Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield Shares Heartfelt Words After Mike Evans’ Injury Blow
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers suffered a gut-wrenching reversal on Monday night as expert wide receiver Mike Evans was forced off the field with a collarbone injury during their clash with the Detroit Lions.
It was a delicate moment not just for the team, but for quarterback Baker Mayfield, who looked visibly shaken as his trusted target lay swiping in pain.
Evans, who also sustained a concussion, was helped onto a wagon and taken straight to the locker room interior through the alternate quarter.
The rovers went on to fall 24- 9 to the Lions, slipping to a 5- 2 record in what had been shaping up to be a promising crusade.
Speaking to journalists after the game, Mayfield’s frustration and concern were plain to see.
“Obviously, for the team, it’s not great, but for him, I hate it. You know, I’ve seen him work each day in person, whether he’s healthy or hurt,” said the 30-year-old Mayfield in the video posted by Buccaneers reporter River Wells.
“It sucks. You never want to see that, whether it’s a teammate or not, but especially if it’s Mike. It’s unfortunate, but guys are trying to step up.”
Evans had only just returned from a hamstring issue that kept him out since Week 3. To suffer another serious injury in his first game reverse is a cruel twist for the 32-year-old Pro Bowl receiver, and a major headache for Tampa Bay’s offense.
Here’s Baker Mayfield on Mike Evans’ injury, mentioning that it’s bad for the team but he hates it for the person pic.twitter.com/VcbqukQ4N8
— River Wells (@riverhwells) October 21, 2025
Medical sources suggest the injury could sideline Evans for over two months, potentially keeping him out until late in the regular season.
Still, there’s a sense that he might recover in time for an implicit playoff drive, should the rovers remain in contention.
Evans’ absence leaves Mayfield with smaller options downfield and stacks pressure on the youngish receivers to rise to the challenge. Depth will be tested, and chemistry will need rebuilding, presto.
Despite the loss and the injury blow, Tampa Bay’s locker room remains recalcitrant. Players and suckers likewise know the spirit that has defined Evans’ career, grim, intrepid, unyielding, will be crucial to his comeback.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers now turn their focus to the upcoming divisional face-off against the New Orleans Saints this Sunday, a must-win for momentum, and perhaps for morale.
