The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offense will get a boost in Week 12 as Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans is returning to action after missing three games due to a hamstring injury. Evans was listed as questionable on the Buccaneers' Friday injury report but he got in one full practice and two limited sessions during the week.
Unfortunately, that Tampa Bay offense will be missing another Pro Bowler, as left tackle Tristan Wirfs is inactive due to the knee injury he sustained in Week 12 against San Francisco, before the Buccaneers' bye week. Wirfs was a limited participant in the week of practice; he will be replaced in the lineup by Justin Skule. Safety Tykee Smith will also miss a second straight game after being downgraded to out on Saturday due to a knee injury.
Cornerback Jamel Dean returns to provide a similar boost to Tampa Bay's defense. Dean was activated from injured reserve on Saturday after missing four games due to a hamstring injury. His fellow starting corner, Zyon McCollum, is also good to go after recovering from a Week 10 hamstring injury of his own. Cornerback Troy Hill, who was also labeled as questionable on the injury report, is active and could make his Buccaneer debut.
The Buccaneers and Giants submitted their list of inactives at 11:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, 90 minutes before the scheduled kickoff of their Week 12 game at MetLife Stadium. After elevating linebacker Vi Jones from the practice squad on Saturday, the Buccaneers had 54 available players and thus had to name six inactives to get down to the game-day limit of 48.
BUCCANEERS INACTIVES
- DL Earnest Brown
- TE Devin Culp
- CB Tyrek Funderburk
- OLB Jose Ramirez
- S Tykee Smith
- T Tristan Wirfs
Smith and Wirfs are out due to injury.
GIANTS INACTIVES
- QB Tim Boyle (3rd QB)
- CB Tre Hawkins
- S Anthony Johnson
- G Jake Kubas
- DT Jordan Riley
None of New York's inactives are out due to injury.
