Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ receiver room remains stretched thin as Week 10 approaches, with Mike Evans still on injured reserve following a broken collarbone and other key playmakers uncertain for Sunday. The question is timing; when can Evans realistically return and rejoin Baker Mayfield in a passing attack that’s already missing its spark?
What Happened to Mike Evans? Latest Update On Buccaneers WR
Evans fractured his collarbone in Week 7 against the Detroit Lions while tracking a deep ball and crashing to the turf, a play that also brought a concussion evaluation. He was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 22, requiring a minimum 4-game absence before he becomes eligible to return. The IR move followed an earlier hamstring issue this season, further limiting his availability for 2025 (four games, 140 yards, one touchdown).
Emeka Egbuka says learning from Mike Evans & Chris Godwin is a cheat code
“When I ask Mike for advice, sometimes he’ll just be like, ‘Dude, you’re Emeka Egbuka. Just out there and ball.’ It just gives me so much confidence.”
(: @Buccaneers)pic.twitter.com/FcmpbrIjED
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) November 4, 2025
Chris Godwin (fibula) and Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) were not spotted at practice, per reports, leaving their Week 10 statuses in doubt. The Buccaneers’ depth chart and practice pattern reflect a receiving corps leaning on rookie Emeka Egbuka and perimeter role players while Evans remains sidelined.
When Will Mike Evans Return From Injury?
Return-to-play guidance for a clean clavicle fracture typically ranges from 6 to 8 weeks, provided there are no setbacks. Evens’ projected return window hints toward the later end, given age and recent soft-tissue history, mapping realistic targets between Week 14 (seven weeks post-injury) and Week 16 (nine weeks) after the Week 7 date.
A complicating factor is Tampa Bay’s short week in Week 15 (Thursday vs. Atlanta); teams frequently avoid debuting a player back from a collision injury on compressed preparation, which makes Week 16 at Carolina a conservative landing spot if medical imaging and contact readiness align with the plan. In procedural terms, Evans must first complete non-contact work, then limited team reps, then full-contact clearance before being activated off IR once the four-game threshold is met.
That cadence preserves collision readiness and reduces the risk of re-injury. Until Evans returns, Tampa’s passing approach will continue to emphasize available weapons, most notably Egbuka, who Bowles said looked “full speed” after the bye, and tight end usage to sustain drives while explosive perimeter threats are limited.
The current Week 10 context further highlights the pressure of the timeline. Godwin has appeared in just two games (six catches, 52 yards) and was again absent midweek, while Irving (71 carries, 237 yards before injury) remains limited by shoulder contact clearance. The Patriots arrive with their own injury concerns (Kayshon Boutte and Rhamondre Stevenson not practicing on Wednesday), but Tampa Bay’s offensive ceiling is still closely tied to getting Evans, and eventually Godwin, back on the field.
The Buccaneers remain 6-2 atop the NFC South, and Evans’ return, projected by multiple analyses for December, would bolster contested-catch situations and red-zone sequencing for the stretch run. Any acceleration to Week 14 would require favorable imaging and practice progression without contact setbacks; conversely, Week 16 is consistent with nine weeks post-fracture and represents the most conservative assessment of collision readiness. Tampa Bay’s practice reports and day-to-day updates will dictate whether the window edges earlier or stays on the longer track.
