Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) is helped off the field after an injury against the Detroit Lions during the first half at Ford Field.

Help is on the way as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ready up for a final push to an NFC South division title.

On Wednesday, Dec. 3, the Buccaneers opened the 21-day practice window for veteran wide receiver Mike Evans, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. The 12-year NFL veteran broke his collarbone in Tampa Bay's Week 7 clash with the Detroit Lions, and he's missed five games since the injury.

Evans has missed a total of eight games this season with various injuries – a hamstring injury held him out for Weeks 4-6 before his more recent injury took him out for at least five games. It's unclear how much more time he'll miss, but his return to practice indicates the Buccaneers plan to activate him from injured reserve (IR) soon.

It's big news for the Buccaneers, who hold a half-game lead over the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South race. Tampa Bay just saw fellow veteran receiver Chris Godwin return in Week 12 and running back Bucky Irving return in Week 13. Evans is one of the last players the Bucs need to return to get back to full strength.

Here's the latest injury update for Evans:

When will Mike Evans return?

Evans has been on the IR since breaking his collarbone in Week 7, but the Bucs opened his 21-day practice window on Dec. 3, according to an NFL Media report. That means Tampa Bay has until Christmas Eve – Dec. 24 – to activate the veteran wide receiver or declare his season over.

Evans will return to practice in Week 14 and hope to avoid any setbacks ahead of a potential return in one of the final weeks of the regular season – just in time for a push to clinch the division and a playoff run.

Because Evans has missed so much time with his hamstring and collarbone injuries, his late-season return is too late to save his streak of consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. His run of prolific production will end after 11 seasons, leaving him tied for the all-time record.

Mike Evans stats

Unless Evans can stack together multiple games with more than 300 yards in each, his streak of 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career will end in 2025. Here's how his stats look through 13 weeks and four games played:

  • Targets: 32
  • Receptions: 14
  • Receiving yards: 140
  • Yards/reception: 10
  • Touchdowns: 1

Last year, Evans reached 1,004 receiving yards in 14 games, tying him with Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in NFL history. The Buccaneers receiver is also the sole record-holder for most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to begin a career and owns the franchise record in single-season receiving touchdowns (14 in 2021).

Buccaneers WR depth chart

  • Mike Evans (IR – collarbone)
  • Chris Godwin
  • Emeka Egbuka
  • Tez Johnson
  • Jalen McMillan (IR – back)
  • Sterling Shepard
  • Ryan Miller
  • Kameron Johnson
  • Jaden Smith (IR – undisclosed)

The Buccaneers' receivers room has been hit especially hard by injuries this year. Rookies Egbuka and Tez Johnson have both stepped up in the absences of Evans and Godwin, the latter of whom just played two consecutive games for the second time all season.

McMillan, like Evans, had his 21-day practice window open on Dec. 3, setting up a 2025 debut soon after last year's rookie breakout season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Evans injury update: How long is Buccaneers WR out?

Reporting by Jack McKessy, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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