Baker Mayfield challenges Buccaneers to 'fill the shoes' after devastating Mike Evans injury

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost veteran wide receiver and locker-room leader Mike Evans for the foreseeable future when he suffered a broken clavicle and a concussion during Tampa Bay's 24-9 defeat at the Detroit Lions that dropped the Buccaneers to 5-2 this past Monday. 

As Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press shared on Thursday, Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield suggested he understands others around the league won't be feeling too sorry for the first-place club this fall. 

"Everybody" with Buccaneers needs to step up after Mike Evans injury

"We are going to have to find ways to fill the shoes that (Evans left)," Mayfield recently said. "It takes everybody at that point because it is Mike Evans." 

Of course, the Buccaneers won't just be without Evans until further notice. Fellow receiver Chris Godwin has thus far played in only two contests coming off the dislocated left ankle, high ankle sprain, fractured fibula and torn deltoid he suffered in October 2024. He has already been ruled out of Tampa Bay's game at the New Orleans Saints (1-6) this coming Sunday with a fibula injury, and his status beyond the Buccaneers' Week 9 bye is unclear. Additionally, Tampa Bay wideout Jalen McMillan hasn't played since he went down with a neck injury in the preseason. 

As was the case when Evans was dealing with a hamstring strain earlier this fall, 2025 first-round draft pick Emeka Egbuka will serve as Mayfield's primary target moving forward. Meanwhile, rookie and seventh-round choice Tez Johnson tallied touchdown receptions in each of Tampa Bay's last two games. 

What Buccaneers will be without amid Mike Evans' absences

Stories likely will link the Buccaneers with receivers currently attached to other teams ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline. Even if Tampa Bay looks for outside help at the position, the club won't be able to replace what Evans means to the locker room as an on-field contributor and behind-the-scenes captain. 

"Devastated to see Mike go down," Johnson recently said. "He is a leader in the room. We know we are all going to stand behind him, praying for him and his family during this time, because this is a hard time for him. He had a lot at stake for this season and a lot that he wanted to accomplish. As his teammates, we are going to continue lift him up and move forward and just play, keeping him in mind every time."

Earlier this week, NFL Media's Tom Pelissero reported that Evans "is expected to miss 6-8 weeks with a possible return in December." Getting Evans back just five games from now would be quite the early Christmas gift for a Tampa Bay side that's looking to do more than just qualify for the playoffs.