Buccaneers Get Three Offensive Stars Back — A Season Revival Hangs on the Showdown With the Falcons

Tampa Bay, Florida – 12/09/2025
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter Week 15 carrying heavy pressure and towering expectations. After losing four of their last five games and watching their offense collapse into inconsistency, Todd Bowles’ team finally received the news they desperately needed: Mike Evans, Jalen McMillan, and Tristan Wirfs are all set to return for Thursday Night Football against the Atlanta Falcons — a game that could ultimately define the NFC South race.

For the Buccaneers, this is more than just the return of personnel. It is the return of three foundational pieces who shaped the identity of Tampa Bay’s offense during the first half of the season. Mike Evans — the franchise’s all-time receiving leader and a future Hall of Fame candidate — has missed six straight games due to a fractured collarbone, after previously missing three more with a hamstring injury. Without Evans on the field, the Buccaneers’ offense spiraled, averaging only 15.67 points per game over their last three contests, lacking a reliable big target and an emotional leader in the locker room.

Evans’ return not only boosts the receiving corps but also forces opponents to adjust their defensive tendencies. The Falcons, quietly pushing in the playoff chase, will now have to commit far more resources to contain the nine-time 1,000-yard receiver. His presence — especially in 3rd-down and red-zone situations — has the potential to shift the entire rhythm of the matchup.

Alongside Evans, the Buccaneers also welcome back rookie Jalen McMillan, who made a strong impression as a slot receiver before his injury. McMillan’s speed and separation ability provide exactly what Tampa Bay has lacked for weeks — short-to-intermediate versatility, an area where Baker Mayfield has struggled without a dependable outlet.

But perhaps the most crucial return — as Bowles himself emphasized — is Tristan Wirfs. The All-Pro left tackle missed the Saints game with an oblique injury, and his absence was painfully obvious: constant pressure on Mayfield, a stagnant run game, and an offensive line structure that looked fragile throughout. Wirfs’ presence against Atlanta not only strengthens Mayfield’s protection but also helps restore the balance between the passing attack and the ground game — a balance Tampa Bay must find if they hope to control the pace.

The matchup with the Falcons carries do-or-die implications. At 7–6, the Buccaneers are tied with the Panthers atop the NFC South, and in the final three weeks, they will face Carolina twice. A victory on Thursday night would not only restore confidence but could also spark momentum at the most critical point of the season.

Three pillars return — three chances at revival. The Buccaneers have spent weeks trapped in turmoil, but ahead of their showdown with the Falcons, the door to their season swings open once again. Only one question remains: will they step through it?