It is no secret that the Bucs have a loaded wide receiver room.

At the top of the perch sit Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr. Beyond the two best wide receivers in team history, Emeka Egbuka is waiting in the wings to reach that level, having already earned the honor of being the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Month. Beyond that trio is Jalen McMillan, who is a promising wideout recovering from a neck injury, followed by seasoned veteran Sterling Shepard.

With all of that talent, it is easy for someone to get lost in the shuffle.

After making the 53-man roster last year and getting injured, Kameron Johnson’s chances to once again make the team appeared slim. Battling injuries again throughout training camp made it all the more difficult, but he came out on the other side and survived the summer.

Johnson has settled in as Tampa Bay’s primary punt returner, making the most of his chance to carve out his niche, utilizing his God-given abilities and leaning on his faith in the process.

Kameron Johnson Has Been Bucs Special Teams Sparkplug

After missing the Bucs’ first two preseason games, Kameron Johnson made the most of his playing time in the preseason finale against the Bills. Johnson had a 57-yard kick return on his lone runback, while also returning two punts for 27 yards.

It is one thing to do it in the preseason, but another to make a similar impact in an actual NFL game. Johnson first ripped off a 54-yard return in the team’s season-opener against the Falcons. That came in a key moment as things were tied up 10-10 in the third quarter. His field-flipping return gave quarterback Baker Mayfield and the offense the ball at Atlanta’s 32. From there, Mayfield led the team on a five-play touchdown drive that gave them a 17-10 lead as they fought to win the game 23-20.

Bucs WR-PR Kameron Johnson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Johnson then did his best to support the offense with his punt returns last Sunday against the Eagles. Although the Bucs lost the game 31-25, the former undrafted free agent stood out with six punt returns for 100 yards, averaging 16.7 yards per return. Those numbers were buoyed by 46 and 27-yard returns, which were electrifying plays that provided life when things were lifeless.

Humbly speaking about those moments and his hot start, Johnson shared that he is grateful to just be out there.

“It’s a blessing,” Johnson said. “Any chance you get to help an NFL team and change an NFL game just by a few seconds, just by one play, it’s bigtime. Just trying to keep my head down and stay humble, doing what I can to help this team.”

All while providing a spark on special teams.

“I’m just using my God-given ability to help this team as much as I can,” Johnson added.”

Emeka Egbuka And Kameron Johnson Share Strong Faith, Brotherhood

Through all the injuries Kameron Johnson has battled at the start of his NFL career, the Bucs wide receiver has stayed faithful. Johnson told Pewter Report that one Book of the Bible he relates to most is the story of Job.

To briefly summarize, the Book of Job tells the story of a righteous man who endured immense suffering as a test of faith, challenging the idea that suffering is always a punishment for sin. Through all of Job’s struggles, he trusted in God to go beyond his own understanding, a strong testament of faith in the midst of extreme adversity.

Johnson has leaned on Job’s story while authoring his own.

Bucs WR-PR Kameron Johnson – Photo by: USA Today

“I never dealt with so many injuries since coming in, so staying healthy and being on the field playing the sport I love,” Johnson said on his focus through it all. “That has been the biggest blessing. The injuries have been so frustrating, just having faith in God that He didn’t bring me this far just to leave me and abandon me. I’m just leaning on my word, that’s really what has gotten me through everything.”

Emeka Egbuka, also someone of strong faith, has remained equally as humble despite the success and accolades he has achieved through the first month of his NFL career. Egbuka was happy to discuss how close the two have gotten, pointing it back to the team’s Bible study many players attend.

“We do Bible studies every Thursday, so we got it today at 2:20 in like 40 minutes,” Egbuka said. “[Kameron] was one of the first people that I kind of met when I got drafted here. We got acquainted quickly, we’re both returners. We’re out there at every practice catching punts together, stuff like that. He’s big in his faith too, having that relationship in the wide receiver room was big for me coming in.”

With how much they have gotten to know each other, Egbuka and Johnson are pretty much brothers.

“The thing is on a football team, especially throughout camp and stuff, you guys are together so much that you build relationships with everybody,” Egbuka added. “Kam being a receiver, we’re in the same meetings 24/7. I see Kam more than any one of my family members. I’m not mad at that fact, he’s a really cool person to be around. Really level-headed, really chill. Someone who you just feel comfortable with when you first get to meet him.”

Kameron Johnson Runs With “Straight Anger” Fielding Punts

Having solidified himself as the Bucs’ punt returner, Kameron Johnson’s job is safe. It did not always appear that way, but Johnson has carved out an important role what is the NFL’s most talented wide receiver room when healthy.

Bucs WR Kameron Johnson – Photo by: USA Today

“When you have a room just as talented as we do, you just got to find what your niche is,” Johnson said. “Knowing what you’re good at and excel in it. We all bring so much different stuff to the table. Everybody can do so much, you just got to find what you can do and execute at the highest level.”

Special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey discussed just how “dynamic” Johnson has been back there fielding punts. In particular, his skillset is the perfect blend of quickness and intangibles.

“His short-area quickness, his play strength,” McGaughey said when pointing to how Johnson has been successful. “Kam is a smaller guy, but he’s not small at all. He’s a very compact, strong runner. He has really good short-area quickness, he can stick his foot in the ground, he can change direction, and he can run through arm tackles; he just loves it.

Bucs WR Kameron Johnson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“He’s embracing his role as a returner right now. It’s something that we saw in him last year, but he had the high-ankle sprain and all that stuff, so we worked on this offseason, and it’s fun just to see him grow.”

When the ball hits his hands, Kameron Johnson goes from being mild-mannered to running with “straight anger.”

“I’m looking at trying to make somebody miss and then trying not to go down at first contact,” Johnson said.

So far, so good.