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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers improved to 6-2 following their 23-3 win over the New Orleans Saints but did so without some of their top contributors on offense.
Buccaneers all-time leading receiver Mike Evans was forced to miss the game after suffering a broken collarbone in the team’s loss to the Detroit Lions on “Monday Night Football” in Week 7.
Entering Week 7, Evans missed the previous three games with a hamstring injury. The collarbone injury he suffered is the long-term variety which required surgery, keeping him off the field for an extended stretch.
Baker Mayfield would rely heavily on Evans, whose stretch of at least 1,000 yards receiving every season of his 11-year NFL career will come to an end. His absence is a significant blow to the Buccaneers’ offense.
Like many teams around the NFL, Tampa Bay is dealing with many injuries across its roster. Chris Godwin and Bucky Irving have missed multiple games, forcing ancillary pieces to step up.
With Tampa Bay poised to be an NFC contender, when will Evans be able to return to the field?
Here’s the latest on the Buccaneers’ veteran:
When will Mike Evans return?
Evans’ injury will keep him off the field for most of the season but the door is open for a return in December.
According to multiple reports, Evans will undergo surgery to repair the clavicle fracture, with NFL Network indicating the injury as a “clean break,” which suggests a return in eight weeks with no setbacks.
The eight‑week timeline from the point of the injury could have Evans lined up to return in Week 15, when the Buccaneers host the Falcons on “Thursday Night Football” on Dec. 11, or in Week 16, on the road against the Panthers on Dec. 21.
Evans was officially placed on injured reserve (IR) which requires him to miss at least four games. But the injury will keep him out longer than the required four games.
The Buccaneers are in first place atop the NFC South entering the halfway point of the regular season and hope Evans can return during a playoff push down the stretch.
Buccaneers WR depth chart
Here’s a look at who the Buccaneers will have at wide receiver while Evans remains sidelined:
Godwin reaggravated his fibula injury and missed Week 8, and his status remains up in the air. Without the pair of vets, rookie Egbuka, who was the team’s first-round pick in this year’s draft has led the receivers and is among the league leaders in receiving (seventh in receiving yards – 562) and (tied for third in receiving TDs – 5).
McMillan remains sidelined with a neck injury, which has forced the 10-year vet Shepard alongside rookie seventh-rounder Tez Johson.