Falcons vs. Buccaneers Injury Update: Will Wirfs, Evans, London Play on Thursday Night Football?

Let's get straight to the brass tacks as we offer a Falcons vs. Buccaneers injury update for the Thursday Night Football.

Will Tampa Bay's superstar offensive lineman, Tristan Wirfs, feature after missing last week's game, and can the best receiver from either team, Mike Evans and Drake London, make an anticipated return to their respective teams? The analysis below complements our NFL predictions for Week 15. 

Will Drake London play vs. Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football? 

London hasn't played since injuring his knee in the 30-27 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 11. He missed the last three games, two of which resulted in defeat. 

The Falcons' star receiver was listed as day-to-day before being ruled out of the Week 14 game against the Seattle Seahawks. Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' team site reported that London was the only non-participant on Monday and for the Tuesday walkthrough. 

At this stage of the season, with the Falcons' playoff chances as dim as the darkest tunnel, I'd be surprised if we see London feature against the Buccaneers. I took that into account when making my Falcons vs. Buccaneers prediction.

Will Tristan Wirfs play vs. Falcons on Thursday Night Football?

The Buccaneers' best offensive lineman missed the Week 14 loss to the New Orleans Saints with an oblique injury. He was listed as a limited participant on Monday but practiced on Tuesday, with Fox Sports reporter Greg Auman suggesting Wirfs appeared "as normal" on the field and should be ready to feature in Thursday Night Football.

That would provide a massive lift to the Buccaneers' offensive line, which is significantly inferior without Wirfs in the lineup.

The Buccaneers have struggled with offensive line injuries all season, with Baker Mayfield the most severely impacted by the litany of personnel changes. Mayfield struggled against the Saints on Sunday, going 4-for-10 when blitzed while completing just 3-of-7 passes under pressure. 

Will Mike Evans play vs. Falcons on Thursday Night Football?

Evans hasn't played since the Week 7 loss to the Detroit Lions, when he broke his collarbone and sustained a concussion on the same play.

It's been a long road back for the perennial 1000-yard receiver, and he's been making excellent progress over the last couple of weeks, according to reports. 

However, without any full-speed practices in the days leading up to Thursday Night Football against the Falcons, it's challenging for the coaching staff to evaluate whether the 32-year-old is ready to make his long-awaited return to the lineup. 

While his importance to the team is unsurpassed, I doubt he'll be given the green light on a short week. I'd expect him to return in a limited capacity for the pivotal Week 16 clash against the Carolina Panthers, with whom they share first place in the NFC South.