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About the Author: Matt Matera
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Bucs’ receiver Mike Evans is expected to miss the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury, per a report from Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Evans is set to have a MRI on his hamstring on Tuesday, but unless there’s any unexpected improvement, Evans will be out for the Bucs’ final three games.
Bucs WR Mike Evans (hamstring) expected to miss the rest of the season, per source. Barring unexpected improvement on hamstring, Tampa Bay will be without its top receiver.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) December 10, 2019
Evans’ injury happened near the end of the first quarter in the Bucs’ 38-35 win over the Colts at home. On the play, Evans made a 61 yard touchdown reception after he ran well ahead of defender Pierre Desir on a go route, but Evans came up limp as he entered the end zone, eventually lying on the ground in pain and then walking off with trainers. The Bucs’ star receiver did not return to the game.
Following the Bucs’ victory on Sunday, Bruce Arians was not optimistic about Evans chances of seeing the field again this season.
“It’s not good,” Arians said. “I’ll be shocked if Mike makes it back before the last week.”
On Monday, Arians’ update gave a slightly better chance for Evans’ prognosis, but not by much, if at all.
“They’re going to let it bleed out,” Arians said. “He was a quick healer when he had it in the spring, so I would be very doubtful for this week.”
The Bucs are thin at wide receiver after Evans’ injury. Rookie wide receiver Scotty Miller has missed the last two games with his own hamstring injury, which means they have Chris Godwin, Breshad Perriman and Justin Watson remaining on the depth chart. The Bucs do have receiver Ishmael Hyman on the practice squad if they decide to promote him up to the 53-man roster. Hyman played his college ball at James Madison University.
If Evans does miss the rest of the season, he will finish with 67 receptions for 1,157 yards and eight touchdowns on the year. Evans also reached two milestones this season, breaking the Bucs’ franchise record for career receptions that was previously at 450, and now stands 462 and counting. For his second milestone, Evans became just the second receiver in NFL history to record over 1,000 yards in their first six seasons in the NFL, joining Hall Of Famer Randy Moss as the only two with the honor.
