Mike Evans injury update: How long is Buccaneers WR out? Jack McKessy, USA TODAY December 4, 2025 at 2:08 AM 0 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 21day practice window for veteran wide receiver Mike Evans, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. The 12year 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.
- - Mike Evans injury update: How long is Buccaneers WR out?
Jack McKessy, USA TODAY December 4, 2025 at 2:08 AM
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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.
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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:
their new "Rivalries" uniform for the "Sunday Night Football" game, which the Patriots won, 23-20.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Week 5: Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel makes a catch against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium. The Bills wore their new "Rivalries" uniform for the "Sunday Night Football" game, which the Patriots won, 23-20.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/nCGRkAD class=caas-img data-headline="Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season" data-caption="
Week 5: Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel makes a catch against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium. The Bills wore their new "Rivalries" uniform for the "Sunday Night Football" game, which the Patriots won, 23-20.
">Week 5: Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel makes a catch against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium. The Bills wore their new "Rivalries" uniform for the "Sunday Night Football" game, which the Patriots won, 23-20.
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Week 5: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield awaits the snap against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Both teams wore throwback uniforms in the Buccaneers' 38-35 win. The Buccaneers and Seahawks entered the NFL together as expansion teams in 1976.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/45glfYr class=caas-img data-headline="Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season" data-caption="
Week 5: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield awaits the snap against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Both teams wore throwback uniforms in the Buccaneers' 38-35 win. The Buccaneers and Seahawks entered the NFL together as expansion teams in 1976.
">Week 5: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield awaits the snap against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Both teams wore throwback uniforms in the Buccaneers' 38-35 win. The Buccaneers and Seahawks entered the NFL together as expansion teams in 1976.
" src=https://ift.tt/45glfYr class=caas-img>
"Monday Night Football" game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Empower Field at Mile High. The Broncos wore their "Midnight Navy" uniforms for the 28-3 win.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Week 4: Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) hands the ball off to running back J.K. Dobbins during the "Monday Night Football" game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Empower Field at Mile High. The Broncos wore their "Midnight Navy" uniforms for the 28-3 win.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/VtjFhPz class=caas-img data-headline="Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season" data-caption="
Week 4: Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) hands the ball off to running back J.K. Dobbins during the "Monday Night Football" game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Empower Field at Mile High. The Broncos wore their "Midnight Navy" uniforms for the 28-3 win.
">Week 4: Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) hands the ball off to running back J.K. Dobbins during the "Monday Night Football" game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Empower Field at Mile High. The Broncos wore their "Midnight Navy" uniforms for the 28-3 win.
" src=https://ift.tt/VtjFhPz class=caas-img>a 27-21 win on "Monday Night Football" at Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins wore their new their Nike "Rivalries" uniforms – the team version dubbed "Dark Waters."
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Week 4: Miami Dolphins running back De'von Achane rushes the ball against the New York Jets during a 27-21 win on "Monday Night Football" at Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins wore their new their Nike "Rivalries" uniforms – the team version dubbed "Dark Waters."
" data-src=https://ift.tt/ngOP8cm class=caas-img data-headline="Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season" data-caption="
Week 4: Miami Dolphins running back De'von Achane rushes the ball against the New York Jets during a 27-21 win on "Monday Night Football" at Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins wore their new their Nike "Rivalries" uniforms – the team version dubbed "Dark Waters."
">Week 4: Miami Dolphins running back De'von Achane rushes the ball against the New York Jets during a 27-21 win on "Monday Night Football" at Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins wore their new their Nike "Rivalries" uniforms – the team version dubbed "Dark Waters."
" src=https://ift.tt/ngOP8cm class=caas-img>the first NFL team to wear the new Nike "Rivalries" uniform in a game. The Seahawks won the game, 23-20.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Week 4: The Arizona Cardinals defense tackles Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (15) during the first quarter of a "Thursday Night Football" game at State Farm Stadium. The Cardinals became the first NFL team to wear the new Nike "Rivalries" uniform in a game. The Seahawks won the game, 23-20.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/mhJg1Q4 class=caas-img data-headline="Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season" data-caption="
Week 4: The Arizona Cardinals defense tackles Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (15) during the first quarter of a "Thursday Night Football" game at State Farm Stadium. The Cardinals became the first NFL team to wear the new Nike "Rivalries" uniform in a game. The Seahawks won the game, 23-20.
">Week 4: The Arizona Cardinals defense tackles Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (15) during the first quarter of a "Thursday Night Football" game at State Farm Stadium. The Cardinals became the first NFL team to wear the new Nike "Rivalries" uniform in a game. The Seahawks won the game, 23-20.
" src=https://ift.tt/mhJg1Q4 class=caas-img>
Week 3: New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (5) stiff arms Seattle Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) during the second quarter at Lumen Field. The Saints wore their all-white uniform and helmet combo for the first time in the 44-13 loss.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/8H3LWn5 class=caas-img data-headline="Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season" data-caption="
Week 3: New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (5) stiff arms Seattle Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) during the second quarter at Lumen Field. The Saints wore their all-white uniform and helmet combo for the first time in the 44-13 loss.
">Week 3: New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (5) stiff arms Seattle Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) during the second quarter at Lumen Field. The Saints wore their all-white uniform and helmet combo for the first time in the 44-13 loss.
" src=https://ift.tt/8H3LWn5 class=caas-img>Week 3: San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey carries the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers wore throwback jerseys - an homage to the team's 1950s look, as well as its 1994 Super Bowl-winning season - in the 16-15 win against the Cardinals.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/euDCTn1 class=caas-img data-headline="Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season" data-caption="
Week 3: San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey carries the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers wore throwback jerseys - an homage to the team's 1950s look, as well as its 1994 Super Bowl-winning season - in the 16-15 win against the Cardinals.
">Week 3: San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey carries the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers wore throwback jerseys - an homage to the team's 1950s look, as well as its 1994 Super Bowl-winning season - in the 16-15 win against the Cardinals.
" src=https://ift.tt/euDCTn1 class=caas-img>
Week 2: Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) runs the ball against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. Sporting "The Vikings Classic" throwback uniform inspired by the team's look during the 1960s and '70s, Minnesota was defeated, 22-6.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/UzgMwp5 class=caas-img data-headline="Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season" data-caption="
Week 2: Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) runs the ball against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. Sporting "The Vikings Classic" throwback uniform inspired by the team's look during the 1960s and '70s, Minnesota was defeated, 22-6.
">Week 2: Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) runs the ball against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. Sporting "The Vikings Classic" throwback uniform inspired by the team's look during the 1960s and '70s, Minnesota was defeated, 22-6.
" src=https://ift.tt/UzgMwp5 class=caas-img>
1 / 25Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL seasonWeek 6: Washington Commanders wide receiver Chris Moore (19) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the "Monday Night Football" game against the Chicago Bears at Northwest Stadium. The Commanders wore their all-black alternate uniforms for the game.
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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.
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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: When will Mike Evans return? Latest updates for Buccaneers WR
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Published: December 03, 2025 at 05:27PM on Source: RED MAG
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