Not only did the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lose wide receiver Chris Godwin for the season on Monday Night, the team also learned today that the hamstring injury WR Mike Evans aggravated during the game will cause him to miss roughly four games. His potential expected return is after the Bucs' week eleven bye, in their week twelve match up against the New York Giants.
Tampa Bay’s early season success has been led by quarterback Baker Mayfield and this electric offense. Coming into the week, Mayfield had fifteen passing touchdowns, which led the league. Both Godwin and Evans had five entering the night, with Evans catching his 100th career touchdown on the Bucs’ opening drive.
Losing one of these two great receivers will automatically take away elements of your offense that you previously had, but to lose both in one week is an indescribable type of blow to an offense that has been off to a great start in 2024. Evans is luckily expected to return at one point in the season, but the three games in between now and his expected return are going to be tough for Baker Mayfield and company.
Next Man Up
The Bucs depth at receiver is thin, but will have to suffice in the time that Mike Evans is out. Head coach Todd Bowles alluded to second-year receiver Trey Palmer having a huge opportunity at his fingertips. He finished his rookie year with 385 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Palmer, who is currently a key special teams member, will have an opportunity to step in and expect his fair share of targets lined up outside in the time that Evans is out. He’s been a contributor as a receiver already this season and brings a speed element that no one else on this offense can bring. Palmer has missed three games this season with a concussion, before returning on Monday Night.
Rookie receiver Jalen McMillan is also an exciting player to watch in the coming weeks. He kicked off his career with a touchdown catch in his NFL debut in week one, but has fallen back in the production department since dealing with a hamstring injury. McMillan also missed three games this season, but it was a hamstring injury that held him back.
McMillan showed flashes of his talent levels in the preseason and training camp. He’s a quick, good route-runner and turned coaches' heads early on in the year. His limited targets during the regular season haven’t proved to be great, but during these next few weeks, it’ll be an amazing opportunity for McMillan to show what he has and also grow as a player.
The final receiver that was on the Bucs’ active roster for Sunday is Sterling Shepard. The veteran receiver and former college teammate of Baker Mayfield has found a role in this Tampa Bay offense, and now with the injuries to the receiver room, his leadership will be looked towards by the young receivers and other guys on this team. He’s looked like a solid addition for this offense so far and now will be heavily relied on by Baker Mayfield as a key slot receiver option.
Outside Help?
Tampa Bay’s front office brought in former Saints WR Marquez Callaway earlier in the week and officially announced he had been signed to the practice squad. His name will surely be brought into the mix as a potential addition to the active roster. Callaway is in his fourth season in the NFL after spending three seasons in New Orleans. He recorded 1,069 receiving yards and seven touchdowns during his time as a Saint.
Another practice squad name that has been around since preseason is WR Ryan Miller. He was elevated in New Orleans for his only appearance so far this season and recorded a reception for 39 yards. Miller holds value as a special teams member and could be elevated because of that alone, as Trey Palmer, who is the current Bucs’ punt returner, is now expected to be a starter and already suffered a concussion on a punt return this year.
The Los Angeles Rams have put their star receiver Cooper Kupp up for trade and are reportedly getting calls on him. It would be a bold move for a 31-year old receiver, but Kupp, when healthy, is one of the league’s best. His contract would become an issue in 2025, but a move like acquiring Kupp would present as a perfect replacement for the injured Godwin that is almost certainly not returning this season.
Kupp’s history with Bucs’ offensive coordinator Liam Coen would surely play a big factor in the Bucs making such a daring move. It would cost them draft capital, but if this team continues to be serious about making a push deep in the playoffs, it’s a move general manager Jason Licht would have to consider.
The front office has a unique opportunity to bring in a talented receiver who could potentially contribute immediately. Those talented guys aren’t just free agents during week eight though, experienced names like Hunter Renfrow and former rival Michael Thomas are ones that make you raise an eyebrow, but ultimately seems unlikely knowing this Buccaneers’ front office.
The Reality
There are many receivers who would love a shot in this Buccaneers’ offense today, but this is a perfect time to push the limits of your young receivers and build their growth in the NFL. Fans and coaches will learn a lot about receivers Jalen McMillan and Trey Palmer. It's an awesome opportunity for them to become featured players in an NFL offense and see what they’re capable of doing.
For Jason Licht and this front office, it will be interesting to see their approach in this situation. They can continue to play the next man up mentality, or they can address the lack of depth at the position. But now, with their two stars out plus rookie WR Kameron Johnson being added to IR, even if they elevated two current practice squad members to the active roster, the team would have to add outside help back onto the practice squad.
It will not only be a topic of discussion on how they distribute their snap shares or targets these next few weeks, but also how does QB Baker Mayfield’s statistics take a hit moving forward? He was looking like a potential MVP candidate and still has a chance to put up numbers with his new core of starting receivers.
Not only did the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lose wide receiver Chris Godwin for the season on Monday Night, the team also learned today that the hamstring injury WR Mike Evans aggravated during the game will cause him to miss roughly four games. His potential expected return is after the Bucs' week eleven bye, in their week twelve match up against the New York Giants.
Tampa Bay’s early season success has been led by quarterback Baker Mayfield and this electric offense. Coming into the week, Mayfield had fifteen passing touchdowns, which led the league. Both Godwin and Evans had five entering the night, with Evans catching his 100th career touchdown on the Bucs’ opening drive.
Losing one of these two great receivers will automatically take away elements of your offense that you previously had, but to lose both in one week is an indescribable type of blow to an offense that has been off to a great start in 2024. Evans is luckily expected to return at one point in the season, but the three games in between now and his expected return are going to be tough for Baker Mayfield and company.
Next Man Up
The Bucs depth at receiver is thin, but will have to suffice in the time that Mike Evans is out. Head coach Todd Bowles alluded to second-year receiver Trey Palmer having a huge opportunity at his fingertips. He finished his rookie year with 385 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Palmer, who is currently a key special teams member, will have an opportunity to step in and expect his fair share of targets lined up outside in the time that Evans is out. He’s been a contributor as a receiver already this season and brings a speed element that no one else on this offense can bring. Palmer has missed three games this season with a concussion, before returning on Monday Night.
Rookie receiver Jalen McMillan is also an exciting player to watch in the coming weeks. He kicked off his career with a touchdown catch in his NFL debut in week one, but has fallen back in the production department since dealing with a hamstring injury. McMillan also missed three games this season, but it was a hamstring injury that held him back.
McMillan showed flashes of his talent levels in the preseason and training camp. He’s a quick, good route-runner and turned coaches' heads early on in the year. His limited targets during the regular season haven’t proved to be great, but during these next few weeks, it’ll be an amazing opportunity for McMillan to show what he has and also grow as a player.
The final receiver that was on the Bucs’ active roster for Sunday is Sterling Shepard. The veteran receiver and former college teammate of Baker Mayfield has found a role in this Tampa Bay offense, and now with the injuries to the receiver room, his leadership will be looked towards by the young receivers and other guys on this team. He’s looked like a solid addition for this offense so far and now will be heavily relied on by Baker Mayfield as a key slot receiver option.
Outside Help?
Tampa Bay’s front office brought in former Saints WR Marquez Callaway earlier in the week and officially announced he had been signed to the practice squad. His name will surely be brought into the mix as a potential addition to the active roster. Callaway is in his fourth season in the NFL after spending three seasons in New Orleans. He recorded 1,069 receiving yards and seven touchdowns during his time as a Saint.
Another practice squad name that has been around since preseason is WR Ryan Miller. He was elevated in New Orleans for his only appearance so far this season and recorded a reception for 39 yards. Miller holds value as a special teams member and could be elevated because of that alone, as Trey Palmer, who is the current Bucs’ punt returner, is now expected to be a starter and already suffered a concussion on a punt return this year.
The Los Angeles Rams have put their star receiver Cooper Kupp up for trade and are reportedly getting calls on him. It would be a bold move for a 31-year old receiver, but Kupp, when healthy, is one of the league’s best. His contract would become an issue in 2025, but a move like acquiring Kupp would present as a perfect replacement for the injured Godwin that is almost certainly not returning this season.
Kupp’s history with Bucs’ offensive coordinator Liam Coen would surely play a big factor in the Bucs making such a daring move. It would cost them draft capital, but if this team continues to be serious about making a push deep in the playoffs, it’s a move general manager Jason Licht would have to consider.
The front office has a unique opportunity to bring in a talented receiver who could potentially contribute immediately. Those talented guys aren’t just free agents during week eight though, experienced names like Hunter Renfrow and former rival Michael Thomas are ones that make you raise an eyebrow, but ultimately seems unlikely knowing this Buccaneers’ front office.
The Reality
There are many receivers who would love a shot in this Buccaneers’ offense today, but this is a perfect time to push the limits of your young receivers and build their growth in the NFL. Fans and coaches will learn a lot about receivers Jalen McMillan and Trey Palmer. It's an awesome opportunity for them to become featured players in an NFL offense and see what they’re capable of doing.
For Jason Licht and this front office, it will be interesting to see their approach in this situation. They can continue to play the next man up mentality, or they can address the lack of depth at the position. But now, with their two stars out plus rookie WR Kameron Johnson being added to IR, even if they elevated two current practice squad members to the active roster, the team would have to add outside help back onto the practice squad.
It will not only be a topic of discussion on how they distribute their snap shares or targets these next few weeks, but also how does QB Baker Mayfield’s statistics take a hit moving forward? He was looking like a potential MVP candidate and still has a chance to put up numbers with his new core of starting receivers.
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