Bucs play their starters, Mike Evans goes with an injury

It should be obvious. If you can take a week off in the NFL, do it.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had nothing really to play for in Week 17, with a wild card spot locked up and no shot at a division title (although the No. 5 seed locked up means the Bucs won the NFC) east champion in the first round of the playoffs). Head coach Bruce Arians wanted to play appetizer for the pride of their seed, he said. And he may have lost one of his best players.

Star receiver Mike Evans delivered an attack in the first quarter and stayed. It appears he injured his knee. Evans walks off the field, but goes right to the locker room.

Then, hitting home how reckless it was to play appetizer when the Buccaneers could take a much-needed bee week, Tom Brady later hit the ride with a helmet and grabbed it. Brady stayed in the game.

Arians had a strange answer last week when asked about the start of an appetizer.

“We’re going to play to win,” Arians said. ‘Eleven and five, it’s very rare. To get the chance to get to 11-5, keep sowing – we want the seed just for pride. We do not care who we play, it’s more for pride. I’ll probably have to hit some guys with a stick in the head to try not to let them play anyway. I talked to them about it before and [they said], ‘I play.’ We are going to practice and play as it all depends. It’s not going to be an easy game either. ‘

The story continues

‘Proud’ of a seed, or keeping a good receiver healthy for the playoffs? U bel.

Hopefully Evans is not hurt too much. It was reminiscent of Wes Welker blowing out his ACL for the Patriots in a Week 17 game when they had nothing to play for.

In a tough turn, Evans set a record just before the injury.

If Evans cannot play in the wildcard weekend, or if any other Buccaneers player plays a largely pointless Week 17 game, it should be a warning to other coaches in the coming years. Just take the farewell week. Do not overthink it.

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