Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans missed the last couple of games with an injury, and he returned to the field on Monday night. Well, his stay was short lived as he suffered another injury during the game.
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Oct 20, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) lays on the turf after an injury against the Detroit Lions during the first half at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images
After the Buccaneers lost to the Detroit Lions 24-9 on the road, head coach Todd Bowles announced that Evans will be out for most of the season with a broken clavicle. There could be a chance that he returns this season, but the odds may feel slim for Evans to potentially return this season. This is his 12th NFL season. During the first 11 seasons of his NFL career, he has gone over 1,000 yards receiving in each season. With Evans being in the final year of his contract, could this be the end of his NFL career?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Fans Believe WR Mike Evans Should Retire From the NFL
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Oct 20, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) is helped off the field after an injury against the Detroit Lions during the first half at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images
Evans is in the final year of his contract. He is 32 years old. There could be a chance that with the injuries he has had this season, this could very well be it for Evans. He appears as if he is not the same wide receiver he once was. He is not going to have a 1,000-yard season this year. Having gone over 1,000 yards during his first 11 seasons of his NFL career, it is going to be hard for another wide receiver to accomplish that.
The Buccaneers star wide receiver does not have to play another down in his career to get into the hall of fame. This is what some Tampa Bay fans had to say on Twitter about potential retirement:
Mike Evans should retire. He been injured twice this szn. He’s a SB champion and a hall of fame. Gon and sit down somewhere sir.
— JayTee (@JayTee843) October 21, 2025
Mike Evans just retire bro
— Lovelace (@Lovelace_Knows) October 21, 2025
Mike Evans and Chris godwin need to call a career and just retire, missed way too many games the past 3 season.
— Terrell Jackson (@ny152g) October 21, 2025
Mike Evans gotta retire.
— Lizzz_Win$ (@Lizzz_Wins) October 21, 2025
Biggest Takeaways from #TBvsDET
1. The Bucs needed a humbling loss, the media praise was out of hand.
2. Mike Evans and Lavonte David will likely retire after this season.
3. Licht is a great GM, but he should have taken care of the obvious ILB issue#WeAreTheKrewe
— BUCS BLITZ (@JoshBucs) October 21, 2025
One of the reasons why Tampa Bay decided to draft wide receiver Emeka Egbuka in the first-round of the 2025 NFL Draft was because of Evans potentially being close to retirement. This season in four games, the star wide receiver has caught 14 passes for 140 yards receiving and one touchdown, along with averaging 10.0 yards per catch. He has been targeted 31 times.
During his career, Evans has played in 172 games. He has 850 receptions for 12,824 yards receiving and 106 touchdowns, along with averaging 15.1 yards per reception. He has been targeted 1465. Evans no doubt is going to be a first ballot hall of famer.
After this latest injury, it would be hard to believe that he would get a new contract after this year. He probably doesn’t want to play for another NFL team and now maybe the perfect time for Evans to retire.
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