Mike Evans Reflects on Historic Streak, Eyes Playoff Push with Buccaneers
Mike Evans’ streak of 1,000-yard seasons may have come to a halt at 11, but the Buccaneers wide receiver is walking away from it with nothing but pride - and a place in NFL history right next to one of the game’s all-time greats.
After landing on injured reserve with a broken collarbone and a concussion, Evans won’t hit the 1,000-yard mark for a 12th straight season. Still, the veteran wideout is keeping perspective. Tying Jerry Rice - the only other player to open his career with 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons - is no small feat.
“I broke my collarbone and had the concussion in one, and I knew it was over,” Evans said. “It is just one of those things that it wasn’t meant to be, and that is OK, and I am cool with that. I tied with Jerry Rice, one of the greatest ever, if not the greatest player ever, so that is enough for me.”
Let’s pause on that for a second. Jerry Rice’s name doesn’t get thrown around lightly - and for Evans to be in that kind of company speaks volumes about the consistency and dominance he’s brought to the field since entering the league.
For 11 straight years, no matter the quarterback, no matter the system, Evans delivered. That’s rare air.
Now, his focus shifts from personal milestones to team goals.
“I just want to help my team get to the playoffs now,” Evans said. “Fifty seasons of Buccaneers history and I am in the history books as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer tied with Jerry Rice.
That is amazing, and you cannot even think of that as a kid to draw that up or to dream about that. So, I have been blessed to be a staple of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.”
Even with both Evans and fellow wideout Chris Godwin missing time this season, there’s still belief in Tampa that their receiving corps can be something special. And Evans isn’t shy about the potential this group still has.
“We were thinking what if we all come back together and what we could truly be - and that is one of the best receiver rooms on the planet,” Evans said. “We are trying to get into that form right now and help this team continue to make plays.”
Cowboys WR George Pickens Responds to Criticism
Over in Dallas, wide receiver George Pickens has been under the microscope. The former first-round pick has faced heat in recent weeks for what some have described as a lack of effort - something that’s sparked plenty of outside chatter.
But Pickens isn’t biting.
“Everybody has a job to do,” he said. “Some people’s job is to do that - tear down character, see how many clicks they can get.
I’m just here to play football and help the team. … It’s starting to get kinda old.”
Pickens’ response is a reminder of how much noise surrounds players, especially those with star potential. And despite the criticism, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made it clear that his opinion of the young wideout hasn’t changed over the past few weeks.
Kyle Pitts Focused on Present, Not Future in Atlanta
In Atlanta, tight end Kyle Pitts is heading toward an offseason where he’ll be one of the more intriguing names on the market - set to become an unrestricted free agent. But if you ask him, that’s not where his head is right now.
“I love it here,” Pitts said. “I don’t think about the money.
I don’t think about contracts. I think about being here in the moment with my teammates and my brothers because I see these guys every day.
Whatever happens, happens.”
It’s a mature approach from the former top-five pick, who’s had an up-and-down run so far with the Falcons. Pitts isn’t looking past the final stretch of the season - and with Atlanta still in the playoff mix, his focus is exactly where it needs to be.
From Evans’ historic streak and leadership in Tampa, to Pickens’ response to scrutiny in Dallas, and Pitts’ grounded mindset in Atlanta - these are the kinds of stories that define the stretch run of an NFL season. Injuries, criticism, contract years - they’re all part of the game.
But so is resilience. And right now, that’s what we’re seeing across the board.