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Normally, a Friday injury report would provide clarity as to who is in and who is out for the Bucs for that weekend’s game. But with a Monday night game against the Lions ahead in Week 7, the Friday injury report is more like a traditional Thursday injury report. So, while some of Tampa Bay’s key leaders didn’t participate in Friday’s practice at the AdventHealth Training Center, it’s not time to press the panic button yet.

After Mike Evans made his return to practice on Thursday, he didn’t participate on Friday. However, it was a planned maintenance day for the 12th-year veteran as he works his way back from a hamstring injury that has cost him the last three games. It’s clear his return is near, and the Bucs will be excited to get him back for the first time since Week 3.

“Obviously having Mike out there is a positive for this offense,” wide receiver Sterling Shepard said. “It’s great to get anybody back. We want to be at our full capability, and we’ve got to have our guys out there to do it. I have confidence in the guys behind and the younger guys – I have complete confidence in them – but like I said, [the closer we are to our] full power, the better.”

Saturday’s practice and subsequent injury report will give a clearer idea of what Evans’ status will be for Monday night.

The same can be said for inside linebacker Lavonte David. He hasn’t practiced this week due to knee and rib injuries, but the Bucs may simply want to be cautious with the 14th-year veteran as he nurses both injuries and gets ready for Monday’s game. He was a limited participant in practice with a knee injury all of last week, but he didn’t carry an injury designation heading into the weekend.

Bucs CB Zyon McCollum and LB Lavonte David – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Elsewhere on the Friday injury report for Tampa Bay, there were some more positive signs. Punter Riley Dixon returned after missing Thursday’s practice due to personal reasons, plus cornerbacks Zyon McCollum (thumb) and Benjamin Morrison (hamstring) were once again full participants. That’s a great sign ahead of Monday’s matchup against Jared Goff and the Lions’ second-ranked scoring offense.

“Thumb feels great,” McCollum told Pewter Report on Thursday. “I had surgery on it. I tore my UCL. I actually did the same thing on this one (points to his right thumb), but this one I can wait until the end of the season. This one I couldn’t wait on it.

“We were trying to hold off on it until the bye week, but they said no. They said it’s got to be done right now. I got a quick game in in Seattle. They basically told me to pick one [game to play in and a game to miss] – Seattle or the 49ers. So I picked Seattle. I’ve never played in Seattle before. So I got it done and I’ll be good the rest of the season. I’m happy that it’s fixed.”

Unsurprisingly, the Bucs were still without wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr., running backs Bucky Irving and Josh Williams and right guard Luke Haggard for Friday’s practice.

Friday Injury Report – Bucs

ILB Lavonte David – Knee/Rib – Did Not Participate
WR Emeka Egbuka – Hamstring – Did Not Participate
WR Mike Evans – Hamstring – Did Not Participate
WR Chris Godwin Jr. – Fibula – Did Not Participate
G Luke Haggard – Shoulder – Did Not Participate
RB Bucky Irving – Foot/Shoulder – Did Not Participate
RB Josh Williams – Concussion – Did Not Participate
P Riley Dixon – Personal – Full Participation
CB Zyon McCollum – Thumb – Full Participation
CB Benjamin Morrison – Hamstring – Full Participation

Friday Injury Report – Lions

S Kerby Joseph – Knee – Did Not Participate
CB Avonte Maddox – Hamstring – Did Not Participate
RB Sione Vaki – Groin – Did Not Participate
CB Terrion Arnold – Shoulder – Limited Participation
OT Taylor Decker – Shoulder – Limited Participation
DT D.J. Reader – Back – Limited Participation
LB Zach Cunningham – Hamstring – Full Participation
DT Alim McNeill – Knee – Full Participation