Mike Evans’ MRI came back on Sunday after hyperextending his left knee against the Atlanta Falcons, impacting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ postseason plans.
Fox 13’s Kevin O’Donnell reported via Twitter that Evans’ MRI didn’t show any ligament damage, as first confirmed by FOX NFL Sunday’s Jay Glazer. The Bucs top receiver was taken to get an MRI after injuring his knee in the first quarter of the team’s 44-27 win in Week 17.
#bucs WR Mike Evans has a hyperextended knee. MRI showed no ligament damage according to @JayGlazer
Head coach Bruce Arians seemed optimistic about the outcome during his postgame press conference on Sunday.
“We don’t think there’s any serious damage,” Arians said. “We’ll know more in the next 24 hours.”
The Bucs may even play Evans in the NFC Wild Card round next Saturday, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
#GoBucs relieved the MRI on Mike Evans hyperextended left knee showed no structural damage to ligaments. They’re hopeful he can play next weekend in playoffs per @JayGlazer
Injury Result of ‘Really Slick’ Turf
Evans injured his knee while going for a catch in the end zone in the first half, slipping on the Raymond James Stadium sod as he crossed toward the middle of the field.
Here’s the Mike Evans injury. Slipped on some shoddy turf.
After the game, Arians also blamed the slippery surface, which took a beating from the Outback Bowl the day before, as noted by WBZ’s Michael Hurley.
“The turf was really slick in the end zones,” Arians said. “Just a freaky thing. It (the turf) just blew out from underneath him.”
After Evans’ injury, ESPN’s Jenna Laine then broke the news of the three-time Pro Bowler getting an MRI.
In one play, elation turned to agony for Bucs WR Mike Evans, who suffered a left knee injury after becoming the first player to reach 1,000 receiving yards in his first seven seasons. He is now undergoing an MRI, multiple sources told ESPN
In what the Tampa Bay Times called a “bizarre two-play sequence,” Evans on the previous play became the first receiver in NFL history to notch 1,000 yards in each of his first seven seasons. The 27-year-old passed Hall of Famer Randy Moss, who had six 1,000-yard seasons to start his career from 1998-2003.
Mike Evans is the 1st player in NFL history with 1,000+ receiving yards in each of his first 7 seasons
Most Consecutive Seasons w/ 1,000+ Rec Yds
To Begin Career, NFL History
TB Mike Evans – 7
HOF Randy Moss – 6
CIN A.J. Green – 5
NO Michael Thomas – 4
“It meant the world for him to get that record,” Arians said postgame.
Tampa’s Options if Evans Sits
Down their top receiving threat, Tampa Bay’s offense made do without Evans in the season finale. Quarterback Tom Brady threw touchdown passes to receivers Antonio Brown and Chris Godwin in the first half, before finding Brown and Godwin again in the fourth quarter. The NFC South runner ups never punted while Evans’ teammates lit up the Falcons secondary.
So on a day Mike Evans goes down with injury, Chris Godwin has 133 yards and two scores, Antonio Brown has 127 yards and two scores. Bucs haven’t punted today.
Brady and company will miss Evans as the quarterback called him “consistent” and “dependable” during his postgame press conference. Arians said they have plenty of depth, with or without Evans, referencing Scotty Miller and Tyler Johnson. Both caught touchdowns from Brady this season.
“We’ve got weapons. Obviously, Mike is special,” Arians said. “It’s going to take two guys to replace him for sure if he’s not there.”
Additionally, the Bucs have Brady under center. The 43-year-old veteran finished the game with 399 yards and four touchdowns, and the regular season with a franchise-record 40 touchdowns, the best mark ever by a quarterback in their first year with a new team.
Bruce Arians said he envisioned 40 TDs for Tom Brady. Said Brady broke Peyton Manning’s record for most touchdown passes in a QB’s first season with a new team.
“I know he’ll like that. Peyton’ll be pissed, though.” 😂
“We’ve got to keep it going,” Brady said in the postgame press conference. “It comes down to one game.”
Bucs Playoff Matchup
Winners of four straight, the Bucs locked up the NFC’s No. 5 seed with the win over Atlanta and will hit the road in the NFC Wild Card round next Saturday to face the No. 4 seeded Washington Football Team (7-9). Washington claimed the NFC East division title on Sunday night with a 20-14 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
The stage is set. We’ll play @WashingtonNFL Saturday night.
Saturday will also mark Tampa Bay’s first postseason contest in 13 seasons, dating back to January 6, 2008 when the Jon Gruden-led club lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants in the Wild Card round, 24-14.
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Bucs Get Revealing Update on Mike Evans’ Playoff Status