The Buccaneers are heading into a critical divisional matchup against the Saints this Sunday, and they'll be doing it without two key pieces of their receiving corps. Mike Evans and rookie Jalen McMillan, both of whom returned to practice in a limited capacity this week, have officially been ruled out. While the team opened their 21-day practice window, neither receiver has been activated from injured reserve just yet.
Evans, the franchise's all-time leader in receiving yards and touchdowns, has been sidelined since suffering a broken collarbone back on October 20 against the Lions. He’s been making progress-running routes and looking sharp in drills-but head coach Todd Bowles made it clear on Friday that the team isn’t rushing him back.
“He’ll be out this week,” Bowles said. “He ran some routes and looks good, but just getting back, so we’ll give him a chance to get acclimated.”
As for McMillan, the rookie wideout has been out since the preseason after sustaining a serious neck injury-fractures and ligament damage-on a catch against the Steelers back on August 16. It’s been a long road back, but Bowles sounded encouraged by what he’s seen from both players in practice.
“I feel great about it,” Bowles said. “They look good.”
That’s the good news. The more pressing concern heading into Sunday might be on the offensive line.
Left tackle Tristan Wirfs, a cornerstone of the Bucs’ protection unit, didn’t practice all week until Friday and is officially listed as questionable with an oblique injury. That’s a tough spot to be in, especially with a quick turnaround looming-the Bucs host the Falcons on Thursday night.
If Wirfs can’t go, the team has a few contingency plans. One option is to slide rookie center Graham Barton back to left tackle, where he started the first four games of the season.
That would likely trigger a domino effect on the interior: Ben Bredeson would move from left guard to center, and Mike Jordan would step in at guard. Another possibility is plugging in swing tackle Charlie Heck directly at left tackle.
Bowles, however, wasn’t tipping his hand.
“We’ll see if Tristan plays or not,” he said. “But I won’t reveal that option at this time.”
The Bucs are still very much in the thick of the NFC South race, and every game counts. With Evans and McMillan sidelined and Wirfs’ status up in the air, Tampa Bay will need to rely on its depth-and fast.
The Saints are coming to town, and the Falcons are right behind them. The next five days could go a long way in shaping the Bucs’ postseason hopes.