The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been one of the most injury-riddled squads in the entire league. Starting the year without key offensive linemen like Tristan Wirfs and wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr., there has been no respite for them in the first 10 weeks of the season.
As it currently stands, names like Bucky Irving, Mike Evans, and Jalen McMillan, alongside the aforementioned Godwin, have been out of the lineup for an extended time this year. With the playoff picture starting to take shape, can the Buccaneers get healthier at the right time?
When Will Buccaneers Stars Return?
Bucky Irving
A standout for them last season, Irving quickly became a critical piece to their puzzle. This year, he started strong, before a combination of a subluxation of his shoulder and a sprain in his foot put him on the sidelines.
Since then, he hasn’t suited up once after Week 4. That has resulted in the team squandering a 3-0 start to a 6-3 record through Week 10. Finally, though, things have started to trend in the right direction when it comes to their star running back.
After being a limited participant in all three practices this week, a return is coming sooner rather than later. However, Week 11 against the Buffalo Bills, who have the worst run defense in the league, isn’t going to be that night.
Even though he was declared out for the game by head coach Todd Bowles, he did not rule out the possibility of the fourth-ranked running back on PFSN’s RB Impact last season coming back against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 12.
Chris Godwin
Similar to Irving, Godwin has been a virtual no-show throughout the year. After missing the first three weeks with a torn ACL that he suffered near the end of the 2024 campaign, his return lasted just two weeks before another blow to his fibula.
Since then, he’s been out of the lineup amidst the Buccaneers’ collapse. But a return to practice this week could signal a potential return in Week 12 for the star number two wide receiver as well.
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However, before their Week 10 clash against the New England Patriots, reporting from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler suggested that Tampa Bay could exercise caution with one of the premier names on their roster and wait until late November or even early December to bring him back.
Mike Evans
With rising age, Mike Evans has been a bit of an injury concern, particularly with his hamstring. However, this year, things took a brutal turn when he suffered a concussion and a broken collarbone against the Detroit Lions.
Undergoing surgery, he was placed on the injured reserve list, with an expected recovery time of six to eight weeks at a minimum. That puts him in line to return no sooner than Week 14.
However, as far as the Bucs are concerned, he should be back in time for the postseason, where they will be hoping to make significant noise with a healthier roster.
Jalen McMillan
Broken bones in the neck are about as dangerous a sentence as you can read as a wide receiver. But that is precisely what Jalen McMillan has dealt with all season long. First injured in a preseason game, he has yet to suit up for a game this year.
The healing process has been slow, but a return this season isn’t entirely out of the realm of possibility. So far, it’s been dependent on how that process continues in the coming weeks and months.
But a return in December hasn’t been completely ruled out by Bowles.
