Gauging Mike Evans’ Availability
November 21st, 2024
Which Mike Evans may return?
If Mike Evans is available Sunday to play against the Giants, will he be available?
In other words, Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen hinted Evans may not be 100 percent when the Bucs travel to the New Jersey Swamplands for their final seven-game stretch that could make or break a playoff berth.
Evans, as Bucs coach Todd Bowles said yesterday, is “trending” toward playing. He blew out a hamstring in the loss to the Crows a month ago.
Coen said the biggest issue for him if Evans plays is to know what Evans can or cannot do.
“We really don’t know what his true availability will be,” Coen said. “It’s just going to be hard to tell with Mike right now. If he can go how much can he go? I don’t know.”
Still, a limited Evans is better than the guys who played in his absence. Coen admitted he can’t be dumb with how he uses Evans.
“How much do you want to send him all the way down the field on a long route,” Coen asked. “Because we’re trying to be smart. We’re trying to keep him going now if we get him back.”
With a gimpy hamstring, sending Evans on a go-route might just see him pop his hamstring again. Then what? He’s out until Christmas?
Joe got the sense from Coen that Evans will only be a short-field target and he’ll use Evans a lot in motion to seduce the Giants defense in a way that gives others an opportunity for an explosive play.
Of course, watch how Evans ends up being sent deep and he scores three touchdowns.
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November 21st, 2024 at 4:20 pm
The Bucs should have protected him from himself and put him on IR before the Ravens game. Like the Vikings did with JJ last season. He’d be healthy and ready to go by. Except now he’s got two hamstring injuries to the same leg in two weeks and a high chance of reinjury.
He should sit until it’s better. Forget the 1k streak.
November 21st, 2024 at 4:22 pm
The other WR’s need to step up, now or never for this season.
November 21st, 2024 at 4:40 pm
If he is not really ready sit him. One wrong move or tackle on that leg and he’s done for the season or his career.
November 21st, 2024 at 4:57 pm
ME should limit himself to the Red Zone. No point in re injurying himself o a go route. His big body will come in handy down around the 20 yard line.
November 21st, 2024 at 5:18 pm
Red zone and decoy. If he is actually 100%, I wouldn’t mind seeing some gamesmanship early. Let him play the first 2 series as a decoy, running at 70%, maybe catch a quick out or slant. Let the D forget him as a deep threat then SURPRISE he’s running full speed for a quick 7.
November 21st, 2024 at 5:24 pm
Even if he feels he’s 100%, sit him until the Charger’s game. If we can’t beat our next 3 opponents without Evans, we shouldn’t be in the playoffs.
November 21st, 2024 at 6:28 pm
Give him another week if that’s what it takes! Too many season-ending injuries rushing players back.
November 21st, 2024 at 6:28 pm
Use Rachad White as a short distance receiver. He catches the ball well and, once he gets going he is hard to strop.
November 22nd, 2024 at 12:54 am
The HC DC Guy will put Mike on deep drop zone offense to cover the deep safeties.
November 22nd, 2024 at 5:36 am
If there are still “ifs” maybe let him sit out this game. The other team will be aiming at Mike. And then he could be out the rest of the season. Coen is being safe in not saying anything definite yet. Smart move.
November 22nd, 2024 at 10:35 am
I can’t see Coen giving out info to help Giants defense