Bucs activate WR Mike Evans from reserve/COVID-19 list

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Buccaneers activate star WR Mike Evans from reserve/COVID-19 list

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated Dec 31, 2021 1:34 PM ET

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be getting back one of the NFL's most dangerous red zone weapons in time for their Week 17 matchup against the New York Jets.

The Bucs have activated WR Mike Evans from the COVID-19 list.

We'll see if he plays Sunday (hamstring), but Evans is just 101 yards away from his 8th straight 1,000-yard season to begin his career.

His 7 straight is already the longest to begin a career in NFL history.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 31, 2021

Evans will still have to overcome the nagging hamstring injury which he suffered in the team's 9-0 loss to the New Orleans in Week 15 to suit up against New York. If Evans isn't fully healthy, the Bucs could elect to sit No. 13 against the 4-11 Jets, as Tampa Bay has already clinched the NFC South division.

Evans returned to practice on Thursday. Leading receiver Chris Godwin is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL and sprained MCL, while leading rusher Leonard Fournette is on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.

Wide receiver Antonio Brown is also dealing with an ankle injury, but still "has a chance" to play on Sunday.

The Buccaneers are currently the No. 4 seed in the NFC playoff picture, though, and tied with the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams at 11-4. All three teams trail the 12-3 Green Bay Packers in the race for the top spot and are just one game ahead of the 10-5 Arizona Cardinals.

Victor Barbosa

Victor Barbosa is a passionate follower of MLB, the NBA and NFL, with a deep interest in Boston-area teams. He graduated from Springfield College -- The Birthplace of Basketball -- in 2013 with a degree in Communications-Sports Journalism. Previous bylines include FanSided, Heavy and Syracuse

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