Todd Bowles: Bucs Have To Man Up

October 21st, 2025

Reaction from Todd Bowles.

Mike Evans went down with both a concussion and a broken clavicle against the Lions. And with that, what next?

Is Evans done for the season? Bucs coach Todd Bowles didn’t try to put a date on it but it sounds like Evans at best won’t be back before Christmas, if he is back.

“He will be out mostly until the end of the year,” Bowles said. “We will see what happens.”

But Bowles made it perfectly clear: No one in the NFL will throw a pity party for the Bucs over losing Evans.

“It’s never good to see one of your stars go down like that, especially with him just coming back,” Bowles said. “Everybody was excited to see him. So you know, it’s a tough blow.

“But we’ve been holding it down since he’s been gone, and we just got to regroup and come back.”

That’s just it. Just because Evans is lost for the next two months (or more) doesn’t mean the season is over. It just makes it a little bit steeper of a climb to the playoffs.

The Bucs won big games without Evans. And if Chris Godwin can come back, that would surely help.

No sense curling up into a fetal position. The NFL isn’t going to award extra wins because Evans is unavailable.

Man up! Adapt, adjust and overcome.

35 Responses to “Todd Bowles: Bucs Have To Man Up”

  1. Gipper Says:

    ME was mauled on that play before the ball got to him. That game was poorly called last night and that missed interference call was pivotal in the outcome. To make the entire thing worse was the injury.

  2. LVMYBUCS Says:

    We were doing just fine when he was out before so let’s just move forward.

  3. Baker Bowl Says:

    Confident enough in our WR depth. This injury just hurts the soul. I thought the first one looked bad with him throwing his helmet in the tunnel, I was wrong. This felt substantial, just makes me sad man.

    All time great, HOF, Super Bowl champion, the guy that maintained my love for the Bucs all the way from Australia.

    To quote his longest Bucs QB Jaboo “yeah just pain, pain everywhere”

  4. Christina Bucsbabe Says:

    How was it not PI? And the idiot danced around him like a D ugh just sad to see him in so much pain.

  5. Irish Laughter Says:

    The Bucs will be fine. There is great leadership on this team and a loss at this time of year means nothing. The Bucs are build for the long haul and will rebound Quickly. Keeping it real in Ireland

  6. Cybersecurity_intern Says:

    Man up and fire Bowles.

  7. What the heck Says:

    That’s football. Next up
    Every team has injuries

  8. LVMYBUCS Says:

    Yes Yes and double Yes get rid of Bowles this clown is wasting years of good talent.

  9. Lightningvinny1 Says:

    Beat the saints and take a well deserved bye week rest at 6-2,,,, any word on JMac?

  10. LVMYBUCS Says:

    Hey Joe and fans who would you replace Bowles with if u could?

  11. heyjude Says:

    Great positivity, Joe! Thank you!

    Agree with Gipper and Christina. Why wasn’t there a call against Ya-Sin? He danced around celebrating while Mike was down for the count, on the ground. Poor optics all around of the Lions and the refs.

  12. 813bucboi Says:

    folks wanna fire bowles because we’re 5-2 and not 7-0?….

    everyone thought we’d be undefeated this year?..thats news to me lol…

    we’ll get a win in NO and regroup during the bye….

    dont get your panties in a bunch!!!

    GO BUCS!!!!

  13. Weebs10 Says:

    I just don’t understand the calls for Bowles firing? All he does is win the division and improve every season. We’re 5-2. The defense is turning the ball over and kept us in the game all night last night. Why can’t this fanbase go all in and just support this man? Careful what you wish for, the next guy might make you miss the Bowles days.

  14. Vanessa Anne Says:

    I’m heartbroken over Mike’s injuries.

    I sooooooo wanted to see him break Jerry Rice’s record. Now, I’m just praying that he makes a full recovery, regardless of how long it takes.

    We got trounced last night and Mikes’ injuries are salt on an open wound.

    But, Todd Bowles is right. We have to move on.

    And we’re actually playing pretty good football, given all the injuries we’re dealing with. Last night was an exception to that, but 5-2 overall isn’t that bad.

    The big challenge will be making sure we don’t take the Saints game for granted. We need to prep for them just like we would for one of the top tier teams.

  15. 813bucboi Says:

    WEEBS10

    perfectly said!!!!

    GO BUCS!!!!

  16. HC Grover Says:

    Stainks game looms large. As usual. Hope we are not easing twards .500

  17. BucU Says:

    “” And if Chris Godwin can come back, that would surely help.””

    Who’s this Godwin that you speak of?

  18. BucU Says:

    “”The big challenge will be making sure we don’t take the Saints game for granted””

    You think the fanbase is pissed now? This team can and possibly will lose at N.O.
    The ONLY thing guaranteed with this team is Bowles’ defense giving up a TD on opening drives and weekly injuries that put players on ice for months.

  19. Joe Sea Says:

    Will never forgive the Lions for this one. Their organization threw a tantrum and then Bucs suffer because the NFL didn’t discipline them.

  20. Outrigger Says:

    Hopefully Godwin can come back after the bye. Last I heard JMac was still in a neck brace so we may not see him until December if at all. As for last night it just wasn’t our night, especially on offense. We wouldn’t be where we are without Baker but he was awful last night. I can count 8 times where he missed wide open receivers (2 of them would have been touchdowns) and that doesn’t include the 4 batter/tipped passes of which 2 of those would e gone for big gains. Get your footwork and mechanics straightened out Baker. We need you sharp for the home stretch.

  21. WILL24 Says:

    That playing surface in Detroit is an abomination. Officiating was an abomination. And the team looked completely unprepared. Feeling awful for Evans today, and hoping these injuries don’t harm him for the rest of his life. One of the best receivers ever; time to do what’s best for his long term health.

  22. firethecannons Says:

    It would help if the Bucs would get it out in the open what is wrong with Godwin. We keep expecting next week yet here it is going to be week 8 and we have no idea what is wrong with him and if he is likely done as well.

  23. Ander Says:

    Trade for jacoby meyers

  24. orlbucfan Says:

    Hey @813 and @Weebs10, I agree with you both. I’ve been on this site since Joe started, and I’m used to the whiners, fakes, and trolls. I noted SVD got a sack!! Other comments indicate he played very well. Bucs are back here, and you can bet they are starting prep for the Aints. Figures the bought-off refs would not throw a flag on the dancing DB who injured ME13. THAT is nothing new! I am not calling for Bowles’ head. Why would I? 5-2 and let’s fire the HC? That’s some “smart” thinking. “Real smart.” Go get the Aints, Bucs!! And then, THANK THE FOOTBALL GODS FOR THE BYE WEEK!!

  25. Mike Johnson Says:

    Bowles is correct. Nobody feels sorry for ys. They are happy we lost. NEXT MAN UP. Its a long season with 10 more games to play. We got beat by a well prepared team who jumped on us at the opening bell. Detroit deserved to win. Why? They outplayed us. Now LETS BEAT THE SAINTS COME SUNDAY. Do not take them lightly. Jump on them early. We can go into the bye at 6-2 which is outstanding. But we gotta win.

  26. 813bucboi Says:

    orlbuc

    well said!!!!!

    lets get back to work and beat the aints sunday!!!!

    GO BUCS!!!!

  27. Aqualung Says:

    Pom Poms are out. So are the barf bags and they are filling up.

    The point isn’t to fire Bowles. THe point is to have a real head coach instead of three independent coordinators and a guy holding the title of head coach who does nothing to work across all three units for improvement.

    His offense were doing a walk-through practice while the Lions were playing to regain control of the top seed in the NFC. Gee, wonder who won? A real head coach knows the offense belongs to him, too, just as the defense and special bus do. This fact eludes the Bucs defensive coordinator.

  28. BUC WATCHER Says:

    The Buccaneers just demonstrated their true performance level against the Lions, and it wasn’t encouraging. The outcome of the game was disappointing for the Buccaneers. Todd Bowles needs to be replaced at the end of the season, as his defensive strategies are ineffective.

  29. FortMyersDave Says:

    Bucs have beaten 2 good NFC West teams so far, a mediocre ATL club on the road and 2 bad teams in the Jets and Houston. They have lost to the 2 best teams in the NFC and possibly the NFL. Five dash two is not a bad place to be right now. However, Bowles better make sure his team is better prepared in the Big Easy next Sunday or us fans will be calling for his head. Take away the nail-biting win on MNF vs Houston and Bowles has not won a primetime game since beating Philly in the playoffs. That is something Bowles has to own as the head coach is accountable in the end even if the head coach never takes the blame for his team getting boat raced. While Baker has done wonders for the Bucs, I wonder if Joe can compare his prime-time stats to his numbers in regualr 1 and 4 PM starts? Ditto for the defense. My advice to Bowles, make sure your team does not come out flat 2 weeks in a row, just win baby and winning in division is no cakewalk; ask Rah how things went on the road in Carolina for him!

  30. infomeplease Says:

    Next man up!!! Yesterday BM6 didn’t play his best, missed open receivers repeatedly! He’s played great…hard to play at that level for 17 games straight! Regroup! Focus! Next man up! Practice the details!!!! One game at a time!!! Don’t look past the Saints!!!! Another road game!! Those are always tough!!! Get it done!!!!!!

  31. eoschwartz Says:

    “Jump on them early”. Well said.

    Why do the Bucs play so bad in the first quarter. Especially on the road. The Lions knew they could get brown to the flat early and one of those catches by Gibbs on the right side both players had him for a modest gain but took terrible angles and sifted and Gibbs was off for 20 yards. Where was the discipline?

    Every team is getting those easy run and catch by mistakes on the Bucs. I’ve been on the Bucs all year on the shoddy tackling by their middle level defense. Where is the intensity and desire to take these RB’s down. You see it week after week. Can’t the coaching staff get this team to tackle.

    It was also disturbing on first and second down the Bucs were forcing the ball to White on swing passes and the moment he caught the ball he was immediately tackled. It was too conservative. It appears if the. JC’s can’t get big plays downfield they don’t have the execution of this more scaled back offense to take the ball past the markers. Many, many times Otton was catching the ball 6 yards downfield and tackled immediately. Why are the ucs not being more aggressive and targeting Otton 9 or 10 yards downfield instead of 6 or 7. He can’t make anyone miss and is a small guy for a tight end.

    I had to really question how the Bucs couldn’t come out of the gate with a better plan to move the ball. I know they must have punted at least 5 or 6 times.

    Mayfield did not look sharp and his expressions conveyed that he wasn’t the loose QB playing with swagger and confidence last night. He looked confused and very frustrated.

  32. FortMyersDave Says:

    eoschwartz: perhaps Bowles D is predictable at the start of each game so that the opponent’s OC simply scripts plays that will take advantage of the trademark Todd Bowles’ D weaknesses like soft zones, playing to avoid the big explosive play and the fact this team is a bottom 5 or so team ad far as tackling goes? It seems like Bowles’ D is either “tipping its pitches” or Bowles is not getting his team ready to play at kickoff and they often seem to hold off on the adjustments until halftime. It is frustrating and when the Bucs did lock down an opponent, then they let said team back in the game as they almost allowed the Jets to win a game….

  33. Tucker Says:

    Even if Chris Godwin comes back not sure what bucs are getting back it definitely won’t be the old Chris Godwin, it’s not gonna be enough need anothere wr

  34. Saskbucs Says:

    You still can’t tell me Mike didn’t catch that ball. Pass interference sure but he Mike has control of the ball, is down by contact… they wanna say Otton is short of the sticks and he didn’t fumble!

    Well show me the difference of Evans having control, knee and shoulder down, defender on his back and that ball doesn’t release off his body until he does a full roll over. Absolute joke!

    Baker and the Bucs didn’t deserve a win, but that call, the Otton INT and Deans penalty before the Gibbs long TD were atrocious. The no tripping call on Baker was also atrocious.

  35. 813bucboi Says:

    squid mouth wants bowles to under cut his coordinators and call all the plays on offense, defense and ST lol….

    all that crow Bowles forced you to eat now has feather comes out of your ears, birdbrain!!!!

    GO BUCS!!!!

 

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