The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be getting a huge boost to their top-flight offence.
Wide receiver Mike Evans, who has been on injured reserve since hurting his hamstring in Week 7 against the Baltimore Orioles, is expected to play Sunday against the New York Giants, according to multiple reports.
Since being drafted with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 draft, Evans has never failed to record 1,000 yards receiving in a season. He is the only wideout in NFL history to reach 1,000 yards in each of his first 10 seasons and is one shy of tying Jerry Rice (11) for the most consecutive seasons reaching the benchmark.
Evans and Chris Godwin formed one of the better receiver duos in the league, aiding the Baker Mayfield-led Bucs to a 4-2 start before both wideouts went down against the Ravens. The re-emergence of Godwin, however, has limited Evans' production this season.
He has 26 catches for 335 yards, for an average of only 47.9 yards per game. But Godwin is now out for the season, and Evans should be Mayfield's clear-cut No. 1 target moving forward.
Since the loss to Baltimore, the Bucs have gone 0-3 and given up the NFC South division lead to the Atlanta Falcons. Despite the lack of talent at receiver, Mayfield has thrown for the ninth-most yards (2,505) and is third in TD passes (24).
After Sunday's matchup in New York, the Buccaneers head to Carolina for a divisional matchup against the Panthers.
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