Mike Evans Ties Jerry Rice, But His Focus Is Now on the Bucs’ Playoff Push
Mike Evans was chasing history this season. And for a while, it looked like he might catch it.
But injuries had other plans. Now, instead of rewriting the record books, the veteran wideout is focused on something else entirely: getting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back to the postseason.
Let’s be clear - Evans isn’t just a cornerstone of the Bucs franchise; he’s arguably the most consistent receiver the league has seen in the past decade. But this season, the football gods haven’t exactly been kind. He’s only suited up for five games.
It started with a hamstring injury that sidelined him for nearly a month. Then, in his first game back, disaster struck again - a broken collarbone and a concussion, both on the same play.
That double whammy cost him nearly two more months. Altogether, Evans has missed nine games, and the Bucs went 3-6 without him.
You don’t have to squint too hard to imagine how things might’ve gone differently with No. 13 on the field. Would his presence have made the difference in that narrow five-point loss to the Patriots back on November 9?
Could he have helped Tampa avoid that frustrating 24-20 stumble against the Saints on December 7? Maybe.
Maybe not. But it’s fair to wonder.
What isn’t up for debate is this: Mike Evans is the best receiver in Tampa Bay history. And this season, he was on the verge of making NFL history, too.
In 2024, Evans tied Jerry Rice - yes, that Jerry Rice - for the most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to start a career, with 11. That’s rarified air. And while the door was open to stand alone atop that list in 2025, injuries slammed it shut.
With just 272 receiving yards so far and only three games left, the math isn’t in his favor. The streak is all but over.
But Evans? He’s made peace with it.
“I broke my collarbone and had the concussion in one, and I knew it was over,” Evans said on the Buccaneers’ Players’ Table show. “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. I just want to help my team get to the playoffs now.”
That’s classic Evans - team-first, grounded, and still hungry.
But here’s the kicker: the injury bug might not be done with him just yet. Evans didn’t practice on Thursday due to the collarbone issue, and as of now, there’s no official injury designation for Sunday’s critical matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
And make no mistake - it is critical.
Last week, Evans reminded everyone exactly who he is, torching the Falcons for 132 yards on six catches. He was back in full force, a nightmare for defensive backs, and a lifeline for Tampa’s offense.
The problem? The Bucs still let a two-score fourth-quarter lead slip away, and the loss dropped them to 7-7.
Now, the NFC South is a dogfight. The Bucs and Panthers are tied atop the division, and Sunday’s game in Charlotte (1:00 p.m. ET) could go a long way in deciding who punches a ticket to the postseason.
Evans may not get his record-breaking 12th straight 1,000-yard season. But if he can stay on the field and help guide Tampa through this playoff push, that might mean even more.
Records are great. But legacy? That’s built in December.