Tampa Bay’s ambitions for NFC supremacy hit a serious roadblock on Saturday, October 25, 2025, when reports confirmed star receiver Mike Evans suffered a broken collarbone. The injury, first detailed byNFL Network’sIan Rapoport, will place the veteran wideout on the sidelines for up to eight weeks, possibly until December. For a club currently 5-2 and battling for playoff positioning, replacing one of the NFL’s most consistent receivers isn’t just difficult; it reshapes the Buccaneers’ entire offensive identity.
Baker Mayfield on Harsh Reality and Moving Forward
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Detroit Lions safety Ifeatu Melifonwu stops Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans from catching this 2-point conversion with four minutes left in the fourth quarter in the NFC divisional round at Ford Field on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024.
In the aftermath, quarterback Baker Mayfield offered a sobering take on Evans’ setback, balancing empathy with urgency. His words reflected a locker room caught between grief and determination. Mayfield acknowledged how devastating it is to lose Evans—the player and the person but also stressed that the NFL doesn’t pause for emotion.
“Unfortunately, from the business standpoint, you got to move forward, you can’t focus on that, but from the personal side of it, it just sucks, it’s the nature of this game,”Mayfield said in his post-practice remarks on Saturday. “It takes everybody at that point because it’s Mike Evans.”
Evans, who led the Buccaneers with 612 receiving yards and six touchdowns through seven games, has long been Mayfield’s most trusted target. His absence strips Tampa Bay of its premier deep threat and red-zone option. But as Mayfield noted, the team must absorb the blow collectively rather than lean on a single replacement.
With Chris Godwin and Bucky Irving out, the Buccaneers’ receiver group appears weak as they prepare for their important Week 8 game against the New Orleans Saints. Emeka Egbuka, their most reliable healthy wide receiver, will need to take charge. Tampa Bay might also bring in more tight ends and running backs for passing plays.
For Mayfield, efficiency now becomes more vital than explosiveness. Expect a stronger focus on quick reads and designed checkdowns to keep the rhythm without Evans’ deep threat.
If Evans’ recovery goes well, he could return in late season and help the Buccaneers make a playoff push. Until then, the task is straightforward: manage without their star and find balance through flexibility. The path forward won’t be easy, but as Mayfield implied, the business of football leaves no room for mourning.