Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans participated in parts of practice on Wednesday and is planning to suit up Sunday for the first time since a Week 7 hamstring injury.
Evans and Chris Godwin (ankle) were injured in the same 41-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 21. Godwin, still the team leader with 50 receptions, is out for the year.
Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield said Evans looked good and is positive about his chances of getting back in the lineup this week when the Buccaneers (4-6) play at the New York Giants (2-8).
“You guys know: Mike’s a pro. He’s going to do everything he can to get back out there with us and fight for this team as we take it one game at a time,” Mayfield said Wednesday.
Evans jumps back into the lineup as the team’s leader with six touchdown receptions. However, his 10-season streak of 1,000-yard campaigns is in peril.
With 336 yards in 2024, he’ll need to average 95 yards per game in the final seven games.
“The streak, yeah, it’s important to us, but he cares about winning,” Mayfield said. “He’s a huge part of this offense when he’s there, so I think that’ll come naturally. But I’ve been in the situation where you’re trying to force-feed the ball to a guy and that’s not how this offense works especially.
