When Mike Evans went down with injury in Week 7 against the Detroit Lions, the scene was an absolute nightmare for the Buccaneers and their fans.
Evans, who has been the heart and soul of the franchise since being drafted in 2014, suffered his first major injury in his 12-year career. He went down with a broken collarbone as well as a concussion.
Between how severe the pain seemed to be for Evans, combined with his visible emotion while being carted off the field, it felt like a far cry that he'd be able to return anytime soon. The initial belief was that the last few weeks of the regular season was the best-case scenario, and that the playoffs was a more realistic target for Evans' return.
Ahead of the Buccaneers' Week 13 win over the Arizona Cardinals, NFL Network's Ian Rappaport shared the surprising news that Evans could return as early as next week.
"While his return might not be this week, it could be the next. A determination on Evans' status will be based on medical scans that are coming," wrote Rappaport.
Head coach Todd Bowles further fueled the optimism at his press conference on Monday, sharing that Evans has a possibility to return to practice this week,
Bucs HC Todd Bowles said “it's a possibility” that Mike Evans could return to practice this week.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 1, 2025
The importance of Evans to the Buccaneers can't be overstated. His presence alone would force opposing defenses to shift coverage towards him and open up more opportunities for rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka.
The more weapons the Buccaneers have healthy, the more difficult it becomes to gameplan for their stacked arsenal of weapons. With Evans, as well as Jalen McMillan gearing up for a return, Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay offense could get a massive boost ahead of a playoff push.
Is 1,000 yards still in play for Mike Evans?
The question on everyone's mind, is if Evans still has a chance to pull off a miracle and break his tie with Jerry Rice to set a new NFL record with 12 consecutive 1,000 yard seasons.
Evans currently sits at just 160 yards on the season, meaning he needs 840 yards to make history. It seems unlikely, to say the least. But if there's one thing Buccaneers fans know, it's to never count Evans out.
If he returned in Week 14, he'd need to average a whopping 172 yards per game the rest of the way to reach the milestone. If he returns in Week 15, he'd need to average 215 yards per game.
It's important to note that when Evans returns, the Bucs will be unlikely to pepper him with targets to chase a record, as they'd much rather have him healthy for the playoffs. Still, it's something worth keeping an eye on.
Evans having a chance to return to action less than two months after suffering such a significant injury is a victory in itself, and the Buccaneers will be ecstatic to welcome him back whenever he is ready.