TL;DR
- Bucky Irving expected to return Week 13 against Arizona Cardinals after shoulder and foot injuries.
- Mike Evans is eligible to return Week 13 but likely won't, earliest return Week 14.
- Evans' return timeline is six to eight weeks due to fractured clavicle sustained in Week 7.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have to go at least another week without two of their key offensive players, running back Bucky Irving and wide receiver Mike Evans.
Irving's been sidelined since Week 5 due to shoulder and foot injuries, and despite returning to practice lately, he's still awaiting medical clearance.
In the interim, Evans is on injured reserve sidelined by a fractured clavicle sustained during Week 7. Following the Buccaneers' Week 12 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, Evans will have sat out four contests and will be eligible to rejoin play in Week 13.
Here's what we know about the return timelines for both players.
When can we expect Bucky Irving's return?
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Irving is expected to return in Week 13.
"Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving, who has not played since Week 4 vs. The Eagles due to shoulder and foot injuries, is expected to make his return next Sunday vs. The Arizona Cardinals, per sources," Schefter reported.
"Irving looked strong at practice this week and might have been able to play vs. The Rams, but the team decided to hold him out, give him one more week and have him return next Sunday."
During the week, a report surfaced saying that Irving was dealing with a mental health issue as a result of his injury, but FOX Sports' Greg Auman reports that Irving is "in a good place" now and is "close to a return to playing."
Based on Schefter's report, that return will likely come next week.
When can we expect Mike Evans to return?
Although Evans is eligible to be activated from injured reserve next week, it's unlikely that he will be.
Evans was initially given a return timeline of six to eight weeks, and we're just in the fourth week of his absence.
Considering this, the earliest we'd anticipate Evans making a comeback is Week 14, though it's also conceivable he might not be active again until Week 16 or beyond.
Either way, Evans has a good chance to return before the playoffs.
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