, but it’s at least somewhat notable that Watson is first in line. The next two preseason games will likely determine Cleveland’s Week 1 starter. Neither option will do the Browns’ pass-catchers any favors for fantasy purposes.
  • SF Cornerback #30
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    49ers signed CB Eli Apple.

    The 49ers cut Apple a week ago but are bringing him back a day before their preseason opener. He will be a depth option for the team versus the Titans on Thursday.
  • NE Running Back #28
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    Patriots signed Hassan Haskins, formerly of the Chargers.

    Haskins appeared in a dozen games for the Chargers last year. He only saw 17 carries, which he turned into 45 yards, but did tally over 150 special teams snaps. That could ultimately be his path to a roster spot in New England.
  • SF Running Back #3
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    49ers signed Zamir White, formerly of the Raiders.

    White only appeared in six games for the Raiders last year. He logged a dozen carries for 32 yards. With Kaelon Black, Jordan James, Isaac Guerendo, and Christian McCaffrey all banged up, the 49ers desperately need another warm body as they head into their first preseason contest. White could even see some run versus the Titans tomorrow, though he is still a long-shot to make the 53-man roster at the end of camp.
  • ATL Quarterback #9
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    Michael Penix said his doctor told him he has “an amazing ACL” and he should “never have any more knee problems for the rest of your career.”

    This is not parody, somehow. Penix infamously tore his right ACL twice while in college and then suffered a partial tear in his left ACL last year. The totally real doctor was presumably referring to his left knee. Penix, who hasn’t participated in team drills during training camp, later added that the only thing he can’t do in practice right now is take a hit. Last we checked, that is a major part of the game of football. Meanwhile, Tua Tagovailoa is slated to start the team’s preseason opener versus Denver later this week. Penix doesn’t seem to have much of a shot at being the Week 1 starter given his slow recovery, but the leash on Tua will be short. Penix remains the favorite to start more games this year, though only by a narrow margin.
  • KC Wide Receiver #4
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    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Rashee Rice is not expected to be suspended for violating his probation.

    Andy Reid also echoed this sentiment earlier in the offseason. As Rapoport points out, Rice was already suspended for his involvement in a hit-and-run car crash in 2024. He violated his probation this year and spent 30 days in jail, but it doesn’t sound like the league plans to punish him any further. Rice is also recovering from offseason knee surgery and has received mixed reviews over the first two weeks of training camp. For fantasy purposes, as long as Rice can soak up check-downs, the PPR points will flow.
  • TB Wide Receiver #2
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    NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports Emeka Egbuka suffered a toe injury during Wednesday’s practice that is “considered minor.”

    As Garafolo notes, Bucky Irving said after practice that he thought Egbuka was okay, so this news shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Still, it’s good to have that comment confirmed so quickly. For now, expect Egbuka to miss some time in practice while recovering from the issue. That will free up routes for rookie Tedd Hurst, who has already made a good impression at training camp. Fantasy managers can keep drafting Egbuka as a high-ceiling WR2 until further notice.
  • NYJ Wide Receiver #15
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    ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the Jets are looking for “a sizable jump” from Adonai Mitchell.

    Mitchell was a headcase in Indianapolis but got with the program after being traded to New York last year. He closed the season with 301 yards in eight games as a Jet. The team heaped praise on Mitchell throughout the offseason and he has seemingly ridden that momentum into camp. Mitchell’s spike games will be hard to pin down, but he should at least provide Best Ball drafters with some usable weeks.