“He Really Didn’t Have To Come Back”
December 31st, 2025
Sadly and incredibly, the return of Mike Evans after a broken collarbone has not helped the Bucs win a football game.
It’s a ridiculous reality that the team is 0-3 since Evans’ return, considering the Bucs’ fantastic record with Evans in the lineup when Baker Mayfield starts at quarterback.
Todd Bowles reflected on Evans’ comeback yesterday during his official Buccaners radio show.
Bowles talked about how defenses are back putting a lot of coverage on Evans and the Bucs need to adjust. The head coach also added a nugget that felt odd.
“I mean like [Jalen McMillan], he came back, he was really banged up and he didn’t really have to come back,” Bowles said of Evans. “But he worked his way back and and is helping us now with the playoff push, hopefully. And he is really making his presence felt.”
Bowles saying Evans “didn’t really have to come back” sure sounds strange and it’s a window into the NFL back rooms. Some players will work 24/7 to return to the field. Others take a different path.
It’s rare hearing a head coach say his best player didn’t really have come back from injury.
Bowles also spoke with reverance about McMillan, who battled back to the field after a broken neck in August.
“He really cares and his toughness shows that. His intensity shows that. And the way he prepares really shows that,” Bowles said. “So for him to come back like that and not miss a beat and be where he was — to almost not playing again — to come back and still play and help us out during the season, and take some hits and still get up and play ball the way he’s doing right now has been amazing.”
Imagine if the Bucs had more Evans and McMillan types.
Maybe next year.
December 31st, 2025 at 3:16 pm
That’s because he can’t play on Defense and help out on that Putrid Pass defense we have had to witness basically since Todd has been here. His Game management is awful to go with his figured out and make every QB look great scheme. It is time Todd.
December 31st, 2025 at 3:18 pm
Imagine the bucs with a new front office and coaching staff…Just imagine.
December 31st, 2025 at 3:20 pm
Fan since 1976. I have never seen a Bucs team with so much to play for just seem to give up with 4 games left …5-1 all you had to do was go 3n6 and you Win the Division …Starts at the top with Coaching and QB play .
December 31st, 2025 at 3:28 pm
Just in, Carolina just scored seven points in advance of Saturday’s game. Bye Bowls.
December 31st, 2025 at 3:34 pm
Mike cares too much not to come back. Bowles doesn’t deserve Evans
December 31st, 2025 at 3:37 pm
Jalen McMillan is a true hero story. Coming back like he has from a broken neck is nothing short of amazing. In these last 3 games, he’s caught 11-of-14 for 167 yds (78.6%) with 7 of those 11 catches going for first downs.
Chris Godwin’s also come back fairly strong considering all that he went through. In his 8 games he’s been targeted 50 times and caught 32 of those (64.0%) for 2 TDs & 20 first downs. That’s an impressive job of moving the chains.
Egbuka has continued to disappoint as the season rolls along though. He started off just on-fire, and was in the talk at one point for Rookie-of-the-Year. He’s been targeted far more than anyone else (124 times), but only has 62 receptions … 50.0% after 16 games. He’s gotten 6 TDs, but he had 5 of those by Game 5 against Seattle.
I’m glad that Mike Evans made it back this year, but I really wouldn’t be surprised to see him hang it up after this season. The team is in turmoil, and I can’t see any Super Bowl victories in our future until we get a number of things squared away. Mike’s a free agent as soon as this season ends, and can pretty much do what he chooses. And THAT may well be retirement at this point in his career.
December 31st, 2025 at 3:40 pm
Mike Evans 334 yards receiving in 7 games
Chris Godwin 352 yards receiving in 8 games
Baker Mayfield 3,490 yards passing
Bucky Irving 3 4 YPC
These 4 players are the players gulible Bucs fans pinned their hopes on the most. It’s not the failure of the defense, special teams, OC, DC or whoever.
It’s the lack of production from these 4 players
It’s a sad day when our rookie WR has twice as much production than our Pro Bowl Wide Receivers. Todd Bowles kept beating a dead horse trying to get production from these 4. We have been better off going with their backups
December 31st, 2025 at 3:44 pm
Maybe Evans or McMillan can play quarterback. Neither one has thrown an interception so that should be a win.
December 31st, 2025 at 3:44 pm
Tomorrow is likely his last game as a Buccaneer
If you don’t retire go to Houston and play for a Super Bowl caliber team in your hometown ❤️
December 31st, 2025 at 3:44 pm
I still can’t believe we have an OC who has never been an OC before.
Liam Coen is a great play caller.
Hiring Grizzard, was the fatal mistake of this season
We just have hired an experienced OC to work with Baker.
December 31st, 2025 at 3:46 pm
Belowszo negates any positives from Mikey and JMac. He can’t be a professor of fast food at Temple fast enough.
December 31st, 2025 at 3:48 pm
“””Oops meant Gullible Bucs fans”””
December 31st, 2025 at 3:51 pm
Lakeland – I disagree with your take. I place no blame on Big Mike, Godwin and Irving. Evans and Bucky got banged up. Dont know exactly why it took so long for Bucky to come back (Bowles noted mental health stuff???). Godwin is a shell of himself because of last season’s injury. To be brutally honest, they should have NOT resigned him and used that money to get a pass rusher or LB. Can’t blame Godwin for that. Blame front office. Baker is another story. He went from MVP candidate in first half of the season to just another Bucs QB in the 2nd half. I think it’s a combination of injuries to himself, injuries across the board on this unit and coaching or lack of.
This team does NOT play complimentary football. That haven’t even come close. Special teams is the worst in the league. Defense flat out stinks. Coaching is terrible. Tackling is terrible. No pass rush and schemes that make no sense.
Then there is the culture issue or lack of. Something is terribly wrong inside that locker room. But like I have been saying – you are what you tolerate. I blame this mess on JL for the roster and Bowles for the coaching. They all gotta go.
December 31st, 2025 at 3:56 pm
Economy car with Recaro seats that gets driven like a Prius
December 31st, 2025 at 3:59 pm
Joe Says: “Bowles saying Evans ‘didn’t really have to come back’ sure sounds strange…”
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That is VERY strange for him to say!
In the past, his attitude has always been that a player coming back from an injury WILL play if cleared by medical & the trainers.
December 31st, 2025 at 4:02 pm
Everybody keeps saying “complimentary”
It’s COMPLEMENTARY!
Now I feel better
December 31st, 2025 at 4:06 pm
Newbie,
I’m totally in agreement with you 100%
December 31st, 2025 at 4:10 pm
Kudos for McMillan coming back from serious injury. But did anyone notice he didn’t make any attempt to “tackle” after the interception. All he had to do was a hand tap.
Just another example of what’s not right with this team.
December 31st, 2025 at 4:18 pm
Newbie Says: I blame this mess on JL for the roster and Bowles for the coaching. They all gotta go.
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I don’t blame JL for the collapse of this team, because this team was good enough to beat Houston, San Francisco, and Seattle earlier in the season. And we were dealing with some significant injuries at that time. Their defense was never good, but the team was still good enough to start the season off at 6 -2. And that was when playing the toughest part of the schedule!
The Bucs are not a very good team right now, and the roster has to be strengthened, especially on defense. But for the team to start at 6 -2 and then later implode during the easiest part of the schedule, to me, that points to other issues besides talent level.
December 31st, 2025 at 4:26 pm
New OC sucks. All he does is have Mike do go routes most the time
December 31st, 2025 at 4:27 pm
how does a switch just get flipped and turn the team from contenders to pretenders. the “after the bye” stuff makes no sense.
December 31st, 2025 at 4:29 pm
He didn’t really have to come back? !?!?
This was a team with high aspirations, at no point should him trying to return as quickly as possible, yet healthy, should have ever been a question. Again, this seems to go towards coaching and attitude from the coaches.
Also, he mentioned the “playoff push”… Am I missing something? I haven’t seen a “playoff push” unless we’re talking the first six games of the season.
December 31st, 2025 at 4:32 pm
LMAO, so now it’s Evan’s and Godwin’s fault that the OC only calls passes of 5 yards or less?
And no blame for the defense giving up 15 points in less than 8 minutes to the Falcons? Or letting Quin Ewers throw 70 yard touchdown bombs?
Bucs fans sure come up with some interesting narratives.
@BucsFanSince1996 – I just hope we find out what happened behind the scenes between week 6 and week 7. The Bucs came out in Detroit looking completely broken, and have remained that way ever since. It’s obvious that a handful of starters have completely quit on this coaching staff.
December 31st, 2025 at 4:39 pm
We will win then the Falcons will win. It’s only right that’s how the season ends. It’s been a year we’ll leave it at that.
December 31st, 2025 at 4:41 pm
Heard through the grapevine that Coach Bowles, after he’s let go by the Bucs, will sign a contract with another team. His compensation is rumored to be a lifetime supply of bacon cheeseburgers.
December 31st, 2025 at 4:43 pm
I’m totally confident we’re be having this same conversation December 2026
December 31st, 2025 at 4:46 pm
I’m totally confident we will be having this exact same conversation in December 2026
This will not be a quick fix
I see the NFC South getting stronger, and Bucs getting weaker
December 31st, 2025 at 4:48 pm
Joe, thanks for the article on Mike Evans. He is a consummate professional. I hope he comes back for another year. Next up, an article on the offensive line or defensive line please.
December 31st, 2025 at 4:50 pm
Get rid of anything attached to Arians and Licht.
They would’ve been fired had Brady not saved their jobs. Now they are sucking off the Glazers teet…it’s sad. Jason Licht is a career LOSER. Bowles? LOSER. Arians? The game has passed him by. Brady has installed HIS OWN OFFENSE with Arians. Brady! Brady brought in his own players!!!! Arians sat there and collected a paycheck and a BS ROH.
Arians, Licht and Bowles are all FRAUDS. Brady is their legacy. They should give their SB rings back.
CLEAN HOUSE!!!!!
December 31st, 2025 at 4:53 pm
Lakeland
There are meds for Bipolar Disorder.
December 31st, 2025 at 5:00 pm
unbelievable Says:
@BucsFanSince1996 – I just hope we find out what happened behind the scenes between week 6 and week 7. The Bucs came out in Detroit looking completely broken, and have remained that way ever since. It’s obvious that a handful of starters have completely quit on this coaching staff.
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I also want to find out what happened. The regression was unbelievable. 😉
December 31st, 2025 at 5:03 pm
I’ve been a fan since the 80’s and the bucs have always struggled down the stretch. Watch Raise the Flags and you will see it is the norm for us to get off to a good start and then barely squeak into the playoffs after losing must win games against teams with nothing to play for. It was Tony Dungy’s MO and just about every coach we’ve had.
December 31st, 2025 at 5:04 pm
buccintimeforchanges,
I totally agree with you 💯💯
December 31st, 2025 at 5:06 pm
Sadly and incredibly, the return of Mike Evans after a broken collarbone has not helped the Bucs win a football game.
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He completely dominated the Falcons – if Baker didn’t miss him by a mile on half the passes he easily goes over 200 yards and a couple of TDs.
So there is one game he should have won for them had Baker not been awful.
December 31st, 2025 at 5:08 pm
Tampa Bay Defense ranked 20th
Tampa Bay Offense ranked 22nd
I can’t blame the defense for this collapse
December 31st, 2025 at 5:11 pm
buccintimeforchanges Says:
Get rid of anything attached to Arians and Licht.
They would’ve been fired had Brady not saved their jobs. Now they are sucking off the Glazers teet…it’s sad. Jason Licht is a career LOSER. Bowles? LOSER. Arians? The game has passed him by. Brady has installed HIS OWN OFFENSE with Arians. Brady! Brady brought in his own players!!!! Arians sat there and collected a paycheck and a BS ROH.
Arians, Licht and Bowles are all FRAUDS. Brady is their legacy. They should give their SB rings back.
CLEAN HOUSE!!!!
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So much of your post was complete BS. I’ll just point out some of the issues:
Contrary to your claim that Arians is a “fraud”, he was a two-time NFL Coach of the Year before coming here to Tampa and winning a Super Bowl.
Brady did not install his own offense. *facepalm*
Arians added in a handful of plays from the Patriots that Brady wanted, but Arians didn’t want to teach Brady’s offense to the entire team, so he required Brady to learn the offense that all the players already knew. That’s why it took Brady more than half the season to get comfortable with the offense.
December 31st, 2025 at 5:11 pm
Lakeland Says:
December 31st, 2025 at 5:08 pm
Tampa Bay Defense ranked 20th
Tampa Bay Offense ranked 22nd
I can’t blame the defense for this collapse
How’s life with the rose colored glasses? If the defense, which is very bad, had just stopped the 3rd down and 24 we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
December 31st, 2025 at 5:14 pm
Lakeland Says:
December 31st, 2025 at 3:48 pm
“””Oops meant Gullible Bucs fans”””
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Yeah. Self aggrandizement can lose its impact when it’s misspelled.
Good heads-up.
Lmao.
December 31st, 2025 at 5:17 pm
Lakeland Says:
I can’t blame the defense for this collapse
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All three phases, offense, defense, and special teams, contributed to the collapse.
If you can’t put any blame on the defense, though, you might want to go back and figure out how the Bucs defense ranks since the bye week. And go back and watch the Bucs vs Rams game again. The Rams could have scored 60 points in that game if Sean McVay let them.
December 31st, 2025 at 5:26 pm
Hey Rod Munch !! Tell me one more time how you think the Saints will beat the Falcons.
That makes me feel a little better about the situation the Bucs are in.
Go Bucs !! Beat the Panthers !!