How long will Mike Evans be out? Buccaneers coach sheds light on injury

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers dropped to 4-3 in Week 7 with a 41-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on ‘Monday Night Football.’ After building a 10-0 lead after the first quarter, the Buccaneers were outscored 17-0 in the second quarter en route to the defeat.

The Buccaneers couldn’t convert their lone red zone trip of the second quarter to points. On that drive — which ended in a Baker Mayfield interception — the Buccaneers’ quarterback took a shot to Mike Evans in the end zone. Evans couldn’t hang on and injured his hamstring in the process.

The five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver was dealing with an injury to that hamstring prior to the game. Evans left the contest after that play and did not return.

It was a rough night for Tampa Bay’s wide receiver corps. Chris Godwin suffered a serious ankle injury in the final minute of the game as well and has been placed on injured reserve. On Tuesday, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles provided an update on Evans’ status.

When will Mike Evans return?

Bowles said Evans’ hamstring injury is ‘moderate’ but did not provide a specific return date. He said that Evans will be out through the Buccaneers’ bye in Week 11.

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The Buccaneers have games against the Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs, and San Francisco 49ers ahead of the bye. That puts Evans’ earliest return at Nov. 24 for Tampa Bay’s Week 12 game on the road against the New York Giants.

The Falcons game will be the first game Evans has missed since Week 18 of the 2022 NFL season. He hasn’t missed a regular season game due to injury since Week 16 of the 2021 season.

When was Mike Evans injured?

Evans injured his hamstring halfway through the second quarter of Week 7’s ‘Monday Night Football’ game between the Ravens and Buccaneers. It came after his first and only touchdown of the game — his 100th career receiving touchdown.

Evans is just the 11th player in NFL history with 100 touchdown receptions. The others are:

Jerry Rice (197)
Randy Moss (156)
Terrell Ownes (153)
Cris Carter (130)
Marvin Harrison (128)
Larry Fitzgerald (121)
Antonio Gates (116)
Tony Gonzalez (111)
Tim Brown (100)
Steve Largent (100)

Mike Evans stats

In 2024, Evans has 26 catches for 335 yards and a league-leading six touchdowns in seven games.

Buccaneers WR depth chart

With Evans and Godwin both out with injury, here’s how the rest of the active roster looks for Tampa Bay at wide receiver:

Jalen McMillan
Sterling Shepard
Trey Palmer

The Buccaneers also have Marquez Callaway and Ryan Miller available on their practice squad.