The Detroit Lions had their four-game win streak halted on Sunday Night Football, as they fell 30-17 to the Kansas City Chiefs. While the loss was one thing, they could potentially lose Brian Branch to a suspension after he mushed Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster following the game.
While they look to turn the page on this loss, they are catching a break ahead of their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay WR Emeka Egbuka is expected to miss some time due to a hamstring injury that he suffered on Sunday, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
That means he won't be on the field against Detroit, and they'll have one less playmaker to worry about.
Bucs Set to Be Without Another WR vs. Lions in Week 7
Egbuka is just a rookie, but he's already making his presence felt. He's fourth in the NFL in receiving yards (469) and tied for third in receiving touchdowns (5). The Ohio State product immediately became a focal point in the passing attack, as he's gone over 65 receiving yards in four games.
With Chris Godwin working his way back from a dislocated ankle that he suffered last season, the rookie has been leaned on heavily to start his career. Godwin returned for two games before missing Week 6 against the San Francisco 49ers. That's without mentioning that Mike Evans is also dealing with a hamstring injury that is keeping him sidelined.
Meanwhile, in the backfield, running back Bucky Irving has a foot sprain, and his status for Week 7 is also up in the air. He last played in Week 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Bucs are dealing with an influx of injuries on the offensive side of the ball, which should benefit an already battered Lions secondary.
With D.J. Reed on IR and Terrion Arnold dealing with a shoulder injury, not having one of the league's best WR corps on the field is a plus. In the loss to the Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes carved up the Lions to the tune of 22-of-30 for 257 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. Avoiding a repeat of that in Week 7 is of utmost importance.
The Bucs will likely be leaning on their backup WRs in this contest, giving the Lions a chance to bounce back in this game. It'll be interesting to see if any of these guys return for Tampa Bay, but Detroit will not have to worry about Egbuka in this contest.