The Tampa Bay Buccaneers looked like one of the best teams in the NFL through the first month of the season. They got out to a 5-1 start, but a tough stretch of the schedule and some key injuries have had the team go 2-4 since then.
The Bucs are still in a good position and lead the NFC South. The team should also be getting some playmakers back soon, including wide receivers Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan.
Will Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan Play in Week 14?
The Bucs have been thin at the receiver position for weeks now. Veteran Chris Godwin did return in Week 12, but Evans has been out since Week 7, and McMillan hasn’t played since the preseason.
Evans suffered a broken collarbone in the team’s loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 7. The veteran was added to the injured reserve and had surgery to repair the break.
McMillan, meanwhile, suffered three vertebrae fractures during a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and has been on injured reserve since then.
On Wednesday, the team issued an official announcement that Evans’s 21-day practice window is being activated. The legendary receiver will practice on Wednesday after being medically cleared.
Mike Evans, Jalen McMillan Begin 21-Day Practice Period
Press Release: https://t.co/n7HRBt82nZ
— Buccaneers Communications (@BuccaneersComms) December 3, 2025
The same goes for McMillan, who also had his 21-day window opened after being medically cleared.
#Bucs WR Jalen McMillan is expected to have his 21-day practice window opened today, source said. Some very good news for Tampa Bay. https://t.co/Kve7hDsoao
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 3, 2025
Just because both receivers are practicing doesn’t mean they will play this weekend, though. The 21-day practice window is designed to give players a “ramp-up” period before being thrust back into action. We will have to see what the official injury reports say as we get closer to the weekend.
The Bucs Need to Get Healthy for the Final Stretch
Injuries have been a major problem for the Bucs in 2025, especially on offense.
Evans, McMillan, Godwin, and Bucky Irving are some of the key pieces who have missed time this season. As a result, PFSN’s Offense Impact ranking gives the Bucs a 69.2 grade in 2025, which is 26th in the league. Last year, the unit had an 89.0 grade, which was the second-best mark in the league.
Thanks to the injuries at the receiver spot, rookie Emeka Egbuka has had to shoulder a ton of pressure. The Ohio State product has 52 catches for 791 yards and six touchdowns and leads the team in each of those categories.
Without Evans and McMillan, the team has had to rely on seventh-round rookie Tez Johnson and veteran Sterling Shepard behind Egbuka. That may be good enough to win the NFC South, but the team needs to get healthy for the playoffs.