The moment Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans went to the turf in Week 8 against the Detroit Lions, it was hard to think anything but the worst.
Evans, who lay motionless on the turf, eventually managed to get himself off the field on his own 2 feet but ultimately couldn’t get himself to the locker room on his own accord after laying out for a deep pass from Baker Mayfield in the first half.
The way Evans slammed into the turf made it seem like he could have suffered any number of injuries — what it ultimately was could likely end his season after Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles announced Evans had broken his collarbone.
“WR Mike Evans suffered a broken collarbone and is out for most of the year, coach Todd Bowles announced,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account on October 20. “Absolutely brutal.”
The Buccaneers dropped to 5-2 with a 24-9 loss in which they were held to just 228 passing yards.
“(The Buccaneers training staff) was looking at his right shoulder, but seeing him getting carted off should let you know he’s in excruciating pain,” ESPN sideline reporter Laura Rutledge said during the broadcast. “They are finally carting him off because he was just having so much trouble just getting off the field on his own … the official word from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is he is out with a concussion and a shoulder injury.”
The game against the Lions was the return for Evans after missing the previous 3 games with a hamstring injury. Evans also missed 3 games in the 2024 regular season with a hamstring injury.
Evans, 32 years old, is tied with Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice for the NFL record for most consecutive seasons with 1,000 receiving yards with 11.
Evans Got Green Light in Hours Before Kickoff
CBS Sports NFL reporter Matt Zenitz broke the news that the Buccaneers would have Evans back for Week 8 a few hours before kickoff.
“Buccaneers star wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) is good to go and will play tonight vs. the Lions after missing the last three games, sources tell CBS Sports,” Zenitz wrote on his official X account on October 20.
It was the first in a series of positive injury developments for the Buccaneers, who also got the green light for rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka to play againt the Lions. Egubka was questionable all week with a hamstring injury suffered in a win over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 6.
“We’re talking about the Detroit Lions basically missing their entire starting secondary tonight,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on The Pat McAfee Show on October 20. “I think Mike Evans is gonna play and Emeka Egbuka also has a real chance to play tonight”
Rookie Tez Johnson Scores Second TD
Evans’ absence forced rookie wide receiver and seventh round pick Tez Johnson into an expanded role for the second consecutive week and for the second consecutive week, Johnson responded with a touchdown — this time on a wild, leaping 22-yard catch and run on a screen pass from Mayfield in the third quarter.
“TEZ JOHNSON SOLO EFFORT FOR THE TOUCHDOWN,” ESPN wrote on its official X account. “Make that back-to-back games with a TD for the rookie.”
The Buccaneers are missing all of their starting wide receivers from last season; NFL All-Pro Chris Godwin (ankle) and Jalen McMillan (neck) were both out as well.
Buccaneers Star Suffers ‘Absolutely Brutal’ Injury in Loss to Lions