Buccaneers' Evans, McMillan Return to Practice

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers gained a crucial boost to their playoff hopes on Wednesday when veteran wide receiver Mike Evans returned to practice after being activated from injured reserve, joining fellow receiver Jalen McMillan in a timely recovery for the team's stretch run in the NFC South.

The Buccaneers, who sit at 7-5 and hold a half-game lead over the Carolina Panthers following their 31-28 upset win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, opened the 21-day practice window for the 31-year-old Evans. He suffered a broken clavicle and concussion in a Week 7 loss to the Detroit Lions on October 20, following an earlier hamstring injury that sidelined him for three games. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Evans, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, has been medically cleared for a quicker-than-expected return after surgery. McMillan, a second-year player who has yet to appear in a game this season due to a preseason neck injury involving broken bones, also began practicing Wednesday.

The developments come after Tampa Bay's 20-17 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, which snapped a three-game losing streak and improved their record to 7-5. The win, secured on home turf at...