TAMPA, Fla. — Receiver Mike Evans may get a chance to continue his streak of 1,000-yard receiving seasons Sunday against the Jets after being activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Punter Bradley Pinion, however, tested positive for the virus and will miss the game at MetLife Stadium.
Evans needs only 101 yards to reach 1,000 receiving yards for the eighth straight season to start his career, building on the NFL record he set last season.
Evans hasn’t played in nearly two weeks after injuring his hamstring in the first half of the Bucs’ 9-0 loss to the Saints on Dec. 19.
“He was out there a little bit today,” assistant head coach Harold Goodwin said of Evans. “... There’s a chance he may play (Sunday). At the end of the day it will probably be a game-time decision. ... Mike looked good today so hopefully, cross our fingers, he might be out there.”
Receiver Antonio Brown has been limited or held out of practice this week, but still has a chance to play against the Jets as well.
“I think he might have tweaked (his ankle) a little bit,” Goodwin said. “I don’t know the severity of it. ... Obviously, he’s no spring chicken either (Brown is 33) so we’ve got to do a great job of taking care of him.”
Goodwin said the only two players on the active roster who are definitely out for Sunday are linebackers Shaquil Barrett (knee) and Jason Pierre-Paul (shoulder).
Safety Antoine Winfield Jr., who did not play last week at Carolina due to a foot injury, returned to practice along with cornerback Richard Sherman (Achilles).
Running back Le’Veon Bell, who joined the Bucs last week and played only a couple snaps against the Panthers, is prepared to play more against his former Jets team, Goodwin said.
“Obviously, coming in last week on a short notice and it was a little difficult but we tried to get him some snaps at the end of the game,” Goodwin said. “... All our backs are top notch and having him in the fold it’s good for us, especially down to the long haul here and getting close to the playoffs.”
