Baker Mayfield Implies Mike Evans Pushed Himself Too Hard
November 2nd, 2024
The NFL is hard enough without self-inflicted troubles.
And Joe is not referring to Baker Mayfield slinging interceptions into the red zone consistently.
Injuries happen in football and Mike Evans has a bad hamstring. It happens, and the greatest receiver in Bucs history got his hamstring tweak against New Orleans three weeks ago.
Then came the Bucs-Ravens game on Monday Night Football and Evans’ injury got ugly. Now he’s sidelined for weeks.
Mayfield addressed the Evans injury yesterday on The Rich Eisen Show (Joe listens/transcribes from the SiriusXM app).
The Bucs’ Pro Bowl QB strongly implied that Evans pushed himself beyond an established boundary and into a more serious injury.
“I think it was just frustrating for him,” Mayfield said of Evans. “You know, he tweaked his hamstring against the Saints, and kind of played a little bit. You know, he was kind of on a pitch count, to say, and then really, he pushed himself for that Ravens game and wound up, you know, just straining it some more. But he’s in good spirits, as well. And Mike understands that it’s a long season. Obviously, this is his 11th year, so he understands when we really need him. But he’s pushing himself to get back as early as possible.”
Damn, it sure sounds like Evans rolled the dice on his hamstring in an October game of relatively limited importance against an AFC foe. Joe respects Evans’ hunger, but it sounds like Evans’ attitude was contrary to what Mayfield said about Evans understanding it’s a long season and “when we really need him.”
It’s all just painful rearview mirror analysis now.
When Evans does return, Joe sure hopes the Bucs keep a close eye on Evans not overworking himself in a quest to reach 1,000 yards receiving for the 11th consecutive season.
If Evans returns against the Giants on Nov. 24, he’ll need 665 yards in seven games.
November 2nd, 2024 at 4:34 am
Joe … ‘If Evans returns against the Giants on Nov. 24, he’ll need 665 yards in seven games.’
So Mike will need to average 95 YPG during that 7-game stretch to keep his 1,000 yard/season streak alive. Most he’s gotten in any 1 game this season is 94 yards, and his average this season is only 48 YPG. And Baker’s deep ball is not exactly setting the world on fire this season. At this point I wouldn’t be putting any money on Mike keeping that streak alive this season.
November 2nd, 2024 at 6:03 am
Glad to hear Mike is still in good spirits. It is a long season. Once Mike is better and back, look out! He will be on a mission to make up for lost time for the wins. I don’t think his main focus will be on reaching his 1,000 yard goal this season. However, if it happens that will be awesome for him, the Bucs, and we fans!
November 2nd, 2024 at 6:20 am
It couldn’t be more obvious, and I think it’s because he wanted to have a huge game against the ravens. If he were healthy Mike would have had a 200 yard muti TD night against that secondary.
November 2nd, 2024 at 6:59 am
Crushing that hammy grabbed him right as a TD landed in his hands. INT on next play in a one score loss. Worst worst worst case scenario
November 2nd, 2024 at 7:04 am
Evans is an Alpha that’s for sure, but sometimes the coach needs to step in and say hey Mike we need you for the entire season give that leg a rest. Anyone that didn’t notice he was limping badly even before the injury wasn’t paying attention. Had a hard time on several plays getting back to the huddle. Get well soon dude we’re going to need you especially if we can pull of the upset Monday.
November 2nd, 2024 at 7:27 am
Only thing worse then a young hammy is a old hammy.
November 2nd, 2024 at 7:48 am
Agree bucnjim. On some reports you may see coach decision for the player not to be in the game that day. However, knowing how Mike is and wanting to be in there for a team win, it is somewhat hard on coaches to make that complicated decision.
November 2nd, 2024 at 8:25 am
Looking forward to Mike coming back. No pushing please. It would be nice to see him get his 1K but regardless he’s still the best!
November 2nd, 2024 at 8:58 am
When Mayfield had to look good in his prove it deal he continually fed Evans the ball to the point where Godwin’s Mrs. blew up social media complaining.
When Evans returns I would imagine that will be the plan again. It might be a little too late though.
November 2nd, 2024 at 9:17 am
This injurie is on the coaching staff for not sitting is a– period. It’s a longer season without Mike. Sitting him against the Ravens the loss or win doesn’t hert or help the team. Having Mike back to full strength helps us that is a no brainer. In my opinion.
November 2nd, 2024 at 9:38 am
This is what happens when a head coach has no power. BA would be a coach that could tell mike to rest up and recover. This would have been the time to protect your player Bowles but apparently you only do it at a podium when it’s time for accountability.
November 2nd, 2024 at 9:41 am
To be fair, Big Mike always seems to look miserable out there on his way to big games.
November 2nd, 2024 at 9:45 am
Of course Mike Evans wanted to show off on Monday night football against a team making a Super Bowl run. Winners are born with that in their DNA. No coach or teammate would have ever stopped him from playing that game..
November 2nd, 2024 at 10:08 am
i literally heard a former buc player, who’s often in the know, say he tore the hammy…
i hope that’s not the case…
partial tear is like 3-8 weeks
the full rippity-doo is 3 to 6 months
🙁
baker’s def missing mike………….and so are we
November 2nd, 2024 at 10:50 am
Ugly drop by Evans.
Screw the ‘injury’.
Embarrassing, ugly drop.
Tbh, that’s why Evans never gets mentioned nationally as one of the best WR’s.
Because every time we have a primtetime game, he either has an ugly drop or no production that day.
November 2nd, 2024 at 10:53 am
^ uh he dropped the ball because he was getting injured while trying to make the catch. What a dumb comment
November 2nd, 2024 at 10:54 am
And yes I’d say the 1k streak is def over now. Oh well. He’s still a touchdown machine. Let’s just get him healthy. Mike is the ultimate competitor. Of course he wanted to play.
November 2nd, 2024 at 10:57 am
@defense:
if mike does return with 7 games to go, and with no godwin, he is going to light it up…i say 800 yards in those final 7 games, with 2 games between 150-200 yards…2 huge games in the mix…
he’s gonna be hungry and healthy and baker will feed the beast…
maybe i’m just being optimistic – but i can def see it in my dreams…
then poof i wake up!
(actually i do think he squeaks out the 1k, even if it somehow turns out to be in garbage time, if the season gets lost)
November 2nd, 2024 at 11:00 am
Erik w/ UniqueModernArt.com Says:
November 2nd, 2024 at 10:50 am
Ugly drop by Evans.
Screw the ‘injury’.
Embarrassing, ugly drop.
I’m sorry, Eric, but that is a stupid comment. Mike had the ball in his hands and you see him grab his left upper leg. Obviously, he tore his hammy a that point and experienced severe pain. That is almost instinctual motion. If ever there was NOT a common drop, this is it.
November 2nd, 2024 at 11:19 am
I heard from my mailman who knows the mailman who delivers the mail at one buc and he said blah blah blah
November 2nd, 2024 at 11:42 am
Two points:
– I wish we had a Mike Evans type on defense
– Baker Mayfield don’t have the cache to say whether someone pushed themselves too hard or not. Stop turning over the ball every damn week and win a SB Mr. Fun Environment….
November 2nd, 2024 at 2:15 pm
evans missing more games than he had to is on the coaches. wouldnt be surprised is its longer than the game after the bye week before he returns
November 2nd, 2024 at 7:46 pm
Architect, looks like you made about 4 points. But your only real comment is a veiled “Baker Mayfield sucks”. You’re a real douche aren’t you Architek?
November 2nd, 2024 at 7:55 pm
Architek. Baker makes more money than any player, coach, or Front Office personnel that collects paychecks from the Glazers. Maybe he does have some cache. You reckon? What a clown.
November 2nd, 2024 at 9:14 pm
Amazed you didn’t blame coach for that
November 2nd, 2024 at 9:56 pm
Yeah really wish he wasn’t out there for that Ravens game or at least only came in for red zone packages.
Was a game we could afford to lose and needed him vs Atlanta.
Come back vs the Giants 100% hopefully and put up 200!
November 3rd, 2024 at 4:23 am
Absolute BS that Mike was even on the field !! Selfishness cost him four games out ! Bowles is the bottom line here and is the one most accountable ….. as long as he is in charge we are mediocre!
November 3rd, 2024 at 5:06 am
JK Says: “To be fair, Big Mike always seems to look miserable out there on his way to big games.”
Courteously, look at many players while they are going into a game. They are focused on the game while ignoring all elements. They are not trying to make it all about them. Mike is the guy who comes into the game ready to play his best. He is the guy that looks ahead to see who he will give his TD ball to in the stands. That’s our Mike Evans.
Dlavid – Mike is not selfish. He and his family decided to remain with the Bucs when he could have gone elsewhere for a lot more money. They stayed here. Mike wanted to play for a win. We knew he was in pain, but he wanted to be in the game.
November 4th, 2024 at 8:58 am
We can just easily conclude that Evans streak is over… and that’s okay. We need wins more than we need records.