The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got a major update regarding star wide receiver Mike Evans ahead of their crucial matchup with the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night football. Evans has been sidelined since Week 7 with a broken collarbone and the Bucs have certainly missed his production, but he’s prepared to return against Atlanta.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Evans has a “great chance” to play against the Falcons. Earlier this week, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said a return for Evans was “in play,” so it certainly seems like it’s trending toward him being out on the field.
Mike Evans expected to play in Week 15 vs. Falcons
Evans' likely return comes just in time for the Bucs, who are in the midst of a battle to maintain pole position in the NFC South. After a 1-3 start to the season, the Carolina Panthers have won six of their last nine games to turn the heat on in the division race.
Tampa Bay is currently tied with the Carolina at 7-6 at the top of the division, so every single game is extremely important at this point in the season. Whichever team ultimately loses out on the top seed in the division will likely miss out on the playoffs entirely, so the stakes are very high.
Evans will provide quarterback Baker Mayfield with the top target/safety blanket that he has been over the course of his career. As a result, his return could push the NFC south race in Tampa Bay’s favor, and that fact isn’t lost on the coaches in the division.
“The presence of Evans can't be understated,” Fowler wrote. “When I spoke with an NFC South coach about the Panthers vying for the division, the person replied, ‘Mike Evans coming back to change that.’”
Evans' return means that he should be available for both of Tampa Bay's upcoming games against the Panthers. The two teams will play in Carolina in Week 16 and then meet again in Tampa Bay in Week 18. The outcomes of those contests will go a long way towards determining who wins the NFC South and secures a postseason berth.