Mike Evans’ injury is more than a loss – it’s a change in identity
Todd Bowles knows the offense is going to have to make some long-term adjustments.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost more than just a game to the Detroit Lions.
Mike Evans’ broken clavicle is an absolute blow to the offense and the team as a whole. He’s not just one of the best players – he’s one of the top leaders and is part of the heartbeat that makes the Bucs go. There’s no doubt he’ll be missed over the next couple of months as he recovers from his latest and most serious injury, yet.
The loss of Evans is far more than the simple situation of the Bucs losing one of their best. The Bucs offense lost a key cog that allows Josh Grizzard to call certain plays and instill certain game plans based on what Evans can do. For example, Evans is the Bucs’ best receiver against man coverage. With him on the field, Grizzard can get him matched up in order to take heat off the others, which in theory should free them up while still placing Evans in a situation where he can make plays.
Todd Bowles knows adjustments are coming and Josh Grizzard has a head start
“We’re definitely going to have to do that, but we’ve been doing it the past couple of weeks since he’s been out. So it’s kind of the norm right now, unfortunately,” Bowles said Monday. “But when you lose somebody like that, it’s always going to affect your offense and you’re gonna have to change and do different things.”
Evans is expected to miss the next 6-8 weeks and that’s the baseline return window. Complications or setbacks could extend the window and then there’s always the balancing act of making sure a player isn’t returning too early. For all we know Evans doesn’t return until the playoffs. Either way, the Bucs need to be ready.
The good news in all this is Emeka Egbuka. If he stays healthy, Baker Mayfield has a bonafide target to rely on and the rest of the guys can pitch in like they have all season. There’s also the looming return of Chris Godwin Jr., but there isn’t any timetable that we know of and he’s still going to have to knock the rust off after playing in just two games.
Life without Evans will be different, but if the Bucs can stay afloat he should be back for the playoffs and that in itself is something to look forward to despite the unfortunate developments.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers News
Baker Mayfield and the Bucs offense fell apart against the Lions and there’s plenty of blame to pass around
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a crucial opportunity to extend its lead on the NFC, as well as earn a big road win against the Detroit Lions. That didn’t happen, however, as the Bucs suffered their worst loss of the year in Motown. The defense showed up, but it’s certainly suffice to say the offense […]
