The 2024 season has proven a trying one for Tampa Bay Buccaneers star receiver Mike Evans. His offseason brought a handsome pay day for a wideout on his third contract, signing a two-year $52 million extension in March.
However, the season has demonstrated some of the wear and tear on his body setting in after an accomplished decade long career with the Bucs. A lingering hamstring bothered Evans near the midpoint of the season and finally caught up with him when he had to exit Tampa Bay's Week 7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
He missed the team's next three games, returning after the Week 11 bye. The Bucs could not get Evans back at a better time, already without Chris Godwin and needing a No. 1 option to uplift a relatively young receiving group.
The Bucs moved to 6-6 and into a tie for first in the NFC South with the Atlanta Falcons after beating the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Neck-and-neck in this division race, Evans' focus and the team's focus are certainly dialed in to making sure the South's crown stays in the Sunshine State.
But an individual streak spanning the entirety of Evans' career remains in jeopardy as the regular season winds down. Each of his 10 NFL seasons, Evans has tallied 1,000 yards.
So far in season 11, he has accumulated 521, still second on the team to Godwin whose total will not change. To meet that 1,000 yard benchmark, he needs 479 more yards, averaging out to 95.8 yards per game.
But is that goal plausible for the veteran wideout? Would this be a shocker? If he sustains the pace he put out against the Panthers, he would certainly meet the mark. His 118 yards on eight grabs were a significant boost in his pursuit beyond the fact his connection with Baker Mayfield helped salvage a near loss.
Looking at the remaining schedule for the Bucs, they will face the Panthers and the New Orleans Saints for a second time. Evans torched Carolina but was a non factor in Tampa Bay's first matchup with the Saints.
The final three contests against the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Chargers and this week against the Las Vegas Raiders pit Tampa Bay against defenses within the top half of the league at defending through the air. Additionally, the Bucs' shift into an offense strongest on the ground of late could potentially impact his target share.
If Evans can somehow hit 1,000 yards for an 11th straight season, it would be a remarkable feat given the adversities of this season. More importantly though, his performance and contributions down the stretch will be crucial as the Bucs make their final playoff push.
