The Tampa Bay Buccaneers formally placed receiver Mike Evans on injured reserve Wednesday, two days after he broke a collarbone that will reportedly require surgery later this week.

If the break was clean, Evans could return in eight weeks for a Week 16 game against the Carolina Panthers. It is also possible he could miss the rest of the regular season.

Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles said Wednesday he’s unsure whether Evans will return this season.

“It’s going to be touch and go,” Bowles said. “We’ll see as we get toward the end of the year. It’s definitely going to be the end of the year — hopefully it’s before that — if we get to the playoffs, we go from there. It may be in the playoffs. It depends on how it heals.”

Evans was hurt while trying to corral a deep throw from Baker Mayfield

See Full Page