Prior to the conclusion of the 2025 NFL regular season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will likely get reinforcements back including receiver Mike Evans, receiver Jalen McMillan and defensive lineman Calijah Kancey. The Bucs have suffered a gauntlet of injuries in 2025 to fixtures on both sides of the football and the aforementioned trio would help bolster the unit down the stretch.
"J-Mac, Mike and Kancey have been working out and training hard, working hard and working their best to get back and sprint-wise they are doing well," said Head Coach Todd Bowles. "Other than that, we will have to see but I think they will all be back before the season is out, I just can't tell you when."
Jalen McMillan suffered a neck injury in the second preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He landed on his neck and head following a catch in the club's preliminary slate and was placed on injured reserve on Aug. 26 with a designation to return. In 2024, McMillan emerged during the second half of the season. His seven touchdowns over his final five games of the regular season were tied for the most by any Buccaneer over a five-game span in club history, joining Mike Evans and Jimmie Giles. McMillan became the second player to record seven-or-more touchdown catches over a five-game span that season, joining Ja'Marr Chase. His eight receiving touchdowns are the third-most by a Buccaneer rookie in franchise history, trialing Mike Evans (12 in 2014) and Mike Williams (11 in 2010). He pairs long-striding speed with the ability to separate mid-route with fakes and a leverage advantage.
Against the Texans via Monday Night Football in Week Two, Calijah Kancey suffered a torn pectoral and was placed on injured reserve on Sept. 17. Kancey led the Bucs in sacks in 2024 with 7.5 and has been a consistent force when on the field. He missed most of his rookie training camp in 2023 and nearly four full games that season due to a calf strain, then suffered a similar injury prior to the start of the 2024 campaign and missed five contests. When healthy, he has posted 55 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 22 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one pass defensed in 28 career games. He possesses elite first-step quickness off the line to infiltrate opposing backfields and has outstanding change-of-direction and contact balance.
In the Week Seven clash against the Lions on Monday Night Football, Mike Evans broke his clavicle and was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 22. Evans had just returned from a three-game absence due to a hamstring injury prior to the ailment sustained against the Lions. He was targeted four times in the game, including a deep ball that culminated with Evans sustaining both the shoulder injury and a concussion. He began his tenure with an NFL-record streak of 11 consecutive seasons with 1,000-plus receiving yards. Evans is the Buccaneers' all-time leader in receptions (850), receiving yards (12,824), touchdown receptions (106), total touchdowns (107) and points scored (650), and his touchdown catch total ranks 10th in NFL history. The jump-ball specialist and back-shoulder catch aficionado sets the standard in Tampa Bay and makes contested catches look effortless.
A return for the cornerstone trio would be a welcomed sight for Bucs' fanatics and would elevate the team on both sides of the football.
