It looks like help is on the way for the Bucs once again. This iteration of it comes from wide receivers Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan. The Bucs announced on Wednesday that they have activated Evans and McMillan from injured reserve just one day before their Thursday night home game.

To make room on the roster for them, Tampa Bay waived defensive tackle C.J. Brewer and wide receiver Ryan Miller.

Each player had returned to practice last week but didn’t progress enough to play in Sunday’ game. Given the extra time, they look ready to go for a crucial must-win matchup against Atlanta.

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today

“[They] looked good, they looked fresh,” head coach Todd Bowles said on Wednesday after practice. “They ran great routes, they looked like they never left. Obviously, they haven’t been hit or anything yet, but they looked good in practice.”

They are listed as questionable for tomorrow night, though everything that coach Bowles said indicated that they’re going to play.

Bucs Get Evan And McMillan In A Needed Moment

Its the second return of the season for Evans. He started the first two games of the season, but strained his hamstring in Week 3 during the Jets game, and that injury kept him out of action for the next three games. Evans returned in Week 7 at Detroit, but broke his clavicle attempting to make a catch on a deep ball, as he landed on his elbow diving for the ball. He’s played in just four games this year, recording 140 yards with one touchdown catch.

McMillan’s story is much different for Tampa Bay. He was injured in the Bucs’ preseason game against the Steelers where he jumped up for a pass, made the catch, but had his legs taken out from under him by Pittsburgh cornerback Joey Porter Jr., and back-flipped, landing on the side of his neck and shoulder. He miraculously made the reception, but was immediately taken out of the game. McMillan’s injury was classified as a severe neck strain, but it was later revealed that he had fractured some vertebrae in his neck.

Bucs WRs Sterling Shepard and Jalen McMillan – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

McMillan was put on injured reserve back in August and he has not played a regular season game yet. He was wearing a neck brace for three months before finally being cleared to take it off just a few weeks ago. The fact that he’ s able to move around well enough, let alone play, is miraculous.

The Bucs’ offense has struggled as of late and without two of their top four receivers. Quarterback Baker Mayfield hasn’t reached over 200 yards passing or two passing touchdowns in the last four games. The team hasn’t scored more than 20 points in their last three matchups and rookie Emeka Egbuka, who’s shouldered most of the load with Chris Godwin Jr. out for most of the season as well, has hit a wall of sorts. He’s had many drops recently, including an egregious one on Sunday that would’ve tied the game up.

Reinserting Evans and McMillan back into the Bucs lineup can instill a lot of confidence in the entire group, including Egbuka. It’s likely that each player will be on a pitch count, but knowing that Evans has played already this year, he can be a red zone threat while McMillan provides more attention from defenses than they’ve had to game plan for in recent games.

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

Every game for the rest of the season is a must-win for Tampa Bay as they are tied with the Panthers at the top of the NFC South division. The return of Evans and McMillan might just be the difference to crown them as division champions agains with crucial matchups coming soon.