While it was probably a little premature, even the glimmer of hope the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might get back wide receivers Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan against the New Orleans Saints in Week 14 sent heads spinning.
Could the Buccaneers really be getting close to full strength on offense? After a season where they haven’t even been close to that for a single game?
Everybody’s gonna have to wait.
“Bucs coach Todd Bowles said both Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan are out for Sunday,” Tampa Bay Times reporter Rick Stroud wrote on his official X account on Friday, December 5. “OT Tristan Wirfs is questionable.”
The Buccaneers snapped a 3-game losing streak against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13 and are currently 7-5 with a 1-game lead over the Carolina Panthers.
Evans, who holds the NFL record with 11 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons, has missed a career high 8 games this season with a hamstring injury and a broken collarbone suffered in a Week 7 loss to the Detroit Lions.
McMillan scored 7 of his 8 touchdowns over the last 5 games of the regular season as a rookie in 2024 but he injured his neck in a preseason game.
Surprise Twist in McMillan’s Injury Saga
With the Buccaneers on a bye in Week 9 and McMillan still out with what was thought to be a severely strained neck, Bowles revealed the injury was much more severe than previously thought.
Bowles disclosed McMillan’s injury was actually a fractured neck during an interview on The Ira Kaufman Podcast.
McMillan hurt his neck in a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on August 16 and was initially projected to be out for at least the first 8 games of the regular season. In October, that was amended to McMillan not being able to return until at least Week 14.
“Bucs receiver Jalen McMillan remains in a neck brace two months after his severe sprain in August, but hasn’t had any setbacks,” Fox Sports NFL Reporter Greg Auman wrote on his official X account on October 13. “On course for a December return right now. Some of the original reporting on McMillan’s timetable had mentioned a Week 10 return after the Bucs’ bye, but the expectation was a December return and still is.”
Godwin, Irving Both Look Sharp Against Cardinals
Two weeks ago, common sense told us this was looking like a lost season for wide receiver Chris Godwin after he missed 8 games during a slow, slow recovery from a dislocated left ankle suffered midway through the 2024 regular season.
Godwin sprung back to life against the Cardinals with a season high 3 receptions for 78 yards and looked, against all odds, like one of the NFL’s best wide receivers again.
Running back Bucky Irving returned after a 7-game absence due to a shoulder injury and had 81 yards of total offense and scored on a 13-yard touchdown run. Irving had another touchdown called back on a holding penalty.
From Bleacher Report: “Injuries have been a significant problem for the Bucs in 2025, but Tampa did get one key player back on Sunday. Bucky Irving made his return after missing seven games with shoulder and foot injuries. While Irving averaged just 3.6 yards per carry, he logged 19 touches, tallied 81 scrimmage yards, and found the end zone against Arizona. His presence could potentially play a huge role in Tampa getting back into early-season form.”
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