Monday Night Football creates moments players remember forever. Returning from injury brings hope for teams and excitement for fans. The 2025 season has tested Tampa Bay with injuries across the roster.
Lions’ Hit Sends Mike Evans to Locker Room with Collarbone and Concussion
Lions’ Hit Sends Mike Evans to Locker Room with Collarbone and Concussion (Screenshot Via X/@MySportsUpdate)
One play Monday night changed everything for the Buccaneers and their veteran receiver.
Lions’ Hit Sends Mike Evans to Locker Room with Collarbone and Concussion
Mike Evans returned to the field Monday after missing three games with a hamstring injury. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver lasted just 13 snaps against the Detroit Lions. His night ended in the second quarter with five minutes remaining.
Newslow-motion footage shows the exact moment Evans went down. Baker Mayfield threw a deep pass down the seam with the Buccaneers trailing 14-0. Lions cornerback Rock Ya-Sin provided tight coverage on the play.
#Bucs WR Mike Evans suffered a concussion and a shoulder injury and is done for the night. pic.twitter.com/YjGywTNONZ https://t.co/pDx2Nr2r0C
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 21, 2025
Evans reached for the contested catch. The side of his head crashed onto the turf at Ford Field. He appeared to lose consciousness after the impact.
The 32-year-old remained motionless on the ground for several seconds. Mayfield stared in disbelief from nearby. Teammates Cade Otton, Rachaad White, and Tristan Wirfs huddled around Evans as trainers attended to him.
Evans walked off the field with assistance. He was later carted to the locker room in visible pain. The Buccaneers ruled him out quickly with a concussion and shoulder injury.
Head coach Todd Bowles revealed after the 24-9 loss that Evans suffered a broken collarbone. The injury will sideline him for most of the remaining season. Ian Rapoportreported a typical recovery timeline of six to eight weeks.
If Mike Evans is out a regular timeline for this injury, it puts him back in early-to-mid December. Plenty of time for the playoffs. https://t.co/oruQHhvxlb
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 21, 2025
Evans recorded zero catches on four targets Monday night. He entered the game with 14 receptions for 140 yards and one touchdown in 2025. The six-time Pro Bowler had missed the previous three games.
The injury ends Evans’ streak of 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. He tied Jerry Rice’s NFL record in 2024. Evans remains theonly player in league history with 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first 11 seasons.
The Buccaneers fell to 5-2 with the loss. Detroit improved to 6-2 behind 218 yards from scrimmage by Jahmyr Gibbs.
NFL Fans Question Rock Ya-Sin Coverage on Injury Play
The footage spread quickly across social media platforms after the game. Fans from across the league weighed in on the play and the injury. Reactions ranged from concern about Evans’ health to questions about the coverage.
One fanwrote, “Dude can’t catch a break… have a feeling he might call it soon.”
A secondadded, “Why didn’t the Bucs challenge this for a catch? At least make the league look at it?”
A thirdnoted, “Sucks so bad cause he’s soooo damn good but the injury bug has always been attached to him. Doesn’t help that he’s like 63 years old either. Dudes soooo damn good and Baker needs him.”
Others questioned the defensive play. A fourth fanasked, “Since when are you allowed to jump on a player’s back before the ball is even in frame?”
The Buccaneers face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Evans could return in December if recovery goes well.