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It was another walkthrough Wednesday practice for the Bucs, with the team coming off a win for the first time in a while. While much of the news surrounding the team in recent days has been positive as players return from injury, not all news is good news.

Now, there is no glossing over the importance of seeing wide receivers Mike Evans (collarbone) and Jalen McMillan (neck) back out there. Evans and McMillan are sorely missed on offense, and each came back in a limited capacity on Wednesday. Obviously, both need to get back into game shape, and seeing just how much they do on Thursday will be more telling about their respective timetables to suit up.

Bucs WR Mike Evans and CBs coach Kevin Ross – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Head coach Todd Bowles provided an update on each wide receiver shortly after practice ended.

“It was a walkthrough, so they didn’t do too much,” Bowles said. “We’ll be interested to see them tomorrow when we’re running.”

Evans has not played since Week 7, which was his first game back after a hamstring injury. Unfortunately, the legendary offensive player suffered a broken clavicle, but he appears to be ahead of schedule and progressing well.

“Physically, he’s fine,’ Bowles added. “He’s been running and everything. I can’t tell you he’s hit anybody, so we’ve got to see him in a football atmosphere – running routes, pattern-wise, getting acclimated to that. So, it’ll be good to see tomorrow.”

In McMillan’s case, his first step in coming back was revealed on Sunday morning, when he was medically cleared to return. After suffering a scary neck injury in the preseason, getting him back in any capacity this season is a welcome development, all things considered.

“It was great to see him get cleared,” Bowles said. “You can see the smile back on his face and him moving around a lot better and him looking great. You can tell he got his weight back up, he’s been running quite a bit, so just to see him back out there…I’m happy for him.”

Although all of this speaks to the offense continuing to get healthier, it is concerning that left tackle Tristan Wirfs did not participate at all.

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: USA Today

Listed with an oblique injury, Wirfs was the only player who did not get any work in. It could be a case of resting the All-Pro offensive tackle, but for an offensive line just getting pieces back into place, they cannot afford to be without him this Sunday.

Although he has looked more normal than dominant at times this season, especially when facing Saints defensive end Chase Young, there is no questioning his status as the offense’s best player. There is a massive drop off after him, and in a scenario where he misses time, the offensive line might be forced to again revert to shuffling players around like they did to begin the year. Much of the attention for the rest of the week will be on Evans and McMillan, with Wirfs joining the list of key players featured on the injury report.

Here is a full look at the Bucs injured players and their designations on the first injury report of the week:

Bucs Wednesday Injury Report

T Tristan Wirfs – Oblique – Did Not Participate
WR Mike Evans (IR) – Collarbone – Limited Participation
WR Chris Godwin Jr. – Fibula – Limited Participation

Bucs WR Jalen McMillan – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

RB Bucky Irving – Shoulder – Limited Participation
QB Baker Mayfield – Left Shoulder – Limited Participation
WR Jalen McMillan (IR) – Neck – Limited Participation
CB Benjamin Morrison – Hamstring – Full Participation
OLB Haason Reddick – Ankle – Full Participation
S Rashad Wisdom (IR) – Quad – Full Participation

Saints Wednesday Injury Report

T Taliese Fuaga – Ankle – Did Not Participate
RB Alvin Kamara – Knee/Ankle – Did Not Participate
WR Chris Olave – Back – Did Not Participate
S Justin Reid – Knee – Did Not Participate