For what seems like the first time in weeks, the Bucs’ gameday inactives list is not full of superstars and starters from top to bottom. In fact, Tampa Bay actually got several pieces of positive injury news throughout last week, then got a couple more ahead of Monday night’s primetime matchup with the Lions.

Late last week, it became clear that cornerbacks Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison would be back in the lineup against Detroit after missing Tampa Bay’s Week 6 win over San Francisco. Things also seemed to be trending in the right direction for future Hall of Famer Mike Evans, whose hamstring injury has kept him out of the last three games.

And on Saturday, the Bucs got some surprisingly promising news when rookie sensation and leading receiver Emeka Egbuka returned to the practice field only six days after injuring his hamstring in that win over the 49ers. Coming into the weekend, both Evans and Egbuka were in play and trending in the right direction, though both receivers were considered game-time decisions.

Bucs WRs Emeka Egbuka and Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Sure enough, the “couple more” pieces of positive injury news ahead of Monday night’s game concern Evans and Egbuka, as both are good to go and will suit up for this Week 7 contest with the Lions.

That news combined with the returns of McCollum and Morrison, as well as the return of practice squad-turned-starting guard Mike Jordan, has to have Tampa Bay feeling good as it looks to improve to 6-1 in its penultimate game before the Week 9 bye.

It’s not all great news, of course, as the Bucs are still missing several starters, even without including Calijah Kancey and Cody Mauch, who suffered season-ending injuries in Week 2. Wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. and running back Bucky Irving both remain sidelined this week, and reserve guard Luke Haggard, who has been starting at right guard in recent weeks, is also out with a shoulder injury he suffered in last week’s game.

Here’s the full inactives list for the Bucs ahead of Monday night’s 7:00 p.m. kickoff:

Lions Enter Monday Night’s Game vs. Bucs Without Starting Secondary

Whereas the Bucs got some good injury news throughout the week, into the weekend and into pregame Monday night, the Lions weren’t so lucky. Their inactives list is full of key contributors in the secondary, confirming that they’ll be without their entire starting secondary for this NFC showdown against Baker Mayfield and the Bucs.

Cornerbacks D.J. Reed and Khalil Dorsey, as well as safeties Dan Jackson and Daniel Thomas, remain on injured reserve. To add to the problem, cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and Avonte Maddox are both inactive for Monday night’s game, as is safety Kerby Joseph.

Lions CB Terrion Arnold and former Bucs WR Trey Palmer – Photo by: USA Today

To make matters even worse, safety Brian Branch is serving a one-game suspension in Week 7 after igniting a brawl at the end of the Lions’ loss to the Chiefs in Week 6. So, Mayfield and the Buccaneer passing game have a favorable matchup in this one as long as the offensive line can hold up in protection.

The one piece of good news for the Lions is that defensive tackle Alim McNeill was activated from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and will make his 2025 debut against the Bucs on Monday Night Football. McNeill tore his ACL in Week 15 last season, but now he’s set to make his return to a Detroit defense that badly needs his presence up the middle.

Here is the full list of inactives for the Lions ahead of Monday night’s game: