The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have enjoyed one of the most accomplished wide receiver runs in NFL history. From the get go, Mike Evans has been the go to for the NFC South squad. The Galveston, TX native and Texas A&M alum had no issues acclimating himself to the NFL all the way back in 2014, gaining 1,000 receiving yards in his rookie campaign.
He’s achieved the mark every season since, an incredible 11-year run that’s put him in strong contention to one day earn a bust in Pro Football’s Hall of Fame in canton. This year, however, has been a bit of a struggle as injuries have robbed him of significant playing time for just the second time in his career.
Evans has only appeared in 11 of the Bucs 14 games so far this year, meaning he can max out at 14 games if he’s able to make it through the final three games on the schedule. Chasing the playoffs, the 8-6 Bucs need him more than ever as they’ve already lost his counterpart, Chris Godwin, for the year.
Evans appeared on this week’s injury report after missing practice on Wednesday. The question is, will he be able to play against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16?
The answer appears to be yes, as Evans sat out strictly for rest purposes. He has completely put his midseason injury woes behind him and has appeared in Tampa Bay’s last four games with great results.
In Week 15 he caught nine passes for 159 yards, both season highs, to help the Bucs throttle the Los Angeles Chargers, 40-17. It put him within striking distance of 1,000 yards once again, as he now has 749 on the season with three contests to go.
With Trevon Diggs out for this game, Dallas will have to rely on DaRon Bland and Caelon Carson to try and corral the 6-foot-5, 231-pound terror on the boundary.