The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are heading into the teeth of their NFC South schedule, and they’ll do it without two of the receivers they need the most.

With the Carolina Panthers just a half-game back and four of Tampa Bay’s final five games coming against division opponents, the Bucs are in full-on survival mode. Any boost in firepower would be massive. This week, it looked like help might finally be on the way as Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan both returned to practice in a limited capacity.

But on Friday, Todd Bowles slammed the brakes on any hopes of an immediate return.

Bowles confirmed that Evans and McMillan have officially been ruled out for Sunday’s critical matchup against the New Orleans Saints, despite getting back on the practice field. Both wideouts will need at least another week before they’re cleared for game action, keeping Tampa Bay’s passing game shorthanded at a brutal time in the schedule.

Evans has been sidelined since suffering a broken collarbone in Week 7 against the Detroit Lions, a huge blow to the vertical and red zone aspects of this offense. McMillan still hasn’t played a regular-season snap after fracturing and straining his neck in the preseason against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Getting either one back would have been a significant upgrade for a unit that has struggled in specific situations all year.

This conservative timeline isn’t new for Bowles and his staff. The Buccaneers followed a similar pattern with running back Bucky Irving and wideout Chris Godwin earlier in the season, easing them back into practice for a week before ramping them up for live action the following game. Godwin returned a week earlier than Irving, so it’ll be worth watching whether Evans and McMillan follow that same staggered pattern.

The need is obvious. Tampa Bay has been noticeably shaky against man coverage, posting -0.17 EPA per play when facing it in the passing game. That’s where Evans and McMillan could change everything. Evans is still one of the league’s premier 50/50 ball dominators, the kind of receiver who can erase tight coverage with size and timing. McMillan brings the separation skills and route polish that can stress man-heavy defenses horizontally and vertically.

For now, though, the Bucs have to ride into a must-win divisional showdown with Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin leading the charge at receiver. The hope is that Evans and McMillan are only one week away from returning.

The reality? Every game they miss shrinks Tampa Bay’s margin for error in a division race that’s tightening by the day.