Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans could be a one-man cavalry when Tampa Bay treks to Detroit in a fight atop the NFC standings on Monday night.
Tampa Bay (5-1) owns the best record in the conference and a long list of hurting wide receivers with the Lions (4-2) up next in the primetime rematch of a 20-16 win by the Bucs last season.
Evans was on the field as practice began Thursday, even if he was one of the few players at his position available for work.
Evans would be salve to the wounded offense of the Bucs, who already ruled out rookie standout Emeka Egbuka, the team leader in receptions (27), targets (42), receiving yards (469) and touchdown receptions (five). Egbuka left the Week 6 victory with a strained hamstring last week.
Tampa Bay also ruled out running back Bucky Irving for the third consecutive game with shoulder and foot injuries.
Evans missed Tampa Bay’s games against the Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday), at the Seattle Seahawks (Oct. 5) and San Francisco 49ers (Oct. 12). He was available to practice on Thursday for the first time since sustaining the injury in the fourth quarter of a 29-27 triumph over the New York Jets last month.
Chris Godwin made his return from a dislocated ankle — he was injured in Week 7 of last season and missed the first three games of 2025 — but hasn’t played in a game with Evans since they were both hurt in the Oct. 21, 2024 game against the Ravens.
As Evans primes for his own return, Godwin is dealing with a leg issue and did not play last week.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield had only 12 completions — 10 to Evans (3-42) and Godwin (7-117-1) — but accounted for both Tampa touchdowns in last year’s game, running for an 11-yard TD in the third quarter for the decisive final margin. He was sacked five times, threw an interception and lost one of his two fumbles.
Where Mayfield might be throwing the ball on Monday is unclear if Evans can’t go.
Rachaad White, the starter in Irving’s place the past two weeks, had 10 carries for 18 yards and one reception for five yards in the 2024 matchup with the Lions.
In Detroit, health issues are hitting the secondary for the second season in a row.
Lions safety Kerby Joseph, the NFL leader with nine interceptions in 2024, has separate knee injuries that kept him from finishing last week’s game. Head coach Dan Campbell said the Lions are “reassessing” whether Joseph should rest instead of playing at well under 100 percent on Monday. The other starting safety, Brian Branch, is out this week serving a suspension for triggering a brief fracas at the end of the Lions’ loss to the Chiefs on Sunday night.
Cornerback Terrion Arnold (shoulder) and D.J. Reed (hamstring) remain on injured reserve and fill-in Avonte Maddox is dealing with a hamstring injury.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles has indicated all along the team plans to be extremely cautious with Evans. The 32-year-old also missed three games with a hamstring injury last season and has a history of hamstring ailments during his 12-year career.
He had just four catches for 33 yards against the Jets but did grab his 106th career touchdown reception. He stands ninth in NFL history.
The six-time Pro Bowler is the lone receiver in NFL history to begin a career with 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons. He is also tied with the legendary Jerry Rice (1986-96) for the most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons at any point of a career.
Evans is averaging a career-worst 5.0 yards per target this season. He had only 140 receiving yards through three games so an extended absence could put the streak in jeopardy.
However, Evans had just 335 yards in seven games last season when he was sidelined. He returned to action in late November for Tampa Bay’s 11th game and racked up 669 yards in seven games to end the regular season with 1,004.
