Tag: mike evans

Dec 1, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) recieves attention after being sacked in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Bucs’ Baker Mayfield practices; Mike Evans does not

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield was a full participant after getting spiked in the leg in last week’s game, but star wide receiver Mike Evans and rookie running back Bucky Irving did not participate Wednesday.

Evans is dealing with hamstring and calf issues while Irving was sidelined for the walkthrough with hip/back ailments.

Mayfield was a full participant on the estimated injury report after his lower leg got stepped on in last week’s overtime win over the Carolina Panthers. He vowed to be ready to play this week against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders (2-10).

“Yeah, it’s a part of my job just to get ready to physically play,” Mayfield told reporters Wednesday. “[I’m] doing my recovery stuff, everything I need to do to be able to be ready to play and yeah, feel decent. [I’m] still a little sore but it’s Week 13 or 14 in the NFL so got to go.”

Mayfield was stepped on by Panthers defensive end Jadeveon Clowney after a sack. He was replaced briefly by Kyle Trask before returning. He threw for 235 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

The 6-6 Bucs are currently on the outside looking in for the postseason, having lost twice to the NFC South-leading Atlanta Falcons.

Evans has 39 catches for 521 yards and seven TDs on the season after topping 1,000 yards in each of his first 10 NFL seasons. Irving has rushed for 732 yards and six TDs in 12 games (one start).

–Field Level Media

Oct 21, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) is helped off the field by trainers against the Baltimore Ravens in the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Bucs WR Mike Evans expected to return from injury Sunday

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans will likely return from a hamstring injury Sunday against the New York Giants, according to Evans and Bucs coach Todd Bowles on Friday.

The franchise’s all-time leading scorer, Evans was diagnosed with a moderate hamstring strain after suffering the injury in the second quarter of a 41-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 7. He has missed three games since, tying the longest stretch of absences in his 11-year career.

Evans, 31, will play against the Giants “as long as he’s healthy and fresh,” Bowles said Friday. He was a limited participant in practice Wednesday and Friday but a full participant on Thursday.

However, given that Evans’ Week 7 injury was an aggravation of an existing hamstring injury, he may have a short leash, especially given that Tampa Bay’s top wide receivers are already banged up.

The Bucs are without their No. 2 wide receiver for likely the rest of the season, as Chris Godwin suffered a dislocated left ankle in the same game as Evans’ hamstring injury. Tampa Bay’s No. 3 wide receiver, rookie Jalen McMillan, also suffered a hamstring injury but has fully participated in practice every day this week.

“If he needs to be in there, he’ll be in there,” Bowles said of Evans, “but we’ll get him out when we have to.”

For his part, Evans seems ready to take the field.

“This week definitely built my confidence, and last week, going through all the conditioning I had to do,” Evans said. “I feel really good. Like I said, I feel better than I did going into the Ravens game. I was a little hobbled going into that game. I probably should have sat that one out, but I always try to tough it through. This time off definitely helped me, so I’m confident.”

The Bucs have struggled in Evans’ and Godwin’s absence, losing four straight after a 4-2 start.

“It hurt to see your team out there fighting in really tough, close games that we could have won,” Evans said. “I wish I could (have been) out there to help them. I’m excited for this week.”

In seven games (all starts) this season, Evans has 26 receptions for 335 yards and six TDs.

He jumps back into the lineup as the team’s leader with six touchdown receptions. However, his 10-season streak of 1,000-yard campaigns is in peril. Evans will need to average 95 yards per game in the final seven games.

–Field Level Media

Sep 8, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) is congratulated by quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) and wide receiver Jalen McMillan (15) after he scored a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Bucs WR Mike Evans (hamstring) on track to return

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans participated in parts of practice on Wednesday and is planning to suit up Sunday for the first time since a Week 7 hamstring injury.

Evans and Chris Godwin (ankle) were injured in the same 41-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 21. Godwin, still the team leader with 50 receptions, is out for the year.

Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield said Evans looked good and is positive about his chances of getting back in the lineup this week when the Buccaneers (4-6) play at the New York Giants (2-8).

“You guys know: Mike’s a pro. He’s going to do everything he can to get back out there with us and fight for this team as we take it one game at a time,” Mayfield said Wednesday.

Evans jumps back into the lineup as the team’s leader with six touchdown receptions. However, his 10-season streak of 1,000-yard campaigns is in peril.

With 336 yards in 2024, he’ll need to average 95 yards per game in the final seven games.

“The streak, yeah, it’s important to us, but he cares about winning,” Mayfield said. “He’s a huge part of this offense when he’s there, so I think that’ll come naturally. But I’ve been in the situation where you’re trying to force-feed the ball to a guy and that’s not how this offense works especially.

–Field Level Media

Oct 21, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (14) is carted off the field against the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Bucs lose WRs Mike Evans, Chris Godwin to injuries vs. Ravens

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Two of the Buccaneers’ best playmakers sustained injuries on Monday night during Tampa Bay’s 41-31 loss to the visiting Baltimore Ravens, as Mike Evans hurt a hamstring before fellow wide receiver Chris Godwin had to be carted off the field because of an apparent ankle issue.

Evans was the first one to go down, clutching at his right hamstring after failing to hold on to a potential 24-yard touchdown reception with 7:31 left in the first half. He was able to walk to the locker room under his own power but did not return to the game.

Godwin’s injury was more serious. It came with about a minute left in the game and Tampa Bay trailing by 10. The cart had to be brought out after the 28-year-old had his left ankle get caught under Baltimore linebacker Roquan Smith at the end of a 21-yard reception.

Godwin was crawling on the field following the hit from Smith, and medical personnel put his foot in an air cast once he got into the back of the cart.

Prior to exiting, Evans only had one catch, a 25-yard TD. Godwin hauled in seven receptions for 65 yards.

Evans, 31, snagged his 100th career touchdown on Monday night. He has found the end zone six times in seven games (all starts) this season, amassing 335 yards on 26 catches.

In seven games (all starts) this season, Godwin has 50 receptions for 576 yards and five TDs.

The Buccaneers fell to 4-3 with the defeat.

–Field Level Media

Oct 13, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) runs on the field agains the New Orleans Saints during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Bucs WR Mike Evans (hamstring) game-time decision vs. Ravens

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans returned to the practice field on Saturday and will be designated as questionable to play against the visiting Baltimore Ravens on Monday, head coach Todd Bowles announced.

Evans sat out practices on Thursday and Friday while dealing with a hamstring injury.

“He did some things today that were encouraging,” Bowles said. “We’ll see how the next two guys and we’ll see how he feels Monday. He’s questionable right now.”

Evans aggravated his injury during Tampa Bay’s 51-27 victory over the host New Orleans Saints on Sunday. He left the game in the second quarter and played sparingly afterward, totaling two catches for 34 yards.

Evans, 31, has 25 receptions for 310 yards and is tied for a league-leading five touchdown grabs.

Evans is pursuing Jerry Rice’s record of 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2024 after hitting that mark in each of his first 10 years with the Bucs. He has started 159 of 160 career regular-season games and has 787 receptions for 11,990 yards and 99 touchdowns since Tampa Bay selected him seventh overall in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M.

A five-time Pro Bowl selection including 2023, when he led the NFL with 13 TD receptions, Evans signed a two-year, $41 million contract in March that includes $29 million guaranteed.

Also on Saturday, Bowles said the Bucs (4-2) expect to have wide receiver Trey Palmer return from a two-game absence due to a concussion.

Wide receiver Kameron Johnson (ankle), tight end Payne Durham (calf) and cornerback Jamel Dean (hamstring) have been ruled out for the game against the Ravens (4-2).

–Field Level Media

Oct 13, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) runs on the field agains the New Orleans Saints during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Bucs star WR Mike Evans (hamstring) misses practice

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers All-Pro wide receiver Mike Evans missed practice on Thursday because of a hamstring issue.

Head coach Todd Bowles said that Evans “tweaked his leg” and it was a “nagging” issue before the team’s 51-27 victory over the host New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

Evans had left the game in the second quarter and played sparingly afterward, totaling two catches for 34 yards.

Bowles said Evans, 31, is “getting better” and is expected to be back at practice leading up to the team’s next game on Monday night against the visiting Baltimore Ravens.

Evans has started all six games this season and has 25 receptions on 42 targets for 310 yards and a league-leading five touchdown receptions.

He also had been on the injury report with a knee issue before Week 4’s game but played against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Also missing practice on Thursday were cornerback Jamel Dean (hamstring), tight end Payne Durham (calf) and wide receiver Kameron Johnson (ankle). Wide receiver Rakim Jarrett (knee) was designated to return from injured reserve and was limited in practice.

Evans is pursuing Jerry Rice’s record of 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2024 after hitting that mark in each of his first 10 years with the Bucs. He has started 159 of 160 career regular-season games and has 787 receptions for 11,990 yards and 99 touchdowns.

Tampa Bay selected him seventh overall in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M.

A five-time Pro Bowl selection including 2023, when he led the NFL with 13 TD receptions, Evans signed a two-year, $41 million contract in March that includes $29 million guaranteed.

–Field Level Media

Dec 24, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) celebrates the touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports

Buccaneers WR Mike Evans inks two-year, $41M deal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

With a chance to run a fly pattern into free agency, Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans opted for the comeback route.

Evans officially signed a two-year, $41 million contract on Friday to extend his career in Tampa Bay into an 11th season.

The deal includes $29 million guaranteed, according to ESPN. He’ll resume his pursuit of Jerry Rice’s record of 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2024 after hitting that mark in each of his first 10 years with the Bucs.

“The first 10 years of Mike’s time in Tampa have been truly unprecedented and we look forward to seeing him continue to break records and add to his legendary career as a Buccaneer,” Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said. “Mike is a special player who has made a lasting impact on this franchise and in our community. As great as he’s been on the field, Mike and his wife, Ashli, have had an even bigger effect in the Tampa Bay area through all their charitable work. He is crucial to our team success and exemplifies everything we want our players to be.”

Evans said Friday his goal all along was to be with the same franchise from the start of his career to the finish.

“Tampa is home,” Evans said, noting he and his wife briefly discussed what it would be like to play elsewhere before coming to the joint realization a return was the option they wanted.

Evans was the first draft pick Licht made as general manager, selected seventh overall in the 2014 draft. Now the Buccaneers are focused on bringing back quarterback Baker Mayfield, who is ticketed for unrestricted free agency after leading Tampa Bay to the NFC South title and playoffs in his only season with the team.

This is Evans’ third contract with the Buccaneers.

Evans has been a team captain seven consecutive seasons.

The 30-year-old was ticketed for free agency at the turn of the new league year next week. He just finished a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the Bucs, but Licht and head coach Todd Bowles sent strong signals in recent days that they weren’t letting Evans out of town.

“He came to work every day, he came into play every day, as you can see as a result from his statistics,” Bowles said at the NFL Scouting Combine last week. “You know, he he’s been here for like a decade and he’s done the same thing every year. He’s been very consistent. He’s very dynamic yet he’s very humble off the field, but he’s a confident player. He’s one of my favorite players. I have a lot of respect for Mike and everything he does. He’s earned what he done.”

Evans had 79 catches for 1,255 yards with a league-leading 13 touchdowns last season.

He has 762 career receptions for 11,680 yards and 94 TDs in 154 games (153 starts). He also has 709 yards receiving and five TDs in nine postseason games, two of those TDs coming in the 2020 Super Bowl run.

–Field Level Media

Jan 21, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) makes a catch against Detroit Lions cornerback Cameron Sutton (1) during the second half in a 2024 NFC divisional round game at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Bucs agree to 2-year extension with WR Mike Evans

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans are in agreement on a two-year, $52 million extension with five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans, ESPN and NFL Network reported Monday.

The deal includes $35 million guaranteed, according to the ESPN report.

Evans, 30, was set to hit free agency at the turn of the new league year later this month. He just finished a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the Bucs.

“He came to work every day, he came into play every day, as you can see as a result from his statistics,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said at the NFL Scouting Combine last week. “You know, he he’s been here for like a decade and he’s done the same thing every year. He’s been very consistent. He’s very dynamic yet he’s very humble off the field, but he’s a confident player. He’s one of my favorite players. I have a lot of respect for Mike and everything he does. He’s earned what he done.”

Evans reached 1,000 receiving yards for the 10th straight season in 2023, a record at the outset of a career and just one off the overall consecutive seasons mark held by the legendary Jerry Rice. He had 79 catches for 1,255 yards with a league-leading 13 touchdowns.

Evans has spent his entire career in Tampa, which selected him No. 7 overall in the 2014 draft. He has 762 career receptions for 11,680 yards and 94 TDs in 154 games (153 starts). He also has 709 yards receiving and five TDs in nine postseason games, two of those TDs coming in the 2020 Super Bowl run.

Next up in Tampa is quarterback Baker Mayfield, whom the Bucs also hope to lock up to a long-term deal.

–Field Level Media

Sep 25, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) looks on against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Bucs WR Mike Evans (hamstring) will play Sunday

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Limited earlier in the week by a hamstring issue, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans practiced Friday and will play Sunday against the visiting Detroit Lions.

“Mike’s full-go,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles told reporters Friday. “Mike fully participated and he looked good.”

Evans, 30, who leads the Bucs with 337 receiving yards and three touchdowns this season, injured his hamstring in the first half of a 26-9 win over the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 1. He used the bye week for treatment was limited in practice Thursday.

Linebacker Shaq Barrett sat out practice Friday with an illness and is listed as questionable, but Bowles expects him to play Sunday in a matchup of NFC division leaders.

Cornerbacks Jamel Dean (neck/shoulder) and Derrek Pitts (hamstring), linebackers Devin White (foot) and SirVocea Dennis (hamstring), tackle Luke Goedeke (calf), defensive tackle Calijah Kancey (calf), safety Ryan Neal (concussion) and linebacker Anthony Nelson (concussion) all practiced Friday.

The Lions ruled out seven players for the game: safety Brian Branch (ankle), running backs Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) and Zonovan Knight (shoulder), guard Jonah Jackson (ankle), tight end James Mitchell (hamstring), cornerback Emmanuel Moseley (knee) and defensive lineman Josh Paschal (knee).

–Field Level Media