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    • When will Mike Evans return? Latest Buccaneers WR injury updates
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    When will Mike Evans return? Latest Buccaneers WR injury updates

    Madoc Meredith Posted on

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    The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are hamstrung by injuries in 2024, and Mike Evans’ hamstring is no exception.

    Tampa has already been without Chris Godwin for the remainder of the season and is living life without some of its most prominent stars. However, unlike Godwin, Evans is expected to return this season. After leaving the team during the “Monday Night Football” showdown against the Baltimore Ravens, the receiver has been out ever since.

    Evans was a key figure in the Buccaneers’ offense, scoring six touchdowns in seven games. Between Evans and Godwin, this has left a big hole in the team’s offense and forced Baker Mayfield to trust some inexperienced players. Here’s a look at how long the Buccaneers’ life without Evans will last.

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    When will Mike Evans return?

    While there is no clear timetable for Evans’ return, it is notable that Tampa decided against placing him on injured reserve. That would have kept him out of four games and allowed his earliest possible return in Week 13 against the Panthers.

    Instead of holding the receiver back until December, the Bucs are hoping to get Evans back a week earlier against the New York Giants in Week 12. Head coach Todd Bowles described the injury as a “moderate” hamstring strain.

    This injury is nothing new for Evans, who has had more than his fair share of hamstring issues over the years. The injury caused him to miss two practices prior to Week 7 before having a limited practice session on Saturday and playing on Monday. The problem emerged in Tampa’s game against New Orleans in Week 6 and only got worse over time.

    If Evans were to return after the team’s bye in Week 11, he would have missed games against the Falcons, Chiefs and 49ers.

    It should be noted that while Evans is no stranger to the injury report, we don’t typically see him miss games. The 31-year-old is a fixture on the Bucs’ court and has only missed more than two games once in his first ten seasons.

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    When did Mike Evans’ injury occur?

    Evans suffered his injury in Week 7 on Monday Night Football against the Baltimore Ravens.

    The recipient, already tempting fate, decided to get dressed anyway. He left with about seven minutes left in the second quarter. He completed one of three targets for 25 yards and a touchdown.

    However, nothing looked particularly strange about the piece. Mayfield threw a strike into the end zone and Evans was pulled to the ground as the ball slipped through his hands. At this point, in obvious pain, he turned around and grabbed the offending thigh muscle. He left the field under his own power.

    Buccaneers WR depth chart

    With Mike Evans out for the foreseeable future, here’s what the Buccaneers’ depth chart looks like at wide receiver:

    Without Evans and Godwin, the Bucs are down to five receivers on their 53-man roster. Jalen McMillan is the most likely option to handle the majority of the receiving workload, but there is no clear top option among these five. Injuries have meant a change in philosophy for the team.

    As a result, Mayfield targeted Cade Otton 20 times between Weeks 7 and 8. The tight end has quickly earned the trust of his quarterback, while the three-headed monster of running backs is picking up the slack elsewhere. Liam Coen’s offense utilizes Rachaad White, Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker in both the rushing and receiving roles, which could make Tampa a difficult offense to defend if Evans returns.

    All players and plays: Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletters for exclusive NFL analysis.

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    Madoc Meredith
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