Will Justin Evans Be Active Sunday?
September 14th, 2017
Bucs second-round pick Justin Evans
Among the dumbest of the NFL rules says teams are only allowed to have 46 players active on game days from their 53-man rosters.
So what seven Bucs are sitting on Sunday? The Bucs only have three running backs, so there’s no fourth running back to sit, and there’s no third-string QB.
Joe expects fourth-string tight end Antony Auclair to be on the bench with Joe Hawley and either tackle Leonard Wester or Caleb Benenoch. Throw in banged up linebacker Devante Bond and that’s four guys unavailable.
So who are the other three?
Defensive linemen Will Clarke and Seaver Siliga are strong candidates, and Jacquies Smith is possible. While healthy now, Smith had no training camp or preseason action, and the Bucs might want to get him more practice reps before game action. But sitting all three of those guys would mean the Bucs only have seven defensive linemen available on a very hot September day.
Joe’s starting to wonder if rookie second-round pick safety Justin Evans might find himself on the bench Sunday, especially against a Bears team with a backfield tandem that’s difficult to tackle.
A lot of that call might come down to whether Mike Smith believes newly-signed Pro Bowl safety T.J. Ward is ready to play in the defense.
Evans had some special teams gaffes in preseason and clearly is the Bucs’ No. 4 safety right now.
September 14th, 2017 at 4:03 pm
Who cares… We will not win or lose this game based on whether Justin Evans is active.
September 14th, 2017 at 4:07 pm
“Justin Evans > Keanul Neal”
Kobe Faker
September 14th, 2017 at 4:11 pm
1) I agree with Joe it is a dumb rule to only allow 46 active on game day. There is no financial benefit to the NFL so I have no idea why they do this.
2) I think Evans will most likely be active. The Bucs coaching staff has been pleased with his special teams play so he should be in on a number of plays even if he doesn’t take a defensive snap.
September 14th, 2017 at 4:38 pm
You may think the 46 active players rule is stupid, but it is just like how teams in the MLB have to trim down their roster for the playoffs- it is an added challenge to test the strength of a roster.
September 14th, 2017 at 4:57 pm
Awful pic
September 14th, 2017 at 5:00 pm
Should’ve traded up for Dalvin
sigh
September 14th, 2017 at 5:19 pm
It will likely depend on ST.
And, this rule serves a good purpose……it evens things out for teams with injuries…..
If team A has 5 injuries (automatic sits)…..and team B only has 1 injury…..they have to sit the same number of players…..
Makes good sense to me on that basis.
September 14th, 2017 at 5:24 pm
Never understood that rule!!!!!!
September 14th, 2017 at 5:31 pm
Tbbf is correct.. it’s in place ton ensure that one team doesn’t have more available players than another thus giving one team a competitive advantage. Especially with in game injuries. Also for the sake of parity that a “Super Team” may be forced to sit good players. Use your noggins. Maybe just up the roster to 63 instead of 53 to include “Practice Squad” players. But the NFLPA want the facade of free movement of those 10.
September 14th, 2017 at 5:32 pm
Activated for what purpose? It has become very clear that they are only going to put him in at safety if they have no other options. Unless he is a standout on Special Teams he brings nothing to the table. Meanwhile Hunt, Cook, and many other rookie runningbacks are dressing and playing very good football. Of course we will be running out our undrafted, cut twice runningback to carry us to paydirt, while our 2nd round pick is sitting slightly below me at RJ in the players box.
September 14th, 2017 at 5:33 pm
What about if kwon doesn’t play? The word is he sick…
September 14th, 2017 at 6:00 pm
I can see the Bucs sitting Will Clarke, Seaver Siliga and Jacquies Smith. They have cross-trained both Dline AND Oline, so it is doable in what should be an easy game.
Frankly, I don’t see how they can’t sit Jacquies Smith this week. They cannot have had time to evaluate his return condition.
I could see them sitting Evans also.
September 14th, 2017 at 6:02 pm
“Among the dumbest of the NFL rules says teams are only allowed to have 46 players active on game days from their 53-man rosters.” – J0E
I completely agree with this statement. Frankly, I don’t see why an entire roster can’t be active, with the option of making 2 inactive left up to the teams.
September 14th, 2017 at 6:05 pm
@Tampabaybucfan
I guess that makes some sense…but does it have to be 7? Why not 5? Or 4?
Or increase the roster size to 60 players.
September 14th, 2017 at 6:06 pm
SOFIERCE Says
“What about if kwon doesn’t play? The word is he sick…”
I think Beckwith is our backup MLB. And he’s supposed to be pretty good.
September 14th, 2017 at 6:42 pm
It’s still early but I’m keeping a close eye on the careers and progress of Justin Evans and Josh Jones out of NC State.
September 14th, 2017 at 7:24 pm
2nd round pick…#21…same as Sabby?! Rut row 🙂 Bustin’ Evans is on a trajectory…
September 14th, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Reminds me of Gaines Adams: Great athlete, no production in college. Adams was a three year player with very few sacks. Evans is an athlete who has shown he can’t tackle. He is going to be a bust. COuld have traded up for Dalvin Cook or drafted DeMarcus Walker.
September 14th, 2017 at 7:41 pm
Kobe Faker Says:
September 14th, 2017 at 4:07 pm
“Justin Evans > Keanul Neal”
Kobe Faker
…………………………………
Congrats! This could be the single dumbest thing you have ever said. And that say A TON!
September 14th, 2017 at 7:46 pm
The Bucs have come a long way when predicting who will be inactive is a discussion topic.
46 of 53? Pfffffft. In the WFL the entire roster was 35. Think about that for a moment: what 18 players would you make inactive?
September 14th, 2017 at 7:51 pm
Gut feel is that Dirk Koetter & Mike Smith both have more inside information about each of the Bucs’ players than I do, so I’ll trust them to figure out who to dress and who not to dress. Besides, they get paid millions more each year than I do to make those decisions, and oh ya, they’re accountable to ownership for the results of those decisions. I’m not … thankfully.
September 14th, 2017 at 7:55 pm
Ronde Barber played in one game as a rookie.
Save all the “bust” talk until we actually see the kid play.
September 14th, 2017 at 8:00 pm
“Brett Says: Reminds me of Gaines Adams: Great athlete, no production in college.”
LOL! Evans had 165 tackles and 5 INTs in 2 years as a starter – he was 7th in solo tackles, 3rd in INTs and 10th in passes defended in the SEC last year. His production has never been an issue.
You literally couldn’t have been more incorrect in what you said.
September 14th, 2017 at 8:09 pm
Rod Munch the difference is Ronde was not a 2nd round pick. And we were not passing a starter at a extreme position.
September 14th, 2017 at 10:16 pm
We are starting to get deep enough with talent that we don’t have to pick starters with our top draft picks…
OJ will start but we didn’t need a starting TE
Godwin will not need to start because we picked up Djax
And, I’m sure we got Ward because Evans wasn’t quite ready to start…..we might could have started him and he may have eventually developed but why risk that?
I think it is way to premature to be calling him a bust…..this kid has immense talent and athleticism…..he needs to develop and we can afford to do that.
September 15th, 2017 at 12:19 am
A team competing for the playoffs or more has a 2nd round pick that might not be active?
Totally dropped the ball there Licht.
We need guys that can contribute and be part of the future.
September 15th, 2017 at 1:31 am
“Kobe cant win. Even my sarcastic posts are the dumbest posts I have ever written”
Kobe Faker
September 15th, 2017 at 2:26 am
Brett Says:
COuld have drafted DeMarcus Walker.
At this point Walker looks more likely a bust than Evans
September 15th, 2017 at 9:36 am
If Jacques Smith can walk he should be active. Put him in on some 3rd down plays instead of having to blitz…
September 15th, 2017 at 3:00 pm
MLB expands their roster for playoffs not the other way around. I think the NFL should revisit this issue as I think affects the performance on the field. With TV ratings in decline, they should be looking at everything that might affect revenue.
September 15th, 2017 at 5:21 pm
“Ndog Says:
September 14th, 2017 at 8:09 pm
Rod Munch the difference is Ronde was not a 2nd round pick”
Ronde was a 3rd rounder. Is it really THAT much of a difference in the scheme of things? Both of our 3rd rounders this year are going to get plenty of playing time as well.