Bucs expect WR Evans to return vs. Giants

Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said Friday that wide receiver Mike Evans, the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, will play Sunday against the New York Giants “as long as he’s healthy and fresh.”

Evans suffered a moderate hamstring strain in Week 7 against the Baltimore Ravens and missed three games – tied for the longest absence of his career.

“It hurt to see your team out there fighting in really tough, close games that we could have won,” Evans said. “I wish I could [have been] out there to help them. I’m excited for this week.”

Evans told ESPN prior to the Bucs’ Week 11 bye that he could have potentially tried to push a return in Week 10 against the San Francisco 49ers, but instead, Evans rested that week, and spent the bye week ramping up his conditioning.

Evans said he had no concerns about reaggravating his injury, an injury he suffered while already hobbled with a hamstring injury in that same leg but in a different location of the muscle.

“No, this week definitely built my confidence, and last week, going through all the conditioning I had to do,” Evans said. “I feel really good. Like I said, I feel better than I did going into the Ravens game. I was a little hobbled going into that game. I probably should have sat that one out, but I always try to tough it through. This time off definitely helped me, so I’m confident.”

Bowles, however, did leave the door open to possibly pulling him if need-be, considering the Bucs have been without their No. 1, 2 and 3 receivers in Evans, Chris Godwin and rookie Jalen McMillan.

The Bucs have gone 0-4 in the last four games and will likely need to go on a similar run like last season, where they won five out of their last six games in order to make the playoffs.

“If he needs to be in there, he’ll be in there,” Bowles said, “but we’ll get him out when we have to.”

Evans said he’s not concerned about the field conditions at MetLife Stadium despite the field’s history with non-contact injuries.

“I like it. I like it,” Evans said. “I prefer grass over turf but whatever field it is, we’ve got to play on it.”

Before the season started, Evans expressed his desire to tie Jerry Rice’s NFL-record 11-consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. He’s currently second all-time now, and would need to average 95 receiving yards per game to make that feat happen. Evans already holds the records for most 1,000-yard receiving seasons to start a career at 10.

“It’s there. Obviously, it’s going to be tough,” Evans said. “It’s something that … obviously, I’m thinking about a lot of other people. I’m just thinking about winning – playing winning ball. Things will happen. I’m trying to play and help the team win.”