The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a scare on Sunday at Ford Field. Late in the first half against the Detroit Lions, wideout Mike Evans went down. And the crowd, watching one of their biggest offensive weapons stay down, went silent.

In the second quarter, Evans went down hard by cornerback Rock Ya-Sin after trying to haul in a deep ball from Baker Mayfield. His head hit the turf, and right away, you could tell something was wrong. Evans stayed down for a few long minutes as trainers sprinted out. Teammates took a knee beside him. You could feel the tension across the field.

Evans was carted off and ruled out with a concussion and shoulder injury. According to sports medicine physician Jesse Morse, “Classic mechanism for an AC sprain, although his clavicle could have been fractured, that’s less likely since he wasn’t favoring it at all.”

For the 32-year-old veteran, this was another tough blow. He had just returned from a hamstring injury suffered back in Week 3, and now, he’s facing another uphill battle to get back. After the game, head coach Todd Bowles didn’t sugarcoat the situation.

“He’ll be out mostly toward the end of the year,” Bowles said. “We’ll see what happens.” That kind of uncertainty only deepened the concern in Buccaneer Nation.

Now, the Bucs find themselves in a tight spot. And the injury situation in Tampa Bay isn’t getting any better. So let’s look at some options that might help the Bucs.

Players who might replace Mike Evans

While the loss of Mike Evans leaves a massive hole in Tampa Bay’s offense, the Buccaneers might go for some players who could step in and keep the offense afloat.

First, Tyler Lockett. After spending a decade lighting it up in Seattle, Lockett made the move to Tennessee this year. But after just seven games, a 1-6 record, and a coaching change, he wanted out. The Titans granted his release, and suddenly, a reliable veteran with speed, experience, and leadership is on the market. For the Bucs, that’s hard to ignore.

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Then comes Jakobi Meyers. His situation in Sin City is shaky at best. The Las Vegas Raiders haven’t offered him an extension, and with the team’s slow start, a reset could be coming. If that happens, Meyers might be available. He’s productive, tough, exactly what the Bucs need with Evans sidelined.

Meanwhile, Tyler Boyd remains unsigned after a short stint with the Titans. Once a consistent producer in Cincinnati, his numbers have dipped, but the talent is still there. A fresh start in Tampa Bay could be the kind of low-risk, high-reward move that pays off big for the pewter and red.

Finally, there’s Josh Reynolds. The Jets are spiraling, winless, and clearly headed for a rebuild. If that continues, veterans like Reynolds might be on the move. He’s bounced around, sure, but he’s got the size and experience to help the Buccaneers right away.