By Sunday 
The Detroit Lions have been one of the NFL’s early-season feel-good stories — gritty, balanced, and sitting at a respectable 4-2 despite a few bumps along the way. But just when Dan Campbell’s crew looked ready to bounce back from last week’s 30-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, they’ve received some unwelcome news out of Tampa Bay.
The Bucs Are Getting Stronger
As the Lions prepare for their Monday Night Football matchup on October 20, the Buccaneers are quietly reloading. Tampa Bay’s star wide receiver Mike Evans—who’s been sidelined since Week 3 with a hamstring injury—is expected to return to the lineup, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
That’s bad news for any defense, but especially one already dealing with secondary depth questions. Evans isn’t just a weapon; he’s a machine. The veteran has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in all 11 of his NFL seasons, and his chemistry with quarterback Baker Mayfield could spell serious problems for Detroit’s cornerbacks.
And Evans isn’t the only Buccaneer on the mend. Cornerbacks Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison, along with offensive lineman Mike Jordan, all returned to practice this week. Simply put, Tampa Bay is getting healthy at the perfect time — right before facing a Lions team desperate to stay in the NFC North race.
Detroit’s Countermove
The Lions haven’t been idle. On Thursday, October 16, they shuffled their roster — signing safety Jammie Robinson from the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad, releasing defensive lineman Keith Cooper, and adding safety Loren Strickland to their own practice squad.
The timing makes sense. With Brian Branch suspended, Detroit needs reinforcements in the secondary, and bringing in a former Chief after losing to Kansas City may offer both depth and some insider intel.
Monday Night Motivation
There’s no denying it — this is a statement game for Detroit. A win over a healthy Buccaneers squad would restore momentum and silence any whispers that last week’s loss exposed their ceiling. But with Evans and company back in full swing, Dan Campbell’s Lions have their work cut out for them.