Sunday was without a doubt the easiest win of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' season, but that's not really saying much. After five straight games of one-score, down-to-the-wire finishes, the Bucs were able to get into victory formation for the first time in a 30-19 win over the 49ers.
One player who wasn't on the field is star wide receiver Mike Evans. He hasn't been on the field since Week 3 when he left a win over the Jets early with a hamstring injury. Losing him wasn't a fatal blow, but it's the second straight season the Bucs have been forced to play multiple games without Evans and the missed time has cut into his pursuit of reaching 1,000 yards for a record-setting 11th consecutive season.
The wait might finally be over, though. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Evans is expected to practice this week and Todd Bowles noted that it's on the table for the star receiver to make his return in Week 7.
Good news for the #Bucs: The hope is Mike Evans, Benjamin Morrison and Zyon McCollum can return to practice this week.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 13, 2025
Bad news for the #Bucs: RB Bucky Irving and WR Chris Godwin Jr. are likely out this week, per coach Todd Bowles.
It couldn't be more perfectly timed.
Mike Evans could return for Buccaneers in Week 7 vs. Lions
When Evans went down with his hamstring injury, star rookie Emeka Egbuka stepped up in a big way to fill his shoes. He played so well that he rocketed to the front of the Offensive Rookie of the Year race by posting 264 yards and two touchdowns over the first two games without Evans in the lineup.
Now it's Egbuka who is down with a hamstring injury, which makes the timing of Evans' return a bit ironic. Not having Egbuka but getting Evans back is perfect timing, even if it's not the most ideal circumstance. There will come a time when Egbuka, Evans, and Chris Godwin are all healthy on the field together but that won't happen this upcoming week.
There's a chance that Egbuka plays since it's a long week and he has more time that usual to get healthy, but it feels like a longshot. Players who exit games with hamstring injuries rarely avoid missing at least one game, something Bucs fans just experienced with Evans.
Hopefully it's not a three-week absence for Egbuka, but the return of Evans will at least replenish the offense. Baker Mayfield is playing at an MVP-level despite the barrage of injuries, which bodes well for getting Evans back on track to hit 1,000 yards this season.
If he returns on Monday he'll need to average around 80 yards per game, which is very achievable given how hot the offense has been. If he takes over the type of production that Egbuka was posting, then not only will the offense keep humming, but Evans' chase for history will get back on track in a big way.