Dec 24, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) celebrates the touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports

Buccaneers WR Mike Evans inks two-year, $41M deal

With a chance to run a fly pattern into free agency, Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans opted for the comeback route.

Evans officially signed a two-year, $41 million contract on Friday to extend his career in Tampa Bay into an 11th season.

The deal includes $29 million guaranteed, according to ESPN. He’ll resume his pursuit of Jerry Rice’s record of 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2024 after hitting that mark in each of his first 10 years with the Bucs.

“The first 10 years of Mike’s time in Tampa have been truly unprecedented and we look forward to seeing him continue to break records and add to his legendary career as a Buccaneer,” Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said. “Mike is a special player who has made a lasting impact on this franchise and in our community. As great as he’s been on the field, Mike and his wife, Ashli, have had an even bigger effect in the Tampa Bay area through all their charitable work. He is crucial to our team success and exemplifies everything we want our players to be.”

Evans said Friday his goal all along was to be with the same franchise from the start of his career to the finish.

“Tampa is home,” Evans said, noting he and his wife briefly discussed what it would be like to play elsewhere before coming to the joint realization a return was the option they wanted.

Evans was the first draft pick Licht made as general manager, selected seventh overall in the 2014 draft. Now the Buccaneers are focused on bringing back quarterback Baker Mayfield, who is ticketed for unrestricted free agency after leading Tampa Bay to the NFC South title and playoffs in his only season with the team.

This is Evans’ third contract with the Buccaneers.

Evans has been a team captain seven consecutive seasons.

The 30-year-old was ticketed for free agency at the turn of the new league year next week. He just finished a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the Bucs, but Licht and head coach Todd Bowles sent strong signals in recent days that they weren’t letting Evans out of town.

“He came to work every day, he came into play every day, as you can see as a result from his statistics,” Bowles said at the NFL Scouting Combine last week. “You know, he he’s been here for like a decade and he’s done the same thing every year. He’s been very consistent. He’s very dynamic yet he’s very humble off the field, but he’s a confident player. He’s one of my favorite players. I have a lot of respect for Mike and everything he does. He’s earned what he done.”

Evans had 79 catches for 1,255 yards with a league-leading 13 touchdowns last season.

He has 762 career receptions for 11,680 yards and 94 TDs in 154 games (153 starts). He also has 709 yards receiving and five TDs in nine postseason games, two of those TDs coming in the 2020 Super Bowl run.

–Field Level Media

Sep 17, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) is congratulated by quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) after scoring a touchdown against the Chicago Bears during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Bucs focus on re-signing Mike Evans, Baker Mayfield

INDIANAPOLIS — Keeping quarterback Baker Mayfield and retaining receiver Mike Evans are major priorities for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason.

Mayfield was plucked off the scrap heap and put together his top all-around season, while Evans reached 1,000 receiving yards for the 10th straight season, a record at the outset of a career and just one off the overall consecutive seasons mark held by the legendary Jerry Rice.

Evans is a legend with the franchise while Mayfield stands to earn much, much more than the $4 million he received last season.

Negotiations are continuing with the soon-to-be free agent but the Buccaneers also plan to study quarterbacks this week at the NFL Scouting Combine.

“I know he wants to be a Buc. We want him to be a Buc, so that’s usually a good starting point,” Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht said Tuesday. “We want Baker back. Trust me, I can’t go two blocks in Tampa without somebody asking me that and you understand that and I totally understand it.

“He’s been great for our team. He’s been great for the organization and we would love to have Baker.”

Mayfield, 28, has a 40-46 record as a starting quarterback, including stints with the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams. He went 9-8 with the Buccaneers while setting personal bests of 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Evans, 30, caught 13 touchdown passes last season to match Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins for the NFL lead. Evans had 79 catches for 1,255 yards.

“Mike did a heck of a job and he came to work every day,” Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said. “He came to play every day, as you can see as a result from the statistics. And he’s been here for a decade and he’s done the same thing every year.

“He has been very consistent, very dynamic, yet he’s very humble off the field. But he’s a confident player. He’s one of my favorite players. I have a lot of respect for Mike and everything he does and he’s earned what he done.”

Evans just finished a five-year, $82.5 million contract with Tampa Bay.

But extension talks didn’t go well leading up to the 2023 season and the two sides didn’t reach a deal.

Licht declined to discuss where talks stand now.

“He’s an unprecedented player. We want him to be a Buc for life. We’re working towards that,” Licht said. “Obviously it takes two sides. I know he wants to be a Buc. We’ll probably have to strain a little bit (financially) but we’re working towards that right now.”

The Buccaneers also cleared close to $5 million in salary cap space by releasing outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett. The 31-year-old made the Pro Bowl twice in five seasons with Tampa Bay.

“Did not want to make that call,” Licht said. “At the same time I did — I wanted to give him some time here to look for another team if that’s what he wants to do. We can’t officially release him until the beginning of the league year, but he actually calmed me down on the call.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 3, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) catches the ball and runs it in for a touchdown  against the Carolina Panthers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Bucs WR Mike Evans reaches 1,000 receiving yards for 10th time

Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans went over 1,000 receiving yards for the 10th straight season by catching seven passes for 162 yards and one touchdown in Sunday’s 21-18 victory over the Carolina Panthers.

Evans, who has 1,012 yards, is the only receiver in NFL history to top 1,000 in each of his first 10 NFL seasons. In 2020, he set the record by accomplishing it for the seventh straight season to start his career.

He also tied Hall of Famer Randy Moss for the second-most 1,000-yard receiving seasons in a career. The only player with more 1,000-yard campaigns is icon Jerry Rice, the Hall of Famer who did it 14 times.

Also, Rice is the only player who has had more consecutive 1,000-yard seasons (11 in row from 1986-96) at any point during his career.

“I don’t know what more you can say. He’s done this for 10 years now,” Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles said of Evans. “Over 60 catches 10 years in a row. Over 1,000 yards 10 years in a row. You know he’s getting the ball and everyone is trying to stop him, and he makes plays over and over. It’s a credit to him and his work ethic. The way he approaches the game, it’s unbelievable.”

Evans, 30, entered Sunday’s game needing 150 yards to reach 1,000. He reached the milestone when he caught an 11-yard pass from Baker Mayfield in the fourth quarter.

“I’m happy we got the win, most importantly,” Evans said. “I’m happy with the record, obviously. I had a lot of great quarterbacks and offensive coordinators who believed in me. So, I really appreciate them. Hopefully I can keep that streak going for however long my career goes.”

Evans also had a 75-yard touchdown in the game as he reached at least 150 receiving yards for the 13th time in his career. It was his 10th scoring reception of the season. He has 61 catches.

In 149 career regular-season games, Evans has 744 catches for 11,437 yards and 91 touchdowns.

Evans was the No. 7 overall selection of the 2014 draft out of Texas A&M.

–Field Level Media

Jul 29, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys tight end Peyton Hendershot (89) wears a Guardian helmet cap during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys place TE Peyton Hendershot (ankle) on IR

The Dallas Cowboys placed tight end Peyton Hendershot on injured reserve Thursday with an ankle injury.

Hendershot must miss at least the next four games and will be eligible to return in Week 11 at Carolina (Nov. 19).

The Cowboys (3-2) signed tight end Sean McKeon from the practice squad to the 53-man active roster ahead of Monday night’s road game against the Los Angeles Chargers (2-2).

Dallas also signed linebacker Rashaan Evans to the practice squad and designated cornerback Nahshon Wright (ankle) to return from injured reserve.

Hendershot, 24, was inactive for the past two games but did not show the progress physically that the Cowboys were looking for.

He has one catch for 3 yards in three games this season after catching 11 passes for 103 yards and two scores in 17 games (two starts) as an undrafted rookie in 2022.

–Field Level Media

Dec 18, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon (6) celebrates his fumble recovery in the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports

Bears sign RB Evans, designate DB Gordon for return

The Chicago Bears signed running back Darrynton Evans off the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad on Monday among a slew of moves.

The running back corps is in shambles with Khalil Herbert, Roschon Johnson and Travis Homer all exiting Thursday night’s win — the Bears’ first in 347 days — with injuries.

In other moves, Chicago designated defensive back Kyler Gordon and offensive lineman Doug Kramer for return from injured reserve, signed quarterback Nathan Peterman to the practice squad, and released Deslin Alexandre from the practice squad.

Evans, 25, had 14 carries for 64 yards in six games with Chicago last season.

He has rushed 30 times for 125 yards and added five catches for 71 yards and a touchdown in 12 career games with the Tennessee Titans (2020-21) and Bears. He was selected by the Titans in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Herbert is expected to miss multiple weeks with an ankle injury.

Gordon suffered a broken hand in the Bears’ Week 1 loss to the Green Bay Packers and underwent surgery. The team has 21 days to activate him to the 53-man roster. Gordon had three interceptions in 14 starts for the Bears last season, his rookie campaign.

Peterman was with the Bears in 2022 and appeared in three games, starting one.

The Bears (1-4) play host to the Minnesota Vikings (1-4) this Sunday.

–Field Level Media

Jan 1, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA;  Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) catches a pass from touchdown against the Carolina Panthers in the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Bucs WR Mike Evans opens up about contract

Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans remains optimistic about management recognizing his value, and he addressed his existing contract before a self-imposed Saturday deadline.

Evans discussed the soft demand for a salary hike on Thursday, giving no indication that he wouldn’t be on board the team charter for Minneapolis on Saturday, deadline or not, ahead of the Week 1 opener against the Vikings.

“I’m blessed to be in this position,” Evans said. “A lot of people dream of making it to Year 10. I’m happy to be here, feel great. I’m looking forward to a great season.”

A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Evans is entering the final season of a five-year, $82.5 million extension signed in March 2018. He received a $1.5 million roster bonus in March and will earn a $13 million base salary in 2023.

With 1,000-plus receiving yards each of his first nine seasons, Evans is one season away from tying Jerry Rice as the only NFL players to produce 10 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.

Evans, 30, said he plans to “do what’s best for my future” if a new contract agreement can’t be hammered out.

“Any player in my position would want to be solidified and secure,” he said.

“Ownership and management are going to do what they feel is best for the team and the team’s future. I’m going to do what’s best for me and my future. Right now, that’s just playing some good ball.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 28, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Mississippi Rebels running back Zach Evans (6) runs with the ball during the second quarter against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the 2022 Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Ole Miss RB Zach Evans enters NFL draft

Ole Miss running back Zach Evans announced Friday that he is declaring for the NFL draft.

Evans made his decision two days after the Rebels lost 42-25 to Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl.

“I’ve had an unforgettable experience at Ole Miss, and I am forever thankful for the opportunity to play here,” Evans wrote in his announcement. “… After much prayer, I have decided to forego my remaining year of eligibility and declare for the 2023 NFL Draft.”

Evans rushed for 936 yards and nine touchdowns and also had 12 catches for 119 yards and one score in 2022, his lone season for the Rebels. He rushed for 130 or more yards four times this season, including a career-best 207 against Arkansas on Nov. 19.

Evans played the previous two seasons at TCU and had 1,063 rushing yards and nine scores and caught 18 passes for 206 yards and one touchdown in his time with the Horned Frogs.

–Field Level Media

Sep 18, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA;  New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) and safety Marcus Maye (6) get into a penalty with Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) and they are ejected after the play during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Report: NFL levies fines for Saints-Buccaneers skirmish

The NFL fined Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette and New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore $13,367 each for their part in a skirmish between the teams last Sunday, NFL Network reported.

Bucs wideout Mike Evans was suspended Monday by the league for his involvement. He will serve the suspension on Sunday when the Bucs (2-0) host the Green Bay Packers (1-1).

The incident came with 12:49 left in the Buccaneers’ 20-10 victory.

After Lattimore began jawing at Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady, Fournette pushed Lattimore away and Lattimore pushed back. Evans joined the fray — shoving and leveling Lattimore — and engaged with other Saints before the dust settled.

Evans and Lattimore were ejected.

Brady was not fined, NFL Network reported Saturday.

–Field Level Media

Sep 18, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA;  New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) and safety Marcus Maye (6) get into a penalty with Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) and they are ejected after the play during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Bucs WR Mike Evans appeals, hearing to be held Tuesday

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans is scheduled for an appeal hearing with the NFL on Tuesday night regarding his one-game suspension for instigating a fracas with New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore.

NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan said that Evans violated Rule 12, Section 2, Article 8(g) which prohibits “unnecessarily running, diving into, cutting, or throwing the body against or on a player who is out of the play or should not have reasonably anticipated such contact.”

He also violated Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 which prohibits any act that is “contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship.”

“Your aggressive contact could have caused serious injury to your opponent and clearly does not reflect the high standards of sportsmanship expected of a professional,” Runyan wrote in a letter to Evans.

Evans, 29, said after the game that he wasn’t concerned about another suspension.

“In 2017, I didn’t even get ejected, and that was really a cheap shot. This wasn’t,” he said. “He punched my teammate in the face, and I just pushed him on the ground.”

The latest incident came with 12:49 left in the Buccaneers’ 20-10 victory.

After Lattimore began shouting at Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady, Bucs running back Leonard Fournette pushed Lattimore away and Lattimore pushed back. Evans joined the fray with a head of steam — shoving and leveling Lattimore — and engaged with other Saints before the dust settled.

Evans and Lattimore were ejected.

The Bucs (2-0) host the Green Bay Packers (1-1) in Week 3.

Evans had three catches for 61 yards before being ejected. The four-time Pro Bowl selection entered 2022 as the only player in NFL history to begin his career with eight straight seasons with 1,000 receiving yards.

Bucs coach Todd Bowles said he watched tape of the altercation and that the team doesn’t condone any fighting by its players.

“The fighting alone loses a player for the next game (and) it hurts our team because we lose a very good ballplayer,” Bowles said. “We don’t want that, we don’t condone it, and we’ve got to move forward and try to find a way to win without him.

“But that should be a lesson to all of our other players.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 11, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) runs the ball against the Atlanta Falcons in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Saints RB Alvin Kamara out, Bucs RB Leonard Fournette in

Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette plans to play in Sunday’s game against the Saints, but New Orleans is not planning to have top back Alvin Kamara for the Week 2 matchup.

New Orleans anticipates injured quarterback Jameis Winston (back) and backup running back Mark Ingram (ankle) to be on the field when the Saints host Tampa Bay.

Kamara is dealing with a rib injury and was questionable all week.

Fournette (hamstring), who rushed for 127 yards in Week 1, and wide receiver Mike Evans (calf) are both expected to play, but ESPN and NFL Network reported Bucs left tackle Donovan Smith (elbow) is out.

Pregame workouts are likely to determine whether Bucs wide receiver Julio Jones (knee) is given the green light.

–Field Level Media