There is some good news for the Bucs on this Victory Monday. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Mike Evans’ hamstring injury isn’t that severe. Evans tweaked his hamstring in the first half against the Saints on Sunday and did not return after catching three passes for 40 yards.

From @GMFB: The latest on #Bucs WR Mike Evans (hamstring), #Bills CB Tre’Davious White (Achilles), and #Browns pass-rusher Myles Garrett (rolled ankle). pic.twitter.com/R3lklCDUfa

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 2, 2023

Being forced from the team’s Week 4 win had to be especially frustrating for Evans personally. Given his hot start to the season (20 catches for 337 yards and three touchdowns) and his rivalry with Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore, who he was getting the better of early on in the game, the 10th-year receiver certainly would’ve wanted to be a part of Tampa Bay’s impressive second half.

The good news for the Bucs, though, is that they had Chris Godwin and some of their young receivers step up in Evans’ absence. That was the focus of head coach Todd Bowles after the game when he was asked if he had an update on Evans’ injury.

“Not yet. He just tweaked it right now, we’ll see how serious it is or isn’t once we get out of here and once they run some more tests on it,” Bowles said. “I thought the guys that came in stepped up, [Deven] Thompkins and Trey [Palmer], [Rakim] Jarrett. All of those guys really stepped up.”

Bucs WR Mike Evans Dealing With Hamstring Injury

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport had an update on Evans on Good Morning Football on Monday morning.

“More of a hamstring tweak than anything else,” Rapoport said. “You could see him on the sidelines, on the stationary bike trying to get loose. It didn’t seem to be a major injury. Reporters spotted him leaving the game and there didn’t seem to be a significant limp.

“This does seem to be minor. He will have some tests today just to be sure, but this does seem to be minor. Hopefully the next time the Bucs are on the field he is there, but obviously something for the team to monitor.”

Evans is no stranger to hamstring injuries. In 2015 he missed the Bucs regular season opener with a pulled hamstring. He missed the final three games of the 2019 season due to another hamstring strain. In 2020, Evans tweaked his hamstring prior to the Bucs first game of the season but played that game against the Saints. He had further aggravations in 2021 and 2022.

With Week 5 Bye, Mike Evans Has Extra Time To Recover

Initially many bemoaned the early-season bye week the Bucs had in their 2023 schedule. However, for Mike Evans as well as a slew of other players on the roster, the Week 5 open date may be a blessing in disguise.

With the Bucs off next week, it allows Evans, as well as Bucs cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean, defensive lineman Calijah Kancey, linebacker Devin White and safety Ryan Neal to all have extra time to recover from their various ailments. Nose tackle Vita Vea, who has also been dealing with a pectoral injury, will get some more time to recover as well.

The team has to hope this will be a boost in health as they eye a Week 6 showdown with the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions on Oct. 15. Against an opponent that has been one of the better scoring teams in the NFL since the start of 2022, the Bucs will need all of their offensive playmakers to help keep up with the Lions. And there is no bigger playmaker on Tampa Bay’s roster than Mike Evans.