TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be without their top two wideouts when they host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
Chris Godwin Jr. has been ruled out for Sunday's affair after suffering a fibula injury last week against Seattle. Head coach Todd Bowles said Friday that Godwin is "week-to-week," adding that fellow veteran receiver Mike Evans, who has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury, is also out this week.
Compounding matters for the Bucs' offense, running back Bucky Irving, the team's leading rusher, will miss his second straight game with foot and shoulder injuries, Bowles said. Rachaad White had 41 rushing yards, 30 receiving yards with two touchdowns against Seattle in Irving's absence.
According to Bowles, Godwin is dealing with a new injury unrelated to the dislocated ankle he suffered last October which required two surgeries and a grueling 11-month recovery. He played the entirety of last week's 38-35 win over the Seahawks, but was seen limping late in the game.
With Godwin and Evans out, the Bucs will rely on rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka, who has five touchdowns through his first five NFL games. He had 163 receiving yards, a touchdown and a 2-point conversion against the Seahawks. The team will also lean on Sterling Shepard, who had the game-tying touchdown against Seattle late in the fourth quarter and whose 191 receiving yards are second among receivers on the team. Rookie Tez Johnson also saw his role increase at Seattle with 59 receiving yards, and Tampa Bay was able to get tight end Cade Otton involved more in the passing game.
Bowles also said the Bucs will be without cornerbacks Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison against San Francisco.
The Bucs have lost to the 49ers in four straight tries going back to 2019. Their last victory came at home in 2018.
