Tampa Bay Buccaneers Shock NFL with Blockbuster Trade — What It Means for the 2025 Season

TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter Monday Night Football against the Detroit Lions riding a three-game winning streak and clinging to first place in the NFC South, but Todd Bowles’ squad will take the field with a reshuffled lineup that could define the mid-season trajectory. Late Sunday, the Buccaneers elevated veteran guard Michael Jordan and undrafted rookie running back Owen Wright from the practice squad, reinforcing two positions thinned by injuries. Jordan is expected to rotate at left guard after Matt Feiler (knee) was downgraded to out, while Wright provides depth behind Rachaad White with Chase Edmonds (ankle) still on injured reserve. All-Pro wide receiver Mike Evans will suit up despite a lingering hamstring strain that limited him in practice throughout the week. Evans’ availability is critical for quarterback Baker Mayfield, who ranks fourth in the NFC in passer rating over the past three weeks. With Chris Godwin drawing double coverage, look for Mayfield to target tight end Cade Otton early, exploiting a Detroit defense surrendering 78% completions to tight ends. Defensively, the Bucs will again be without nickel corner Christian Izien (concussion) and edge rusher Randy Gregory (calf). Rookie safety Tykee Smith is slated for increased snaps as Bowles mixes coverages designed to contain Lions wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown, who lines up in the slot on 46% of Detroit’s routes. Playoff calculus is already in view. A win would push Tampa Bay to 6-1 for the first time since the franchise’s 2020 Super Bowl season, while creating a two-game buffer over the surging Atlanta Falcons in the division. More importantly, it would give the Buccaneers a conference-record tiebreaker edge over another Wild-Card contender. Keys to watch: • Red-zone defense: The Bucs lead the league, allowing touchdowns on just 37% of opponent trips. Detroit ranks second in red-zone offense. • Ball security: Mayfield hasn’t thrown an interception in three games; Lions edge Aidan Hutchinson has forced four turnovers in that span. • Special teams: Jake Camarda’s 51.9-yard net average could flip field position against a Lions return unit averaging 12.6 yards per punt. Kickoff at Raymond James Stadium is set for 8:15 p.m. ET. Clear skies, 72°F, and a raucous pirate-ship crowd await as Tampa Bay looks to extend its momentum and cement itself as a legitimate NFC title threat.