Tom Brady's receiver corps won't be completely wiped out Thursday night against the Chicago Bears.
After being initially considered questionable with an ankle injury, Mike Evans will be active for the game, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Thursday afternoon.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported earlier in the day that there was optimism Evans would be able to go, per sources informed of the situation.
For Evans, his availability was contigent upon his pre-game workout. Based on Pelissero's update, that workout went well enough for him to be cleared. Evans has battled injury throughout the nascent season but has yet to miss a game.
Rapoport also reported that Scott Miller (hip/groin) is expected to play despite being listed as questionable. The team later confirmed the news.
Miller being available is also good news for Brady. The wideout TB12 has come to call Scooter, has been a key playmaker for the quarterback, particularly stretching the field.
With Chris Godwin (hamstring) and Justin Watson (chest) already ruled out, the Bucs WR corps will already be thin. Having Evans and Miller active would go a long way to making up for the losses.
The Bucs added Cyril Grayson off the practice squad this week and have Jaydon Mickens and Tyler Johnson to round to their receiver corps. With O.J. Howard out for the season and the receiver corps banged up, expect more targets for TEs Cameron Brate and Rob Gronkowski this week.
Tampa Bay elevated cornerback Ross Cockrell and receiver Josh Pearson to the active roster ahead of Thursday night's game. Running back Leonard Fournette (ankle) was active after initially being ruled doubtful; he did not register a single snap.
Linebacker Jack Cichy was ruled out for the remainder of the game with a hamstring injury. Defensive lineman Vita Vea suffered an apparent lower leg injury late in the fourth quarter and was carted off the field.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears will kick off Thursday from Soldier Field at 8:20 p.m. ET, airing on NFL Network and FOX and streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
Here are other injury and roster news we're tracking on Thursday:
- Chicago Bears linebacker Devante Bond, who was activated from the practice squad prior to kickoff, did not return after injuring his quad in the first quarter vs. Tampa Bay. Offensive lineman James Daniels did not return after suffering a pectoral injury in the second half. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported after the game that Daniels will undergo an MRI to determine the severity. Garafolo added that a team source said the fear is he suffered a season-ending injury.
- New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas (ankle), safety Malcolm Jenkins (knee), defensive end Marcus Davenport (toe), cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring), tight end Jared Cook (groin), guard Andrus Peat (ankle) and offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk (concussion) were all limited. Cornerback Janoris Jenkins (shoulder) did not practice.
- Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn said wideout Julio Jones (hamstring) is "making progress" and will do individual workouts today. He, along with rookie safety Jaylinn Hawkins (concussion), did not participate in practice. Wideout Calvin Ridley (thigh/knee), defensive linemen Grady Jarrett (hip) and Takkarist McKinley (groin) and safeties Keanu Neal (hamstring) and Ricardo Allen (elbow) were all limited again. The team activated cornerback A.J. Terrell off of the reserve/COVID-19 list. The team also announced they have signed safety J.J. Wilcox to the practice squad.
- Indianapolis Colts linebacker Shaquille Leonard did not participate in practice for the second day this week. The team signed linebacker Najee Goode to the practice squad and released cornerback Christian Angulo from the practice squad.
- The Arizona Cardinals are bringing in veteran cornerback Prince Prince Amukamara for a visit in the next few days with the intention to sign him, per Garafolo via an informed souce. Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (calf) was limited at practice. Safety Budda Baker (thumb) and wideouts Larry Fitzgerald (non injury) and DeAndre Hopkins (non injury) were full participants at practice.
- Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa (triceps/knee), running back Austin Ekeler (hamstring), receiver Mike Williams (hamstring), offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga (back) and guard Trai Turner (groin) all did not practice. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor (ribs/chest) was limited after missing extended time.
- The New York Giants announced that linebacker David Mayo will return to practice today. Defensive back Jabrill Peppers (ankle) was limited at practice.
- The Tennnessee Titans added tight end MyCole Pruitt to the reserve/COVID-19 list.
- Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (groin) was a full participant in practice after being limited on Wednesday. The team also elevated practice squad running back DeAndre Washington to their active roster.
- Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson (knee) was upgraded from limited to full while linebacker Bobby Wagner (ribs) was limited after being a full participant Wednesday. Safety Jamal Adams (groin) did not practice for a second consecutive day.
- Las Vegas Raiders rookie Henry Ruggs III was upgraded from limited to full while tight end Darren Waller (knee), linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (pectoral), offensive tackle Trent Brown (calf) and cornerback Lamarcus Joyner (ribs) were all limited again.
- Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (collarbone) is "ahead of schedule" and left tackle Tyron Smith (neck) won't participate in today's padded practice. Smith is considering shutting it down for the season due to a setback with his neck injury. NFL Network's Jane Slater reported that La'el Collins's surgery on his injured hip was successful.
- Minnesota Vikings receiver Adam Thielen (shoulder) was a full practice participant after being limited Wednesday. Linebacker Eric Kendricks (foot) did not practice for a second consecutive day.
- New York Jets coach Adam Gase said left tackle Mekhi Becton (shoulder) and wideout Breshad Perriman (ankle) both will not practice today.
- Miami Dolphins wideout DeVante Parker (ankle) and cornerback Byron Jones (groin/Achilles) practiced fully.
- Denver Broncos coach Vic Fangio say neither outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu nor tackle Mike Purcell will practice today. Both will be questionable for Sunday. Quarterback Drew Lock practiced in a limited capacity for the second day in a row. Tight end Noah Fant (ankle) was absent again.
- Philadelphia Eagles receiver Alshon Jeffery did not practice Thursday with an illness after returning to practice Wednesday (foot). Receiver DeSean Jackson (hamstring) was limited again, while right tackle Lane Johnson (ankle) returned to practice in a limited capacity.
- Cincinnati Bengals receiver John Ross (illness) did not practice while corner Mackensie Alexander (hamstring), defensive tackle Geno Atkins (shoulder), running back Joe Mixon (shin) and offensive lineman Jonah Williams (shoulder) were all limited.
- The Green Bay Packers signed wide receiver Reggie Begelton to the practice squad.
- Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Allen did not practice Thursday with a knee injury.
- Carolina Panthers cornerback Eli Apple (hamstring) did not practice and tight end Chris Manhertz (ankle) was a limited participant.
- Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil was limited for a second consecutive day with a shoulder injury. Tight end Jordan Akins (ankle/concussion) was upgraded to limited after missing Wednesday's practice.
- Los Angeles Rams rookie running back Cam Akers (ribs) was a full participant in practice after being limited Wednesday.
- Washington defensive end Chase Young (groin) and receiver Terry McLaurin (thigh) were limited in practice. Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen was upgraded full after being limited on Wednesday due to a knee injury.
