TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans limped off the field with a hamstring injury Monday night after earlier making the 100th touchdown catch of his career.
Evans caught a 25-yard TD pass from Baker Mayfield on the opening possession of the game against the Baltimore Ravens, joining Hall of Famers Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Marvin Harrison and Terrell Owens as the only players in NFL history to have at least 100 TD receptions in the first 11 seasons of a career.
Evans, who missed two days of practice last week with what the Bucs described as a nagging hamstring issue, appeared to aggravate the injury on the scoring reception. Mayfield nearly connected with him in the end zone again in the second quarter, but this time the ball glanced off Evans’ hands as he and Ravens cornerback Brandon Stephens went to the ground.
Evans remained on the the ground for several minutes before being helped to his feet and limping to the locker room. The Bucs announced he would not return.
In the final minute of the game, fellow receiver Chris Godwin was carted off the field in an air cast after a collision with Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith.
Godwin sustained the injury as the Buccaneers were attempting to pull off the comeback trailing 41-31 in what turned out to be their final drive.
Tampa Bay would go on to lose the contest and drop to 4-3 on the season.
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said Godwin suffered a dislocated ankle and is out indefinitely, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports.
-With files from Sportsnet