opinion editorial
No one saw it coming, especially himself. After coming off of a four-catch performance and 89 yards with a touchdown against the Rams, Mike Evans suffered a setback. In the second half of the Rams game, Evans received an x-ray for his wrist that had been bothering him. It didn’t stop him from being productive this entire season. Up until this Week 5, Evans’ worst game this season was Week 1 against the still-undefeated 49ers. In that game, he was recovering from flu-like symptoms. He had two catches for 28 yards. But this; this is different.
A Thorn In Evans’ Side
Marshon Lattimore has been a thorn in Mike Evans’ side for some time now. This matchup always seems to give him issues. No one, not even his teammates, saw the goose egg coming. For only the second time in his career, Evans was held without a catch. Zero receptions, no yards on three targets. You have to go all the way back to 2014 to reminisce on this phenomenon. Unless he doesn’t play, Evans is productive. Although not by choice, Evans is sharing or conceding the #1 receiver spot to Chris Godwin, who is having a phenomenal year. Now second on the team with yards and touchdowns, Mike Evans finds himself in unfamiliar territory; rebuild mode. When you hit the bottom, the only way to go is up.
London Calling
This week the team travels to London, which is, in essence, a home game, against another division rival they defeated in Week 2. The Carolina Panthers have righted the ship, breaking off three wins in a row, and watching Christian McCaffrey take over the league by storm. For the fifth week in a row, the team will be facing an elite rusher.
But the Bucs have proven they can silence McCaffrey. This game is a chance for Evans to silence his critics. His matchup against James Bradberry seems more promising than Lattimore’s. Evans needs to produce not only for the team but for himself.
