Mike Evans is anticipated to make a return this season after suffering a broken collarbone during Week 7. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed him on injured reserve on October 22, which mandates that the wide receiver will miss at least four games.
Evans sustained the injury in a game against the Detroit Lions while attempting to catch a deep pass and crashing onto the field. In addition to the broken collarbone, he also suffered a concussion. Fortunately, the collarbone injury was a clean break, suggesting a recovery timeline of about 6 to 8 weeks. Given Evans’ age and the history of injuries he has faced, it is likely that his recovery will lean towards the longer end of that timeframe.
Looking at the schedule, expect Evans to possibly return for the Buccaneers’ Week 14 matchup against the New Orleans Saints on December 7. This would be seven weeks post-injury. However, the Buccaneers also have a Thursday night game in Week 15 against the Atlanta Falcons, which could further complicate his return. In many cases, teams prefer to rest players recovering from injuries during short weeks, possibly pushing Evans’ return to the Week 16 game against the Carolina Panthers, which would be nine weeks after his injury.
Currently, Evans has been sidelined for 15 days and appears to be on track with his recovery, without any setbacks reported thus far.
From a fantasy football perspective, Evans was drafted in the third or fourth round of most standard 12-team PPR leagues this summer. Known for his consistent performance, he has historically boasted 11 consecutive seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards. Unfortunately, his chances of extending that streak may be jeopardized due to the injuries he’s dealt with this season. Before the collarbone injury, he had already missed time due to a hamstring issue. In just four games this season, Evans has managed to log 14 catches for 140 yards.
As for the Buccaneers’ odds in the league, they started the season with +3000 odds to win the Super Bowl. Those odds have since adjusted to +2700, and their win total is currently set at 11.5. Additionally, the Buccaneers are -475 favorites to win the NFC South.
As Evans approaches his potential return, the Bucs will be closely monitoring his recovery, hoping to reintegrate him into their lineup to boost both the team’s prospects and his fantasy value.