MIKE EVANS NEWS

Set to suit up Thursday Evans (ankle) is expected to play Thursday at Chicago, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports

Impact While the Buccaneers will be without wide receivers Chris Godwin (hamstring) and Justin Watson (chest), they intend to have the services of Evans and Scotty Miller (hip/groin). The decision appears to hinge on Evans' pregame workout, which included cutting and "explosive" moves out of the break, per Stroud. Evans' ankles were taped up, too, so it seems to indicate he'll be out there Thursday.

OCTOBER 8, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Showing optimism for Thursday Evans (ankle) will need to successfully complete pre-game workouts in order to be active Thursday night against Chicago, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Impact Evans was the team's most targeted wide receiver Week 4 against the Chargers with Chris Godwin (hamstring) sidelined, but he emerged from the game with an ankle injury that forced him out of practice for the entire week. Even though he's operating on a short week, there's still optimism that Evans will take the field, though it absolutely warrants confirmation roughly 90 minutes prior to the 8:20 p.m. EST kickoff. Evans could be in for another target-heavy week if everything checks out in warmups, as Godwin has again been ruled out, while Scotty Miller (hip/groin) is considered questionable for the contest (though he's expected to play). A tough matchup awaits, however, as Evans and co. will be facing a Chicago team that hasn't given up a touchdown to an opposing wide receiver all year.

OCTOBER 8, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Status in question for Week 5 Evans (ankle) is listed as questionable for Thursday's contest at Chicago, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.

Impact Evans was unable to practice this week, but he'll have a chance to suit up Thursday, unlike fellow wideouts Chris Godwin (hamstring) and Justin Watson (chest). Assuming Evans is active, he'll be the primary pass-catching option for Tom Brady, while Scotty Miller (hip/groin) -- who is also questionable -- is the top option to fill in for Godwin in the slot.

OCTOBER 7, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

No practice Tuesday Evans (ankle) didn't practice Tuesday, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.

Impact The absence marks his second in as many days for Evans due to a right ankle sprain. Despite the injury, he racked up seven catches (on eight targets) for 122 yards and one touchdown this past Sunday versus the Chargers. He'll have one more opportunity to practice before the Bucs tab Evans with an official injury designation for Thursday's game at Chicago.

OCTOBER 6, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Not seen Tuesday Evans (ankle) wasn't present at the portion of Tuesday's walk-through open to the media, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.

Impact If he indeed doesn't take the field Tuesday, it'll mark Evans' second DNP of Week 5 prep. He toughed out a sprained right ankle this past Sunday against the Chargers, reeling in seven of eight passes for 122 yards and one touchdown. Ultimately, he doesn't necessarily have to practice in order to play Thursday at Chicago, but he still technically has two chances to do so before the Bucs release their final injury of the week Wednesday.

OCTOBER 6, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

First-place Bucs building confidence with winning streak

The first-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers are building confidence with each victory

OCTOBER 5, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Listed as non-participant at practice Evans (ankle) was listed as a non-participant in Monday's walk-through practice, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact A sprained right ankle that the wideout suffered in Sunday's win over the Chargers is the culprit. Now, it remains to be seen if he's able to recover in time to suit up Thursday night against Chicago. With Monday being used as a recovery day for many of the Bucs' banged-up players, what Evans is able to do on the field Tuesday should shed more light on his Week 5 status.

OCTOBER 5, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Medical evaluation on tap Coach Bruce Arians said Monday that Evans is set to receive medical evaluation after suffering a right ankle sprain during Sunday's win over the Chargers, Eduardo A. Encina of the...

Impact Arians said Evans is "as tough as they come," and that the star wideout was on "a leg and a half" while playing through his injury Sunday. Evans managed to surpass the 100-yard mark and score despite being injured early, so there's reason to be optimistic that he could continue to play through the issue without missing time, but Thursday's upcoming contest against the Bears leaves only a short window for rest. Greg Auman of The Athletic reports that the Buccaneers should disclose more medical information Tuesday.

OCTOBER 5, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Eclipses 100-yard mark in win Evans brought in seven of eight targets for 122 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 38-31 win over the Chargers on Sunday.

Impact Evans overcome an ankle injury in the first half to pace the Buccaneers in receptions and receiving yards on the afternoon. His late second-quarter touchdown grab, Evans' fifth of the season, was key to the Buccaneers' comeback, as Tampa Bay found itself down by a 24-7 score at the time. Evans was able to finish the contest despite occasionally showing some signs of lower-leg discomfort, but it appears he'll be ready to once again serve as the linchpin of the pass-catching corps in a quick Week 5 turnaround game versus the Bears on Thursday night, one that Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports Evans' fellow wideout Chris Godwin (hamstring) is unlikely to be ready for.

OCTOBER 4, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to Sunday's game Evans (ankle) returned to Sunday's game versus the Chargers, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Evans was injured in the first quarter but only spent a handful of snaps on the sideline before returning to action. With Chris Godwin (hamstring) inactive, Evans is in line to be Tom Brady's top target Sunday.

OCTOBER 4, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Departs Sunday's game Evans was removed from Sunday's contest against the Chargers with an apparent ankle injury, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

Impact Evans was in line for a huge target count with running mate Chris Godwin (hamstring) in street clothes Week 4. Indeed, Evans hauled in all three targets for 47 yards before his departure. The Buccaneers have yet to tab him with a designation, but for the time being, the receiving corps has been whittled down to Scotty Miller, Justin Watson, Tyler Johnson and Jaydon Mickens.

OCTOBER 4, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Maximizes catches in Week 3 win Evans secured both of his targets for a pair of one-yard touchdowns in the Buccaneers' 28-10 win over the Broncos on Sunday.

Impact Evans was uncharacteristically quiet from a cumulative statistical standpoint, but the fact both his receptions went for touchdowns rewarded fantasy managers nevertheless. Evans' receiving yardage tally was naturally an outlier, highly unlikely to come close to repeating itself this season. Additionally, the 27-year-old already has four touchdowns on the campaign, and the level of trust that clearly already exists between him and Brady should continue to pay handsome fantasy dividends throughout the remainder of the campaign. Evans will look to continue finding the end zone while offering more production in receptions and receiving yardage against the Chargers in a Week 4 battle, a game that Chris Godwin (hamstring) notably could miss after he exited Sunday's game early.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Clears century mark in win Evans brought in seven of 10 targets for 104 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 31-17 win over the Panthers on Sunday.

Impact After a rough Week 1 where he managed a hamstring injury and finished with just a 1-4-1 line, Evans bounced back with a couple of splash plays on his way to his first 100-yard effort with Tom Brady as his battery mate. The sixth-year wideout recorded a game-high 50-yard grab, and he also connected with Brady for a 23-yard touchdown catch in the latter portion of the first quarter for Tampa Bay's second touchdown of the day. Evans paced the pass-catching corps in receptions, receiving yardage and targets, unsurprising given Chris Godwin's (concussion) absence. Evans will look to thrive in a Week 3 road battle against the Broncos that should present a tougher matchup for the Bucs' passing game.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Cleared for Week 2 Evans (hamstring) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Panthers.

Impact Evans logged limited practices Wednesday and Thursday before upgrading to full participation Friday. He gets a great matchup against a vulnerable Carolina secondary, and he could see even more targets than usual if Chris Godwin (concussion - doubtful) is inactive. For all the theatrics surrounding his status last week, Evans ended up playing 93 percent of the offensive snaps in a loss to New Orleans, though he was limited to a single reception (a two-yard TD) on four targets.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Turns in limited practice Evans (hamstring) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.

Impact In addition to matching his level of practice activity from Wednesday, Evans elaborated on the hamstring injury that rendered him a game-time call Week 1 before he ultimately gained clearance for the Buccaneers' eventual season-opening loss to the Saints. According to Auman, Evans said Thursday that the hamstring issue prevented him from practicing for two weeks before the game against the Saints, which helps explain why he was a relative non-factor in the Tampa Bay passing attack. Despite playing 65 of the team's 70 offensive snaps, Evans corralled just one of four targets for a two-yard touchdown. He believes more practice time this week should allow him to take on a more significant role Week 2 against the Panthers, and the potential absence of Chris Godwin (concussion) -- who missed his second straight practice Thursday -- would open up even more volume in the passing game for Evans.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Rhule: Panthers need to pressure 'iconic' QB Tom Brady

The Panthers didn’t register a sack in their season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders and barely got any pressure at all on quarterback Derek Carr

SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Held back Wednesday Evans (hamstring) was limited in practice Wednesday, James Palmer of NFL Network reports.

Impact Despite his uncertain status prior to the Buccaneers' Week 1 loss at New Orleans, Evans suited up and played 65 of 70 offensive snaps while scoring a touchdown among his four targets. Clearly, his status will be one to watch as this week goes on, but his ability to take part in the first practice of Week 2 is a sign that he's attempting to gut out his hamstring injury and continue to suit up on game days.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Brady talks perspective, accountability after debut loss

Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady says he “obviously made too many mistakes” in his Buccaneers debut

SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Finds end zone in Sunday's loss Evans caught one of four targets for a two-yard touchdown in Sunday's 34-23 loss to the Saints.

Impact The receiver headed into Week 1 a question mark due to a hamstring strain, and while Evans was active his usage suggests he may not have been 100 percent. New Bucs quarterback Tom Brady did look his way in the red zone in the fourth quarter, however, as Tampa attempted a comeback. With another week to heal, Evans should be a bigger part of the game plan in Week 2 against a Panthers defense that looked more vulnerable on the ground than through the air in its opener.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Active in Week 1 Evans (hamstring) is active for Sunday's Week 1 tilt against the Saints, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.

Impact Evans has been trending in the right direction since Saturday, when he was upgraded from doubtful to questionable following a limited practice Friday. The seventh-year wideout followed it up with a pregame workout that reportedly included several full-speed sprints, cementing his active status for this season-opening divisional showdown. With no reported limitations in terms of a snap count, there is cautious optimism Evans will fill his usual role as one of the top targets in an aggressive Buccaneers offense now helmed by future Hall of Famer Tom Brady.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Pre-game workout goes well The Buccaneers "liked what they saw" during Evans' (hamstring) pre-game workout Sunday, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reports.

Impact Per Glazer, "unless something changes," Evans will give it a go Sunday against the Saints. Confirmation of the wideout's Week 1 status, either way, will arrive when the Bucs release their inactives in advance of Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Brady has Evans active vs. Saints despite hurt hamstring

Tom Brady might have top target Mike Evans to throw to in his debut for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

SEPTEMBER 13, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Status to be decided after workout The Buccaneers plan to put Evans (hamstring) through a pregame workout before determining his status for Sunday's game against the Saints, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reports.

Impact Glazer expects Evans' workout to take place around 1:30 p.m. ET, after the first wave of games have already kicked off. As a result, fantasy managers waiting for confirmation on Evans' status before including him in lineups may have to roll the dice and hope that he's good to go for the Buccaneers' season opener, which kicks off at 4:25 p.m. ET. Glazer notes that even if Evans gains clearance to play following the workout, the Buccaneers plan to be cautious with the wideout, who may not handle a full snap count. After managing only one limited practice this week due to the hamstring injury, Evans was initially listed as doubtful for the Week 1 contest before being upgraded to questionable Saturday.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

On track to play Sunday Evans (hamstring) could have a limited snap count but is expected to play Sunday against the Saints, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Impact The 27-year-old was considered doubtful after practicing as a limited participant Friday, but he was upgraded to questionable Saturday. Evans likely will still need to be officially cleared via a pregame workout, but the team is apparently optimistic he'll be able to play in the season opener.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Upgraded to questionable Evans (hamstring) has been upgraded from doubtful to questionable for Sunday's game against the Saints, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Impact It's hard to view this as anything but a step in the right direction, but the plan has always been for Evans to essentially be a game-time call Sunday. Evans managed to practice Friday in a limited capacity so Saturday's upgrade certainly seems like a positive indication of the star wideout's status. Fantasy managers should still keep tabs on Evans' status leading up to the 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2020 • ROTOWIRE