The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered their bye week at 4-6 and desperately needed reinforcements to arrive.
Despite being injury-plagued for most of the season, the Buccaneers had been in nearly every game, losing four games by one score, and now comes perhaps the most important stretch of their season.
With head coach Todd Bowles unsure of how receiver Mike Evans would look this week at practice after a week off, Baker Mayfield is one who will be eagerly waiting for the return of his Pro Bowl receiver.
But will Evans make his return at MetLife Stadium against the New York Giants?
“From what I can see, good, and just talking to him, he seems really positive about it,” Mayfield said on Evans' hamstring injury. “Mike's a pro, he's going to do everything he can to get it back out there with us and fight for this team as we take it one game at a time.”
While the Buccaneers offense under the guidance of Liam Coen has been serviceable without Evans, if Tampa Bay is to make a serious playoff push, then the Pro Bowler will need to be playing.
The Buccaneers' schedule is somewhat favorable , and facing the Giants and then the Carolina Panthers looms as a good opportunity to get this arrow trending in the right direction, which will be easier with Evans in the lineup.
Of course, the receiver will not be rushed. With so much football left, Tampa Bay does not want Evans to break down again.
But as of now, things seem to be trending in the right direction for Evans to suit up for the first time since Week 7.
