Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans were excited about the return of a key player heading into Monday night’s showdown with the Detroit Lions. However, that excitement was very shortlived.
Buccaneers veteran wide receiver Mike Evans, who has been one of the most consistent wide receivers in NFL history with 11 consecutive seasons of more than 1,000 receiving yards to start his season, has missed the past several games for the team as he has battled a hamstring injury.
Evans was a full participant in practice this week and was in the lineup for the Buccaneers on Monday night. However, he and the team got a bad break early in the game.
During the first half of Tampa Bay’s loss to the Lions, Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield attempted to find Evans with a deep ball as the veteran receiver had broken free from the coverage. The ball found Evans and he briefly appeared to make the catch, but he dropped the ball when he hit the ground and was clearly injured.
After Evans was eventually helped off the field and was quickly ruled out with a concussion and a right shoulder injury.
Obviously, this is some pretty horrible news for both Evans and the Buccaneers, and it sparked a lot of reactions on social media.
“first year since the war of 1812 that he won’t have 1,000 yards,” one fan predicted.
“Dude can’t catch a break… have a feeling he might call it soon,” someone else wrote.
“He can’t catch a break,” another fan added.
“This is sad, he is one of the greatest of all time,” another person added.
“Right when he came back, too,” someone else lamanted.
We’ll have to see when Evans is able to return to the field for the team.
About Dave Kelsey
Contributing author to The Comeback.