With just five weeks left in the season, the vibes are starting to correct themselves for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Less than two months after breaking his clavicle in a loss to the Lions, Mike Evans is surprisingly nearing his return to the lineup.
Initially, it was feared that Evans would be lost for the season when he went down back in early October. The Bucs didn't rule him out, though, and now we're learning why. On Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter passed along word that there's a "possibility" that Evans returns as early as next Sunday.
Bucs HC Todd Bowles said “it's a possibility” that Mike Evans could return to practice this week.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 1, 2025
Buccaneers could be getting Mike Evans back at exactly the right time
There's a lot to unpack here, not the least of which is the fact that the Bucs have done this weird thing all season where they're cagey and unspecific about injury timelines. We all lived that life with Bucky Irving and Chris Godwin, with the latter having been week-to-week for over a month.
Transparency is not the name of the game when it comes to the Bucs being clear about injuries, but the vibes of this latest report are what matter most.
Chances are Evans won't be back for next Sunday's game against the Saints, but the fact that he's fighting his way back goes a long way toward helping get everything back on track at the exact right time.
The Bucs snapped a three game losing streak on Sunday by beating the Cardinals and have a clear path to winning the NFC South for a fifth straight season. If Tampa Bay wins its next three games, it will clinch the division with three weeks left to play.
It's going to be easier said than done, but the offense got Bucky Irving back in Week 13 and Godwin looked like his old self. If Emeka Egbuka can turn it back on, then Evans returning to the offense would be something that could power the Bucs on a nice little playoff run.
We'll see when he actually comes back, but the fact that Evans is already nearing his return when things were so bleak not that long ago is exactly the kind of good news everyone needs right now.