Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans has been suspended one game for his role in Sunday’s brawl against the New Orleans Saints, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Next week, the Green Bay Packers will play the Buccaneers, who could be without their top wide receiver.
An altercation between players from both teams provoked Evans into knocking Saints corner Marshon Lattimore to the ground during the fourth quarter. Both Evans and Lattimore were ejected from the game.
This isn’t the first time an instance like this has occurred. In 2017, Evans was suspended one game for running onto the field to shove Lattimore, but the NFL does not consider repeat offenders.
Jon Runyan, the league’s vice president of football operations and father of Packers guard Jon Runyan Jr, told Evans in a letter, “After a play had ended, you were walking toward your sidelines. When you noticed your teammates engaged in a confrontation with Saints’ players, you ran toward that area on the field and violently threw your body into and struck an unsuspecting opponent who was part of that confrontation. You knocked your opponent to the ground and a melee ensued involving players from both teams. Your aggressive conduct could have caused serious injury to your opponent and clearly does not reflect the high standards of sportsmanship expected of a professional.”
No other Tampa Bay players received a suspension.
Evans will have an opportunity to appeal the suspension, but if he loses, he will have to miss Sunday’s game against Green Bay. He is the team’s leading receiver with eight receptions totaling 132 yards through the first two games.
The Packers could have the luxury of facing a banged-up Buccaneers receiving corps in week three. Not only is Evans’ status in jeopardy, but Julio Jones and Chris Godwin missed Week 2 with injuries. Tampa Bay’s top three receivers against Green Bay could end up being Breshad Perriman, Russell Gage and Scotty Miller.
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