Emeka Egbuka's Week 8 outlook gets boost after Thursday injury update from Bucs practice

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka shocked the world in Week 7.

Egbuka was initially expected to miss at least one game with his hamstring injury, but he shockingly returned to practice on Saturday before beating a questionable tag and playing on Monday night against the Detroit Lions.

Things weren't off to a great start this week, though, as Egbuka was listed as a non-participant in practice on Wednesday on what was an estimated injury report with Tampa Bay only holding a walkthrough.

However, there is positive news to report on Thursday, with The Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud reporting that Egbuka has returned to practice. The Bucs will drop the injury report later in the day, but the rookie should at least be limited.

Most of the 17 players listed on the injury report for the walk thru have returned to practice. Still no Haason Reddick, Chris Godwin or Bucky Irving who have been ruled out. Teddy Bridgewater still out with a dental issue. Guys practicing include Lavonte David, Baker Mayfield, Antoine Winfield, Zyon McCollum, Emeka Egbuka, Christian Izien,, (Greg Gaines, Ben Bredeson, Mike Jordan, Luke Haggard, Josh Williams, Markees Watts, Devin Culp.

The return to practice obviously indicates that Egbuka should be available to play in Week 8 against the New Orleans Saints, although the injury report is still worth monitoring the rest of the week.

This is huge news for the Bucs, who are already down Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.

Evans suffered a broken collarbone in Week 7 that will sideline him until about mid-December, at the earliest. Meanwhile, Godwin missed the last two games with a fibula injury and head coach Todd Bowles has already ruled him out for Monday.

With Godwin and Evans sidelined, Egbuka should get peppered with targets. Tez Johnson, Cade Otton and Sterling Shepard should also be heavily involved.

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