The Buccaneers spent 12 seasons watching Mike Evans do Mike Evans things, and now the 49ers are getting their own crash course.
San Francisco has brought in one of the most accomplished receivers of his generation, and the early reviews sound exactly like what Tampa Bay fans came to expect: a player who raises the level of everyone around him, barely breaks a sweat doing it, and makes the hard stuff look routine.
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk didn’t hold back when asked about Evans’ first impression with the 49ers.
“Mike has been so impressive, and I feel like that’s saying so much because we were expecting so much,” Juszczyk told NFL Network, via JoeBucsFan.com.
“Your expectations are already high, and I feel like he’s already exceeded that. He has been unguardable at practice.
Red zone has been an absolute problem. He’s a great teammate.
I think everyone has already enjoyed his presence so much. I think he’s going to be an incredible leader for the wide receivers room.
It’s hard to imagine a better addition than Mike has been.”
That kind of praise is starting to pile up. Juszczyk is not the only 49er talking about Evans in glowing terms, and the buzz also includes the instant chemistry he has developed with quarterback Brock Purdy.
For Tampa Bay fans, none of this is surprising. They watched Evans dominate for 12 seasons and build a reputation as both a surefire Hall of Famer and the model of professionalism and selflessness. That’s why he became such a defining figure in franchise history, and why his departure this offseason still stings.
Even so, the Buccaneers are in solid shape at wide receiver. Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, and rookie Ted Hurst give Tampa Bay a loaded group, and the offense should still have plenty of firepower without Evans in uniform.
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