After an exciting end to last season that saw him continue his 1,000 yard receiving season streak to 11 years, Mike Evans accepted that due to his hamstring injury sustained this season, he won’t extend this streak to 12.
The injury has limited him to just five games all season, thus hampering any chances he may have had to sustain the streak. “I broke my collarbone and had the concussion in one and I knew it was over,” Evans said on his streak, via the Buccaneers’ Players’ Table show. “It is just one of those things that it wasn’t meant to be, and that is OK, and I am cool with that”, Evans said about his unfortunate circumstances.
In the Bucs‘ illustrious 50 year history however, Evans will stand in the annals of history as someone who was able to match the great Jerry Rice and seal what has already been a first ballot Hall of Fame career.
A Playoff Push Despite the Setbacks
Now though, Evans’ attention is on reaching the playoffs. After a 5-1 start, the Bucs now find themselves at 7-7, tied with the Carolina Panthers for the NFC South lead with two games yet to come against them. The path is simple: win both games and the Bucs are in the playoffs.
Some will say it’s crazy that the Bucs have remained in playoff contention despite the injuries they have faced all year long. Even with Evans out, they have missed guys like Chris Godwin and Jalen Mcmillan in this offense. Both have recently made their returns along with Evans, and the Bucs have started to look more explosive as a result.
In the Bucs’ loss to the Falcons for example, Evans had six catches for 132 yards, while Godwin caught a touchdown and a two point conversion. Hopefully, Evans has said, the return of the electrifying duo can bolster the offensive success of this team.
“We were thinking what if we all come back together and what we could truly be and that is one of the best receiver rooms on the planet,” Evans said of his and Godwin’s return, “and we are trying to get into that form right now and help this team continue to make plays.”
Looking Ahead: Leadership, Legacy, and What Comes Next
After the Bucs heavily leaned on rookie Emeka Egbuka throughout the last several weeks, they can finally rely on the sum of this receiving corps’ parts. They will need them all against the pesky Panthers.
Another question that has arisen is that of Evans’ potential retirement. He is in a contract year at 32 years old. “I haven’t really even thought about it, honestly,” Evans said about his future while speaking with reporters on Wednesday, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. “I’m just going wait until the season is over. I’m just trying to focus as much as I can on the season.”
It’s exactly the answer you would expect from Evans across a stellar career. After all, the Bucs control their own destiny despite their chaotic end to the season. Evans now more than ever can still prove vital in their goals..even if his incredible streak has come to an end.
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