Justin Evans, Alan Cross Head To Injured Reserve
December 18th, 2018
Finished (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Justin Evans gave the Bucs 10 games this season — it should have been nine — and now his sophomore campaign in over.
Evans’ bad toe landed him on injured reserve today, and he was joined by fullback/tight end Alan Cross, who played against the Ravens and was used early.
Evans didn’t make the leap expected of him in his second season. Mike Smith called him a Pro Bowl talent. Dirk Koetter praised his leadership. Fans saw a ho-hum safety on a bad defense.
He finished with 59 tackles, two passes defensed, one interception and one fumble recovery that was returned 34 yards for a touchdown. Evans did travel with the Bucs to Baltimore.
In one fewer start than Evans, rookie safety Jordan Whitehead has more tackles, tackles for loss and passes defensed.
Cross, perhaps best known for his locker room dancing, had played in every game this season.
Practice squad rookie tight end Donnie Ernsberger was promoted to the active roster.
December 18th, 2018 at 5:14 pm
Cross, perhaps best known for his locker room dancing
Did he choreograph the dance in Atlanta?
December 18th, 2018 at 5:16 pm
We know toes…(Carl Nicks)……they can put you down. Evans will be fine next year. And Cross…..what a steady, reliable UDFA…good hands….good blocker…..good person/personality. Every team needs guys like this. Somehow, he makes the final 53 and probably will again in 19.
December 18th, 2018 at 5:19 pm
The Bucs need these two for the playoffs
LOL
December 18th, 2018 at 5:20 pm
Another stellar 2nd round pick by our genius GM.
December 18th, 2018 at 5:39 pm
Wow. I didn’t realize he had that many tackles with him being banged up this year. Before last week Whitehead had 60 I think and he was second in tackles. Looking forward to a hopefully healthier more experienced safety squad next year.
Need to bring in a vet CB. Carlton Davis and MJ Stewart have been injured a lot their rookie year and haven’t played very well but I’m hoping they will produce. VH3 looked so good in the slot before he went on IR. Think Stewart could be a better safety than slot. Stewart could play backup and rotational for both Whitehead and VH3.
December 18th, 2018 at 5:40 pm
The defense and talent evaluations of Mike Smith assisted many players making Pro Bowl’s – on offense.
December 18th, 2018 at 6:21 pm
Also brought up DT Jeremiah Ledbetter 6-3 295 24 2 Arkansas from the practice squad.
December 18th, 2018 at 6:26 pm
Can we put Dirk koetter on IR AND trade him for some extra toilet paper rolls at one buc?
December 18th, 2018 at 6:27 pm
Back to Bustin’ Evans after a few flash plays in 2 years…
December 18th, 2018 at 6:36 pm
Ugh…
Really hope this kid can bounce back in a big way in 2019.
#lichtmyb*lls
December 18th, 2018 at 6:46 pm
Here’s to hoping VHIII and Justin Evans can take the next step in ’19.
Hopefully…
December 18th, 2018 at 7:48 pm
I will look forward to seeing what our young DBs can do next year under new coaching.
Joe really made good points when saying that this current staff could not develope DBs. Good chance that if we get quality coaching these guys will perform.
Remember when the Bucs were looking for a CB and it was between Vernon Hargreaves and Eli Apple? We all know VHIII has struggled but so has Apple.
The Giants let Apple go to New Orleans this year where he shut us down two weeks ago and had a game-changing INT in the endzone last night…….Not a ringing endorsement for the NYG coaches but begs the question if Vernon could also benefit the same way in a different system/coaching.
December 18th, 2018 at 8:19 pm
Lol.. no Bucs made the pro bowl..
December 18th, 2018 at 8:32 pm
Evans and Whitehead are coming along and likely will be better ,
I like their ballhawk mentality. Next year hope Grimes is gone, hope we can pick up a sharp corner in the draft or FA, Darby? or is that a recipe for disaster.
December 18th, 2018 at 8:45 pm
No Yucs made the Pro Bowl
Derwin James starting FS
I predicted after the draft, Derwin will be a Pro Bowl starter
December 18th, 2018 at 9:01 pm
At least one ex-FSU player is in the Pro Bowl, ours certainly is a long way from being there. I have to agree with a few of the comments here about letting Griffin get into a real game. He threw some really nice balls during camp and looked to me like a quarterback that gets the ball out fast, something the current ex-FSU’er can’t do. Best way to control the ball is with short passing, mixed in with solid running and a few big plays. The Bucs try to force the big plays and Jameis is always throwing like all his receivers are 7 footers. Many times this year Adam Humphrey’s has been open but ball is like 1 1/2′ over his fingers. Its much easier to catch a ball thats lower than those high ones.
December 18th, 2018 at 9:30 pm
Good job LakeLand. Didn’t you also say our starting DEs would be Ayers and Gholston?
Throw enough ish at a wall and some is gonna stick.
December 18th, 2018 at 9:40 pm
Go stick it Lakeland where the sun don’t shine. Troll. Whitehead, if Buc Luck doesn’t bite him, will be a superstud like John Lynch, Ronde Barber, Donnie Abraham, Mark Cotney and Mike Washington. That’s some stellar DB company IMO. Go Bucs Sunday!!
December 18th, 2018 at 9:46 pm
Really surprised top tackle Donovan Smith didn’t make the Pro Bowl. Let’s pay him like he’s an All Pro though can’t afford to let him walk. Accept mediocrity.
December 18th, 2018 at 10:20 pm
Mike Evans was a snub for the pro bowl. Proves the pro bowl is a bunch of bullish!t.
December 18th, 2018 at 11:55 pm
Claiming they couldn’t develop CBs doesn’t wash anymore. VHIII was playing a whole lot better before his injury. Davis, a rookie, was improving over the season. Even Smith looked better this year.
So the development is there…unless you think development means instantly making them elite.
December 19th, 2018 at 4:53 am
Tough year on the D side with all the injuries – Duff has been respectable as the DC he is just woefully undermanned
The continual puking of high picks for bad players and kickers caught up this year, can’t only build half a team
Evans is okay, better safeties drafted after him, just like M.J. Stewart
December 19th, 2018 at 8:24 am
was evans any good this year?