Bucs’ Baker Mayfield likely without 2 key offensive weapons for Bengals opener
Baker Mayfield, fresh off a new three-year, $165 million extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is looking to get off to a hot start in 2026 against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, in a matchup between two of the NFL’s most high-powered offenses.
Unfortunately, it looks like Mayfield may have to do it without two of his top offensive weapons: wide receiver Jalen McMillan and running back Sean Tucker. Head coach Todd Bowles spoke with reporters Friday and said both players, McMillan with a knee injury, Tucker with a hamstring injury, are “doubtful” for Sunday’s game.
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McMillan has been dealing with the knee injury for weeks, sitting out all of preseason before only recently returning to limited practice. With Mike Evans gone, McMillan was expected to take on a bigger role in his third season with the Bucs. If he sits, that means even more targets for Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin, along with a bump in opportunities for younger receivers like Tez Johnson or third-round rookie Ted Hurst III.
Tucker, meanwhile, suffered his hamstring injury later in the preseason and was only recently held out of practice. He’d been considered day-to-day heading into this week, so Bowles’ comments Friday suggest he simply hasn’t progressed enough to feel confident starting him in Week 1. If he’s ruled out, Bucky Irving and newcomer Kenny Gainwell would likely split carries, with Irving handling the bulk of the workload.
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The Bengals’ offense is elite with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown. But the defense can’t be slept on either with how they attacked this offseason, adding Dexter Lawrence, Boye Mafe, Jonathan Allen, and Bryan Cook.
Both McMillan and Tucker are playmakers who can do damage even in limited opportunities, so potentially losing both would be a real blow for Mayfield and the Bucs heading into Week 1.