The Tampa Bay Buccaneers just snagged rookie wide receiver Matthew Henry, but don’t get it twisted: this isn’t some luxury signing. This is pure necessity, born out of a brutally tough week for their receiving corps as the final stretch of preseason hits.
The Injury Crunch Is No Joke
It’s been a nightmare in practice this week for the Bucs’ wideouts. Emeka Egbuka is nursing a toe injury, Jalen McMillan is battling a knee issue, and Tez Johnson is dealing with a groin problem. All three of those guys have missed practice time, and with the final week of preseason upon them, the team is scrambling. Seriously, that’s three key players sidelined. To make room for Henry, Tampa Bay even had to place rookie defensive lineman Deshawn McKnight on injured reserve, after he went down with a hamstring injury during their preseason win against the Chiefs on Saturday night. The Bucs are banged up, and they need bodies.
Who Is This Matthew Henry Guy?
So, who exactly is the guy stepping into this chaos? Matthew Henry is a rookie wide receiver who just wrapped up his collegiate career last year at Western Kentucky in 2025. He bounced around a bit before that, with stops at Western Illinois and Livingstone College. But don’t sleep on his production for the Hilltoppers: he started all 13 games in 2025, pulling in an impressive 55 passes for 888 yards and six touchdowns. That kind of performance got him named to the All-Conference USA second team. He might have gone undrafted back in April, but he’s already been through rookie minicamps with the Titans and 49ers. He’s been looking for a shot, and now he’s got one right when the Bucs desperately need someone to step up.
This signing is all about depth, right now, as the Bucs try to navigate their final preseason game. With so many key receivers banged up, Henry has a golden opportunity to show what he can do before final roster cuts loom. You gotta wonder if he can make enough noise to stick around. It’s go-time for him and the Bucs.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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