It’s worth keeping an eye out for what’s ahead, and several opposing players are healing up ahead of the New Orleans Saints’ Week 2 matchup. The Athletic’s Greg Aumen reports that Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receivers Mike Evans (calf) and Julio Jones (knee) practiced on Friday after resting earlier in the week; both players were listed as non-participants on Thursday’s injury report.
That’s a big deal considering three of the Buccaneers’ top four receivers were inactive on Thursday — and slot receiver Chris Godwin (hamstring) still hasn’t returned to practice. The fourth man in the rotation, free agent pickup Russell Gage (hamstring), was limited Thursday. We’ll get a better idea of everyone’s status once the Friday injury report is released. The Saints have defended Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady well in the past, but the fewer weapons he has to work with, the easier that becomes.
