The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have endured a brutal injury situation in 2025, with key players dropping like flies throughout the campaign.
Entering Week 13, the team hasn't played a single game with its entire starting offensive line together, with Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke both missing multiple games and right guard Cody Mauch out for the season after suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 2.
The much-anticipated wide receiver room headlined by Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr., Jalen McMillan, and rookie Emeka Egbuka have yet to play a single game together., with all three of the team's leading receivers from last season missing multiple games.
Calijah Kancey, who appeared poised for a breakout season after a strong start, tore his pectoral muscle back in Week 2 and has been out ever since. Bucky Irving has been out since Week 4 due to a combination of injuries and personal struggles.
To put the cherry on top on one of the league's worst injury situations, quarterback Baker Mayfield went down with a sprained shoulder on Sunday Night Football in Week 12 against the Rams.
All that to say, it's been a nightmare season for the Buccaneers in the injury department. But luckily, in a season full of bad news, head coach Todd Bowles finally provided some much-needed good news with a handful of key players having a chance to return in time for a playoff run.
Mike Evans, Calijah Kancey, and Jalen McMillan expected to return this season for Buccaneers
Bowles told reporters that Evans, McMillan, and Kancey have been working hard to get back on the field. He believes they will all be back before the end of the regular season, but in typical Bowles fashion, couldn't provide any additional information or a specific target date for their respective returns.
The news comes just after it was revealed that Irving is expected to return in Week 13 against the Cardinals for the first time since Week 4, and that Mayfield avoided a major injury after injuring his shoulder in Week 12 and is miraculously also in play to take the field against Arizona.
Getting back these key players would be a major boost for the Buccaneers. They are currently neck-and-neck with the Carolina Panthers in the race for the NFC South title with six games remaining, and could use all the reinforcements they could get.
Evans in particular is the heart and soul of the franchise, and his presence would be a blessing for Mayfield and the offense.
McMillan recorded an impressive 8 receiving touchdowns as a rookie, but a neck injury suffered in the preseason has prevented him from following up on his impressive rookie campaign. Getting both Evans and McMillan back in time for a playoff push would be just what the doctor ordered for a struggling unit.
Kancey had been one of the most impressive players on defense early in the season before his injury ripped a potential breakout season away from him. The team has really struggled to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks without blitzing, and Kancey's return would help the pass rush and the run defense in a major way.
This flurry of good news could be the light at the tunnel for Tampa Bay in a season that has been derailed by injuries. After a 5-1 start with the NFC's No. 1 seed within reach, Tampa Bay has since fallen to 6-5 and are fighting for their lives in the playoff hunt.
But with so many key players now expected to return for the home stretch, the Buccaneers have a real chance to get back on track and finish the regular season strong before cruising into the playoffs the healthiest they've been all season.