As if having one great young wide receiver was not enough, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might just have three.
On Sunday's win over the San Francisco 49ers, Baker Mayfield was without his top targets Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. So when Emeka Egbuka also went down with an injury, it was worth wondering who in the world Mayfield was going to throw the pigskin to.
The good news is, apparently, receivers do grow on trees in Tampa Bay. In a breakout performance, a pair of young pass-catchers by the last name "Johnson" came in clutch for Tampa, each finding the endzone for the first time in their careers.
Thought one great young receiver was enough? The Buccaneers might have three!
Let's start with Tez Johnson, the seventh-round pick out of Oregon. Johnson had just one eight-yard catch in three targets when the Buccaneers flew out to Seattle. He came out of his shell against the Seahawks, catching four passes for 59 yards, including a 27-yard reception, the longest of his young career.
Then, against San Francisco, Johnson landed a new career-long reception, breaking free for a 45-yard touchdown catch, the first of his career.
With a healthy receiving corps, Johnson would have been competing with Sterling Shepard and Jalen McMillan for the No. 4 role, but with Evans, Godwin, Egbuka, and McMillan all injured, he might just be the best option for Baker Mayfield.
What's that, you say? The best healthy receiver on the Bucs might be Kameron Johnson?
Kameron Johnson, the undrafted second-year wideout who had not caught a pass until today? The 23-year-old special teams player who played college football at Barton College, a D-II liberal arts school?
Yes, the same Kameron Johnson who caught four passes for 64 yards and a touchdown against the 49ers. What a way to seize the opportunity!
Rest assured the future of the Tampa Bay receiving corps is in good hands.