Bucs' Mayfield 'ready to go' vs. Panthers, but Egbuka and Goedeke out

Rick Stroud, Tampa Bay Times on Oct 23, 2026

Published in Football

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TAMPA, Fla. — Baker Mayfield is “ready to go” as the Bucs starting quarterback Sunday at Carolina, but he won’t have his top target or right tackle.

Receiver Emeka Egbuka remains in concussion protocol and is listed as out. Right tackle Luke Goedeke is out with a calf injury despite attempting to practice on Friday.

Mayfield, who is officially listed as “questionable,” will wear a glove on his right hand to protect the dislocated thumb that sidelined him for the past three games.

“It looked good for him, so he looks like he’s ready to go,” coach Todd Bowles said Friday. “He had a normal week of practice.”

Egbuka played the entire game Sunday against the Steelers but sustained a concussion — “We couldn’t figure out which play it was,” Bowles said — and did not practice until Friday.

Egbuka leads the Bucs with 28 catches for 240 yards and two touchdowns. His 49 targets are 19 more than Chris Godwin, who is second on the team with 23 catches for 216 yards.

Either Justin Skule or Benjamin Chukwuma will start for Goedeke at right tackle.

“It will be game-time call,” Bowles said. “We’re not going to announce that right now.”

Safety Antoine Winfield Jr., who has been limited by a rib injury, still was wearing a black non-contact jersey Friday and is out for Sunday’s game.

Running back Bucky Irving (illness), cornerback Zyon McCollum (illness) and defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson (rest), who were limited on Thursday, were practicing on Friday.

Cornerback Benjamin Morrison (quad) and running back Sean Tucker (quad) “practiced all week,” Bowles said.