The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are moving closer to having their offense back at full strength. Wide receivers Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan were designated to return from injured reserve on Wednesday, opening a 21-day window during which they can practice and be activated at any time. They will not count against the 53-man roster until officially activated.
Evans was placed on injured reserve on October 22 after suffering a fractured clavicle against the Detroit Lions. He also missed three games earlier in the season due to a hamstring injury, appearing in only four contests and recording 14 catches for 140 yards and one touchdown. McMillan has been sidelined since sustaining a neck injury in a preseason game at Pittsburgh, which required him to wear a brace for several months. Both players have already served the required four-game minimum on injured reserve.
The Buccaneers recently welcomed Chris Godwin back after he missed five games with a fibula injury. Tampa Bay has yet to play a game in 2025 with both Godwin and Evans, two of the franchise’s all-time leading receivers, on the field together. With rookie standout Emeka Egbuka emerging quickly, the Bucs could soon boast one of the deepest receiving corps in the NFL if Evans and McMillan return to action.
Evans ranks as the franchise’s all-time leader in nearly every receiving category and is 10th in NFL history with 106 touchdown receptions. Last season, he led Tampa Bay with 74 catches for 1,004 yards and 11 touchdowns, marking his 11th consecutive 1,000-yard season and tying Jerry Rice’s record. McMillan made a strong impact in the latter half of his rookie year, finishing with 37 receptions for 461 yards and eight touchdowns, including seven scores over the final six weeks—the most in the NFL during that span.
With five games remaining in the regular season, the Buccaneers currently hold a slim half-game lead over the Carolina Panthers as they chase a fifth straight NFC South title. The return of Evans and McMillan would vastly improve their chances.
