“Great Chance” Mike Evans Plays Thursday Night
December 10th, 2025
Returns Thursday night?
At this moment on this dreary Wednesday morning, all signs for “this Joe” point to a grim evening at The Licht House for Thursday Night Football.
Given the horrible record under Bucs coach Todd Bowles in primetime games, the curse of the otherwise beautiful creamsicles and Kirk “509” Cousins starting for the Dixie Chicks, nothing about this game gave this Joe hope.
Until now.
Per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, who has a pretty good mole inside One Buc Palace, there is a “great chance” Mike Evans returns tomorrow night.
If Evans is the Mike Evans fans fondly remember, that could be the difference in a thrilling win to get back on track or a stampede to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge late tomorrow night.
Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (collarbone) is primed for a Week 15 return. Evans has a “great chance” to play Thursday night against Atlanta, per a source. He has been pushing to play over the next two weeks, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, and looks like he’s meeting that goal early in the window. The Bucs also expect to have left tackle Tristan Wirfs (oblique) after a week off. Do-it-all safety Tykee Smith (stinger) is probably a long shot, though.
The presence of Evans can’t be understated. When I spoke with an NFC South coach about the Panthers vying for the division, the person replied, “Mike Evans coming back to change that.”
Wow, that’s how much opposing coaches fear and respect Mike Evans. And he may be right. The Bucs’ record the past two years with and without Evans is astonishing. And it adds to Evans’ already stacked resume as a Hall of Fame receiver.
December 10th, 2025 at 11:42 am
all the teams try and hurt our key players the eagles interfered with and beat on cg his first game back then they knocked bucky out for 7 weeks, if mike plays expect the dirty birds to play dirty and try and rough him up
December 10th, 2025 at 11:45 am
I said this a few days ago. It’s been repeated by coaches, players and the media that the Bucs offense “runs through” Mike Evans. I think Evans being injured got in everyone’s head and destroyed their confidence in the teams ability to win games.
I just hope him being back helps the Bucs beat the Falcons. I live near Augusta, Ga. Most everybody I work with are Falcons fans. I hate coming to work after a loss to Atlanta.
December 10th, 2025 at 11:45 am
i had a sunshine skyway bride once she turned out to be a ghost like this team
December 10th, 2025 at 11:49 am
Team is in a freefall. Even ME can’t help at this point.
December 10th, 2025 at 11:49 am
will he be playing D end edge rusher?
that could be a step up
December 10th, 2025 at 11:59 am
We haven’t had a WR1 basically all season. I love EE but he’s a rookie and not exactly ready for that role. CG14 is looking about 80%, which is nice but non threatening. I have doubts about Mike maybe playing timid with a freshly healed clavicle, but he does have fresh legs and he does seem hungry so… Might have to score 40 tomorrow night.
December 10th, 2025 at 12:01 pm
I don’t know. Having the full complement of receivers for the first time will actually bring me to watch the game. I am still disappointed that the OLine is still a bit broken with the guards but hey – I’ll be curious.
I would be astonished if JPP still has it but wouldn’t that be awesome? I love his brashness.
December 10th, 2025 at 12:12 pm
i hope he plays so it’ll be 1 less excuse for Grizz!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
December 10th, 2025 at 12:15 pm
Joe, any word if JMac will play Thursday as well. With Grizzard’s awful scheme and play calling we will need all the help we can get.
December 10th, 2025 at 12:17 pm
Is Chewks too tall to play guard?
December 10th, 2025 at 12:44 pm
Yea!
Our savior is here!!!
Super Bowl here we come!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
December 10th, 2025 at 12:51 pm
Why come back? You have the ring, the money, the HoF career (likely). I don’t get these dudes.
December 10th, 2025 at 12:58 pm
Three great WRs. Nice!
December 10th, 2025 at 1:06 pm
Any news on Macmillan?
December 10th, 2025 at 1:08 pm
With Evans, Godwin and Egbuka we should be able to put up 40 against Atlanta…
December 10th, 2025 at 1:10 pm
keep Chew at LT
slide Wirfs inside to LG
Barton at C
MJ RG
LUKE RT
Grizz should have no problem running his favorite play up the middle now
GO BUCS!!!!
December 10th, 2025 at 1:46 pm
Glad to see it. I hope JM can get back also. Would be nice to see some open receivers out there which in turn should open it up for Irving.
December 10th, 2025 at 1:46 pm
This is a move of desperation! Let him heal, Mike deserves better than this. This team is going down because the coaching staff is a joke, and they know they are on thin ice. So now they are despair enough to risk further injuries to Mike and McMillan to hope they can save their sinking jobs. The organization needs to have big picture focus and not let hot seat coaches hurt the organizations future.
December 10th, 2025 at 1:57 pm
813bucboi Says:
December 10th, 2025 at 1:10 pm
keep Chew at LT
slide Wirfs inside to LG
Barton at C
MJ RG
LUKE RT
I’ m expecting Barton will be the next to go down. According to the depth chart he has no backup.
Grizz should have no problem running his favorite play up the middle now
GO BUCS!!!!
Up the middle….haha. It’s the truth though and it most often gets, what, a yard or two.
December 10th, 2025 at 1:58 pm
Yawn….
December 10th, 2025 at 2:12 pm
Nice, forced passes into bracketed coverage
December 10th, 2025 at 2:34 pm
Bucs ae cooked just going through the motions it really is a same for Mike.
December 10th, 2025 at 2:35 pm
Shame*
December 10th, 2025 at 3:20 pm
813 WTF happened to you! You have gone to the Dark side. Put Wirfs at guard wtf geeez.
December 10th, 2025 at 3:21 pm
Evans and McMillan both activated.
As noted before, it also means both were fully ready to go on Sunday, and they were held out because the Bucs were playing the lowly Saints, and as Baker said he didn’t need Evans to win.
“We have all we need to win right now,” Mayfield said last week.
He was wrong.
Hopefully getting M&M back changes things up.
December 10th, 2025 at 3:22 pm
lol. Big effing deal
December 10th, 2025 at 4:21 pm
Evans back better be huge for the offense. He can get cardio at the very least, being a decoy for the opponents #1 CB to worry about while Emeka and Chris get open.
Let’s see if Baker can hit them in the hands more than twice a game.
December 10th, 2025 at 4:26 pm
Any of you complain B’s want to put your money where you out mouth is. If ME13 plays the Bucs win. Straight up. We will put money in escrow up to 10k
December 10th, 2025 at 5:27 pm
Fire Bowles or Licht and we get 1-2 more lost decades. The real problem on this team has always been all the starting receivers were out for most of the season. Nobody has been open enough to throw a pass at! Early heroics from Mayfield kept us in the hunt but now it’s time for our monster receivers to take over our games.
December 10th, 2025 at 7:31 pm
George R – Stpetematt – I’m with you both, I believe in our Buccaneers!! I believe this is going to beat a great contest !! Hang on to your chairs !!
Go Bucs !! Beat the Slimy Saints !!
December 11th, 2025 at 4:20 am
This is now getting downright exciting. Heart and soul is coming back! Go Bucs!