TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans is likely to play while Emeka Egbuka “has a real chance” of being on the field for Monday night’s game against the Detroit Lions, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Saturday.
Evans and Egbuka will be game-time decisions, coach Todd Bowles said earlier Saturday.
Evans, the Buccaneers’ career leading scorer, returned to practice this week after missing three games with a hamstring strain suffered in Week 3 against the New York Jets. He practiced Thursday, had a day off Friday and was back Saturday.
“He’s a double team,” Bowles said of Evans’ impact. “It helps the running game, No. 1, because it keeps a safety out of the box and another corner out of the box. Obviously, he’s our go-to guy when he’s healthy. Because of his size, his size, his smarts in adjusting to routes and everything else – every little thing he does causes a problem for the other team, and that makes our other guys better.”
In a surprise move, Egbuka practiced in a limited capacity on Saturday after missing Thursday and Friday due to a hamstring strain he suffered in Week 6 against the San Francisco 49ers. He did not play in the second half of this match. He underwent an MRI on Wednesday to determine the severity of the strain. Sources told ESPN the strain was considered benign.
“It’s possible. It’s not certain,” Bowles told reporters in Egbuka. “It’s going to go until game time. He wants to play, but it depends on how he feels and how he looks.”
Sources previously told Schefter that if Egbuka couldn’t face Detroit, he should get a chance to play the following week against the New Orleans Saints.
Bowles ruled out running back Bucky Irving, who is still dealing with a sprained foot and shoulder subluxation, as well as wide receiver Chris Godwin, who is dealing with a fibula injury. Running back Josh Williams was ruled out with a concussion, and right guard Luke Haggard, who has stepped in since Cody Mauch landed on injured reserve, is out with a shoulder injury.
The Buccaneers’ 30-19 victory over the 49ers last week propelled them to a 5-1 record and first place in the NFC. The Lions’ 30-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs dropped them to 4-2 and second in the NFC North.
