Why Mike Evans isn't playing today for Buccaneers with injury news, return timeline

Senior Editor
Why Mike Evans isn't playing today for Buccaneers with injury news, return timeline image

David Reginek-Imagn Images

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers remain quite shorthanded.

It's not great timing for it in Week 10, because the Bucs are playing in a matchup of two of the NFL's best teams against the New England Patriots.

Tampa Bay remains without wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, along with running back Bucky Irving.

Evans is the biggest name. He's a future Hall of Famer, and the Buccaneers may still be without him for a while.

MORE: NFL fans think Drake Maye is actually Tom Brady's cloned son

Why isn't Mike Evans playing today?

Mike Evans remains out with an injury.

He's got a broken collarbone, which he injured in Week 7.

After missing time with a hamstring injury early this season, Evans is now out for a longer time with the collarbone injury.

MORE: Why Colts owner is on sideline with a headset during games

When is Mike Evans coming back?

Mike Evans won't be back for another month-plus, at best.

When Evans was initially hurt, NFL Network reported an eight-week recovery would be the fastest for Evans.

That works out to Week 15, and this Sunday coming up is currently Week 10.

The good news there is that it sounds as if Evans will have potential playoff availability.

The bad news is that the Buccaneers will have to do most of the hard work of qualifying for the playoffs without Evans.

If they can beat the Patriots in Week 10 without Evans, Godwin or Irving, that'd be a major statement and send them in a great direction as they await all the returns.

More NFL news:

Contributing Writer