Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Mike Evans is already one of the centerpieces of their explosive passing attack. However, you can bet that offensive coordinator Liam Coen is going to go the extra mile incorporating Evans into the game plan this week, as the latter has a lot on the line individually as well as from the team's perspective.
Evans is set to trigger a $3 million incentive for hitting a stat line for the season of 70+ catches, 1000+ yards, and 10+ touchdowns, per FOX Sports' Greg Auman, in addition to a $666,000 bonus for being in the top 10 in the league in receiving scores.
The fine print on Mike Evans' incentives he can hit this weekend: 5 catches for 85 yards gives him a $3 million bonus for getting to 70 catches, 1,000 yards and 10 TDs (already has 11). This is a "likely to be earned" incentive, so was already counting against Bucs' salary cap.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 2, 2025
The fine print on Mike Evans' incentives he can hit this weekend: 5 catches for 85 yards gives him a $3 million bonus for getting to 70 catches, 1,000 yards and 10 TDs (already has 11). This is a "likely to be earned" incentive, so was already counting against Bucs' salary cap.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 2, 2025
What does Evans need to get there? Not much, at least by his standards. He sits at 65 catches for 915 yards and 11 touchdowns, so he's already reached one of the three. 5 catches for 85 yards would do the trick for the very luxurious contract incentive for Evans.
Make no mistake; players at this time of the year know what's at stake, and teammates and coaches also know what players have on the line as they head into their season finales.
That includes Coen, who was asked on Thursday if he's aware of what's needed to get Evans to his 11th straight 1000-yard receiving season in his career, particularly if it's getting near the end of the game.
"Pretty aware," Coen quipped with a smile. "Obviously we're all aware. The team wants it because of the human being (that Mike Evans is). He just asked me that question for a reason because everybody thinks that way about him back here. You want what's best for him, obviously with the team first mentality, which that's who he (Evans) is, so it doesn't matter. The guys all want it for him anyways."
There's no doubt that Baker Mayfield will be looking Evans' way plenty on Sunday against the Saints. New Orleans' struggling defense - which allowed 51 points to the Bucs in their first matchup this season - hasn't put up much resistance lately, allowing 34 to the Packers and 25 to the hapless Raiders over their last two contests.
As such, the stage appears to be set for Evans to cash in, literally, in a huge way on Sunday inside Raymond James Stadium.
