The Bucs returned from their bye week for a bonus Monday practice with a great bit of news – and it wasn’t just that it’s creamsicle week. The Bucs, who were wearing their Bucco Bruce helmets at practice, had many of their injured players from previous weeks return to participate.

Which Bucs Returned To Practice?

While having a Week 5 bye week isn’t necessarily ideal, it may have come at the right time for the Bucs as they’ve had to shuffle the deck at multiple positions because of key players being out. That’s what made it so exciting to see rookie first-round pick Calijah Kancey practice for the first time since leaving the Bucs’ Week 1 game.

Bucs DT Calijah Kancey – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Against the Vikings, Kancey re-aggravated a calf injury that forced him to miss almost all of training camp. He got 11 snaps in the Bucs’ first game before exiting, so his appearance gives a lift to the defensive line. With Vita Vea leading the way, the Bucs have used a rotation of Logan Hall, Greg Gaines, Mike Greene and some appearances from Will Gholston as well.

Kancey’s Pittsburgh teammate and fellow rookie SirVocea Dennis was also participating. He hasn’t played since Week 1 either due to a hamstring injury.

The Bucs seem to getting healthier in the secondary as well. Jamel Dean missed Tampa Bay’s Week 4 game against the Saints because of a shoulder and neck injury but was seen at practice next to running mate at corner, Carlton Davis. The defense just got Davis back last week after he missed Weeks 2 and 3 with a toe injury. Davis almost didn’t play against the Saints, but knowing he had a week off after helped him power through it.

Although Tampa Bay would like to have their top two corners playing at the same time, they’ve been getting great production from second-year cornerback Zyon McCollum. An argument can be made that McCollum has been the best at the position this season so far. He’s taken a huge leap forward in his development as a player in his second year.

Safety Ryan Neal exited the Bucs’ last game in the first quarter because of a concussion. He was warming up with the whole group without any limitations so it looks like he’ll be ready to go this week.

Status Of Bucs WR Mike Evans

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today

Of course, the last piece to this injury puzzle is that status of star receiver Mike Evans. A hamstring injury forced Evans to leave in the second quarter against the Saints and he did not return. On Monday, Evans came out to practice a little later after the Bucs starting working on special teams drills. He was not in his uniform or wearing any pads, but he did work out individually with a trainer doing some light running.

Evans prides himself on being available as much as possible by playing through injury. He looked to be in pretty good spirits at practice as he was laughing and joking around with teammates and the trainer before starting to warm up.

We won’t get an injury report until later in the week on Wednesday, but considering the opponent, the opportunity to wear the creamsicle jersey for the first time in his career and looking to play well for a new contract, I’d be surprised if didn’t play this week.