Last Call For Justin Evans
June 15th, 2020
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
Not long ago, Justin Evans had the look of a rising star. Now, he’s an afterthought.
The 50th overall pick in the 2017 draft flashed as a rookie, sharing the team lead with three interceptions and displaying impressive range. Evans made his first NFL start a memorable one, picking off a Tom Brady pass in a Thursday night matchup while adding nine tackles.
An ankle injury cost him a couple of games late in that season, but the Bucs had every reason to believe they had cashed in on a second-round ballhawk out of Texas A&M.
Not so fast.
Buc coaches aren’t counting on Evans anymore. They’re hoping for the best, but that 2017 ankle problem triggered a series of leg injuries that now threatens a 24-year-old safety’s career.
That’s a shame because Tampa Bay could certainly use a healthy Evans to compete in training camp. This guy has ball skills … and the Buc secondary isn’t exactly teeming with players boasting ball skills.
Jordan Whitehead, a big hitter, has posted one interception in 29 NFL games. Mike Edwards struggled as a rookie last season. D’Cota Dixon missed the entire year with a shoulder injury.
Second-round pick Antoine Winfield is expected to contribute from Week 1, but there’s always a danger in relying on rookies to make an immediate impact — especially in an offseason without OTA sessions.
If Evans can overcome his physical issues, there’s a prominent place on this roster for him. He has the size and agility to cover NFC South tight ends like Jared Cook and Hayden Hurst. Other talented tight ends like Travis Kelce, Darren Waller, Hunter Henry, Tyler Higbee and Kyle Rudolph will also present challenges for defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.
When the 2018 season began, Evans looked healthy and dynamic. He returned a fumble 34 yards for a touchdown in the opener at New Orleans, then made a key deflection in a Week 2 win against Philadelphia.
He followed up with a pick against Ben Roethlisberger in a Monday night loss, but by November, Evans was hobbled by a toe injury that seemed to linger forever.
Evans looked to be on track for a full recovery by last summer. He was eager to show off his talent to a new coaching staff and Evans was slated to play in the preseason finale against Dallas, but Bruce Arians shut him down.
Old Tape & A Juice Shot
A few weeks later, the Bucs placed Evans on I.R. with a mysterious Achilles injury that required surgery.
“You can’t stay in football shape unless you’re playing football,” says Evans, who has missed half of Tampa Bay’s games during his 3-year career. “I’m human, I get a little down sometimes. One thing after another.”
A rejuvenated Evans would add juice to a young secondary that progressed nicely in Year 1 of the Bowles regime. But Whitehead and Andrew Adams, with one apiece, were the only Buc safeties to register an interception last season, when Tampa Bay picked off 12 passes as a team.
Brady’s former club, the Patriots, picked off 25.
Bowles likes Winfield’s potential, saying the football seems to find him, but Evans is a proven thief on the pro level. He is slated to be an unrestricted free agent in 2021, so Evans has a lot to prove before he can justify another NFL payday.
Arians and Bowles are still waiting to see this guy perform. All they have is old tape of No. 21 making some plays in 2017. In NFL terms, that’s ancient history.
It’s sad to see a young player betrayed by his body. Ankle, toe and Achilles injuries have combined to place Evans’ NFL future in jeopardy. The Bucs are hoping for the best, but Evans is running out of time. He’ll need a solid camp just to make the roster.
A once-promising career is standing at the crossroads, looking for the all clear.
Enjoy Mike Alstott’s interview on last week’s Ira Kaufman Podcast.
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June 15th, 2020 at 3:40 pm
Really is a shame how injuries have impacted his career so far. He’s a talented guy!
June 15th, 2020 at 4:08 pm
So who are our projected safeties? Adams, Whitehead, Evans, Winnfield Jr and Edward’s?
June 15th, 2020 at 4:20 pm
Along those lines….what about a Kendall Beckwith report
June 15th, 2020 at 4:21 pm
Can’t somebody please make a decision here.
June 15th, 2020 at 5:03 pm
Said it before….even if he gets healthy, odds are his entire body is out of balance to play at the NFL level. Likely pulls a hammy or back next….and that will be the end. Hoping for the best but these guys play at such a high level that you simply cant recreate that type of conditioning in the gym.
June 15th, 2020 at 5:09 pm
What is the latest on Evan’s? Maybe it’s been said, just haven’t seen.
June 15th, 2020 at 5:33 pm
Is it too much to ask for a status report on the guy?……I mean…..can’t someone in the media track him down…..catch him working out….ask him: “How are you doing, Justin?
Please…..How long must this bull$hit go on?
June 15th, 2020 at 6:04 pm
A healthy Justin Evans and Kendell Beckwith would have changed depth in a big way last year. It would be nice to have Evans back…the draft tells me they are not planning on that happen. I’m sure they still have hopes…but the Bucs are in a position to move on if Evan’s isn’t healthy.
June 15th, 2020 at 6:08 pm
I was always a fan of Evans, but I think Bobby M. makes a good point. The NFL is a cruel league for anyone with chronic injuries.
June 15th, 2020 at 6:30 pm
The NFL has challenged your Tampa Bay Buccaneers. All of the cameras pointed their way. All of the hot lights and red hot nights of Buccaneer’s Football.
I do believe this football team is the Ultimate football team for the franchise.
I think they have done a fantastic job of straitening out the team and seem to have them preparing well to the new reality of the Covid world. GO BUCS!!
June 15th, 2020 at 6:58 pm
Hoping for the best but the odds are not good. Fingers crossed though. I Like him a lot.
June 15th, 2020 at 7:42 pm
if healthy Justin evans is th best db on team.
June 15th, 2020 at 8:06 pm
You would think we could get some sort of update on Evans……
Can’t someone track him down or catch him working out and ask a simple question……”How are you doin’, Justin”……..
June 15th, 2020 at 8:13 pm
Doesn’t something have to change for their to be an “update?”
Asking for an update on Evans is like demanding an update at 2 p.m. wanting to know if the day has changed.
“UPDATE! There’s no update!”
June 15th, 2020 at 8:14 pm
He’s hurt.
June 15th, 2020 at 9:04 pm
His left leg looks really skinny in that picture. If that’s a recent picture, which it’s probably not, the outlook ain’t good.
June 15th, 2020 at 9:08 pm
Not giving up on him just yet.
June 15th, 2020 at 9:32 pm
Let’s see if he can go. If not, disappointing, but not as disappointing as Tanard Jackson. He was Pro Bowl caliber (IMHO) and it wasn’t injuries.
June 15th, 2020 at 10:26 pm
And his inability to quit smokin’ dope ( T. Jackson that is ). Evans is built more like a top heavy wrestler. Flashed a handful of times…afraid injuries will make his legacy Bustin’ Evans.
June 15th, 2020 at 11:02 pm
Honestly, when it comes to the secondary, I feel our biggest loss was Talib, stolen by the Patriots. Tom coming here definitely makes that bitter sweet.
June 15th, 2020 at 11:53 pm
We know he was hurt….he was put on injured reserve…..but…..did he have surgery, was it successful….can he run….can he make cuts……is he in a wheelchair, hoveround……..had an amputation……scheduled to be on Dancing with the Stars…….can he do the limbo, macerena……
But our update from the entire Tampa & Sports Media is “He is hurt”…..
June 16th, 2020 at 7:16 am
Forgot Evans had 3 separate and different leg injuries. Sounds like he is pretty injury prone.
Wish Evans the best. He would be a welcome sight if he can come back and compete.
June 16th, 2020 at 7:18 am
Joe, we ask this last year and it seems like no body knows. Is Kendell Beckwith retired from football? He was still on the roster last year but never practiced.
June 16th, 2020 at 8:44 am
Alabamabuc Beckwidth’s career is over. He hasn’t practiced or been with the team since his ankle injury in 2018. I don’t know why Tampa keeps him on the roster other than holding out hope or (more likely) just out of respect for Kendall suffering an unfortunate and career ending injury so young.
June 16th, 2020 at 9:17 am
He’s not the first bright star to fall to injuries. Very unfortunate. He is one helluva athlete…
June 16th, 2020 at 5:00 pm
T. Jack smoked weed which is now LEGAL. You all have no clue the beating these guys take. Josh Gordon will be reinstated this year as will Randy Gregory.
Just a shame the NFL is LIGHT years behind real world. (See Player Kneeling)
Now just imagine if Ricky Williams and others were allowed to continue on their “natural” path vs getting ridiculed and shunned. Guess leauge would have preferred them addicted to pain killers ala Brett Farve.
Go Bucs!!!