Mike Evans Injury Update
Mike Evans, the big target that Buccaneers fans know and love, limped off the field in the fourth quarter against the Jets yesterday, and if you’re a longtime Bucs watcher, your gut probably sank the second you saw it. Yes, Hamstring again. He’d just hauled in his 106th touchdown (seriously, ninth all-time in NFL history Mike’s got hands, folks), and then on a simple play he pulled up, grimaced, and started hobbling. There was frustration, too; Evans isn’t the guy to hide how he feels, so when the helmet came flying and he sent a Gatorade cooler skidding, nobody was shocked. This isn’t his first rodeo with the hamstring devil, and sadly, it probably won’t be the last.
What’s next? Well, the official word is that Mike’s getting an MRI to suss out the damage on Monday, but coach Todd Bowles says it “appears to be just a hamstring strain at this point,” which fans will hope isn’t the sort of “minor” that drags on for weeks. He’s already missed a few games here and there in past years, so as much as the Bucs need him especially since Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka are also banged up you have to wonder if the streak of 1,000-yard seasons is in as much danger as your fantasy playoff dreams. One friend texted me, “I’m convinced his hamstrings are made of bungee cord at this stage” (not the best for NFL longevity, but great for yard work?).
I always feel for the guy. At 32, Evans is that rare NFL dude who’s been both iron man and fragile in weird cycles never less than 13 games a season, but always one awkward sprint from another “not again” moment. He took a bit of time post-game to chat up rookie Egbuka and even managed a wry smile, though you could see he’d rather have been celebrating with teammates. Is there any comfort that the Bucs are 3-0, even with a banged-up offensive line and half the offense on the trainer’s table? Maybe, if you’re the “glass half full” sort. But Mike means a ton to this offense, to fans, to the city. You watch him and can’t help but root for at least one more healthy run at NFL history.
The whole injury and let’s be real, the annual stress about it is a reminder that nothing’s guaranteed for athletes, even the freakishly consistent ones. Maybe this is the week the football gods keep the MRI results mild. Me? I’ll just keep my phone close, waiting for that update, hoping Mike’s ready to light it up again next Sunday. But I won’t blame him for jumping into the ice tub and then maybe staying there until it’s time to chase that 1,000-yard streak again.
