TAMPA, Fla. – In a cruel turn of fate on the next play after becoming the first NFL player to score 1,000 receiving touchdowns in each of his first seven seasons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans suffered a left knee injury gained and his status for the playoffs in jeopardy.
After an investigation at Raymond James Stadium, Evans was taken for an MRI, according to two sources familiar with the situation.
With 24 seconds left in the first quarter, the three-time Pro Bowler cut inside to get a 10-yard touchdown and hyper-extended his left knee, with the ball and Evans both falling to the ground, where he sat for a few seconds. and tingling from pain before being helped off the field and unable to place any weight on his left leg. He was taken in a wagon to the dressing room. He was later ruled out for the match.
A play earlier flashed the scoreboard ‘1000’, along with the years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 – all the years Evans finished with 1,000 reception deaths.
Evans needed 40 yards on Sunday and got a 20-yard pass from Tom Brady to make it 46, with fans quickly jumping on their feet.
With 10 wins, the Bucs already had a playoff spot in Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons, but they are fighting for the fifth playoff game. Coach Bruce Arians said last week he hoped Evans could set the record so he could place himself in Week 17.
Now his status ahead is uncertain. Evans has been the Bucs’ no. 1-wide receiver, and regularly attracted the attention of opposing defenses with shadow and double coverage. He was also undoubtedly Brady’s most valuable target in the quarterback’s first year in Tampa Bay, and he got a team-leading 13 attacks.