The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got running back Bucky Irving back last week and saw an immediate uptick in their production. More importantly, they were able to snap a 3-game losing streak.
More help could be on the way.
“Sources: Bucs legendary WR Mike Evans is having his practice window opened off IR, and he’ll return to practice today,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account on Wednesday, December 3. “A quicker than expected return from a broken clavicle, Evans has been medically cleared. So Jalen McMillan and Evans practice today.”
There’s really no qualifying what it might mean to the Buccaneers to get both Evans and McMillan back at this point of the season. Evans has missed a career high 8 games this season with a hamstring injury and the broken collarbone suffered in a Week 7 loss to the Detroit Lions.
Evans tied Jerry Rice’s NFL career record with his 11th consecutive season of at least 1,000 receiving yards in 2024 and had hoped to make the record his own in 2025 before being hit with the injury bug.
Sitting at 7-5 and in a dogfight for first place in the NFC South Division with the Carolina Panthers with 5 games left in the regular season, Evans could still make his mark in 2025.
Buccaneers Wide Receivers Decimated by Injuries
Last year’s 3 starting wide receivers for the Buccaneers were Evans, McMillan and Chris Godwin — a group that has only played in 7 out of a possible 31 games this season.
McMillan was thought to have a severely sprained neck after falling awkwardly during a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and was thought to be out until at least Week 9. His return was delayed even further when it was revealed McMillan actually had broken bones in his neck.
Godwin missed 8 games with lingering issues with a fractured fibula suffered in Week 7 of the 2024 regular season but finally seemed like the player the Buccaneers signed to a 3-year, $66 million contract in March against the Cardinals.
Godwin had 3 receptions for 78 yards in the win and showed the spark that’s made him one of the NFL’s best receivers the last 5 years, although he did drop a point blank touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield in the first quarter.
“It was amazing. I definitely felt a lot more like myself,” Godwin told The Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud after the game. “Just being out there, being able to make some plays and helping our team to a win.”
Evans Could Be Difference Maker for Buccaneers
The Buccaneers and their fans are sure to celebrate the return of Evans, a potential future Pro Football Hall of Famer and one of the most popular players in franchise history.
Some of them might actually be putting a little too much into his return. Which isn’t totally unheard of for NFL fans.
“Bucs fans doing the 1,000 yard season math if Mike Evans returns next week or the next,” Buccaneers fan Tampa Jay wrote on X. “Week 14 Return: 172/game Week 15 Return: 215/game.”
“Mike Evans’ next TD in Raymond James will heal generational trauma,” WFLA’s Rhett Matthew wrote on X on December 2.
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