Todd Bowles’ Biggest Takeaway From Return Of Mike Evans And Jalen McMillan
December 18th, 2025
Mike Evans
The cavalry arrived! Too bad they didn’t have enough of the right kind of ammunition.
Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan returned to the field last Thursday night and it didn’t appear that either had missed a beat. In fact, it seemed like both improved after damn near suffered season-ending injuries the last time each was on the field. Evans had a fractured clavicle; McMillan broke vertebrae in his neck.
And while Evans balled out with 132 yards receiving and McMillan was “this close” to a touchdown on his first catch, a 19-yarder over the middle, it wasn’t the above-the-rim play by either receiver that impressed Todd Bowles the most.
“You know, it was gratifying to see them take the hits they took and get up from it and be perfectly fine,” Bowles said yesterday. “I think that’s what you worry about the most because that’s the one thing you couldn’t replicate in practice [hitting].”
Evans, at one point, took a nasty spill when he was hit low and appeared to hurt his back (all of our backs should hurt like that). Evans didn’t miss a beat.
McMillan could appreciate Evans getting upended. That’s exactly what happened to him in Pittsburgh this summer in a worthless preseason game. He damn near lost his livelihood, forget football career, as he suffered damn near a life-altering injury.
But McMillan appeared fearless Thursday. He went over the middle to catch his first pass and was drilled at the goal line by Atlanta safety Xavier Watts.
McMillan didn’t blink.
When Joe saw McMillan go over the middle for that catch and get popped, Joe wondered if he would get up.
With Evans, Joe held his breath. It almost looked like a repeat of what happened to McMillan in August.
Fortunately, those hits, if they did anything, motivated Evans and McMillan.
December 18th, 2025 at 5:28 am
If anybody ever wonders why injuries happen so often in the NFL nowadays the answer is in this article. If you don’t play football(ie take big hits) regularly, you aren’t gonna be in football shape, therefore leaving your body susceptible to injury(ies).
It’s really that simple. NFL doesn’t practice or allow practicing like they did years ago. They (NFL) are basically hurting themselves with this.
December 18th, 2025 at 6:02 am
i absolutely loved the intensity jmac was playing with…
it’s like he was still on some vibe from last season…2024, or something…
this group needs to be acting more like jmac and bringing the heat…
either they act like him…or welcome him into zombie mode and turn him into a buccaneer zombie too…
the team needs real fire for these final 3…it’s not gonna be easy
December 18th, 2025 at 6:29 am
“”i absolutely loved the intensity jmac was playing with…””
I noticed his intensity too. We missed him more than most realize. It stood out because Todd’s defense looks like they’d rather be anywhere else than playing football.
December 18th, 2025 at 6:55 am
Love these guys! They will bring the juice.
December 18th, 2025 at 7:56 am
What everyone is commenting, “Love these two guys” too!
December 18th, 2025 at 10:06 am
Absolutely Adam from ny! J-Mac getting up after that goal line catch pumped up with his eyes on fire was inspiring! Along with Evans fired up performance was a snapshot of what this team lacks. Pure want to!!! J-Mac is a dawg! Very underrated in my opinion. Gotta mention Godwin as well. You can see his intensity ramping up too. Hopefully, they can spark this offense back to life and change the tone of the offense in both the run game and passing game. For the Bucs to wilt and lose that game betrayed what those three were bringing to the team. At this point, I have no confidence in our defense and the innocent bystander overseeing it. But, if Grizzard & Baker can get their act together, because it ain’t been pretty, no telling what we can do if we can get on a roll.
December 18th, 2025 at 11:48 am
That was an unnecessary inaccurate hospital ball that Baker threw Evans on that one.
Come on, Baker, you gotta be more accurate bro!