How Buccaneers can overcome Mike Evans' injury
After beginning the 2025 season with a series of miraculous, come-from-behind wins, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers finally faced a mountain too steep to climb on Monday night.
In a matchup between the top two teams in the NFC, the Detroit Lions used a 78-yard rushing touchdown by Jahmyr Gibbs to jump out to an early lead, then watched Aidan Hutchinson and their defensive front harass Baker Mayfield for the rest of the night. Mayfield came into the game as one of the leading MVP contenders but never looked comfortable in the pocket, mustering just 228 yards and a single touchdown in a 24-9 loss.
To cap off what turned out to be a disastrous night for the Buccaneers, wide receiver Mike Evans suffered a broken clavicle and is expected to miss most of the season. The future Hall-of-Famer will not only see his record 11-year streak of 1,000 receiving yards snapped, but with his contract expiring at the end of the 2025 season, it is fair to wonder if his Buccaneers career will come to an end as well.
Though Evans was seemingly taking a step back in his age-32 season, his veteran presence and deep-ball ability were still important assets to the Buccaneers' high-powered offense. Unlike previous seasons, however, the Buccaneers have built an offense deep enough to withstand the loss of Evans, and they can still be legitimate Super Bowl contenders if they adjust accordingly.
Buccaneers still have the pieces to be an elite offense
The Buccaneers already showed the blueprint for a successful Evans-less offense over the previous three weeks, scoring 31 points per game while Evans was sidelined with a hamstring injury. The headliner of their new-look attack is Emeka Egbuka, the first-round pick from Ohio State who looks like the front-runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year. With 10 catches over 20 yards already this season, Egbuka has proven himself to be a legitimate deep-threat replacement to Evans while also being dynamic after the catch.
While Egbuka will become the clear No. 1 target, Mayfield's connection with the supporting weapons will be every bit as important. The last two games have seen rookie wide receiver Tez Johnson and veteran tight end Cade Otton become more integrated in the offense, with the former making two highlight-worthy touchdown catches and the latter hauling in 12 receptions. With Egbuka representing the team's best deep threat, both the steady Otton and the dynamic Johnson give Mayfield options to get the ball out of his hand quickly, and they should only get more involved in the coming weeks.
As good as Mayfield has been this season, the biggest key for the rest of the Buccaneers' season will be the return of running back Bucky Irving. The sophomore star has been sidelined for the last three games with shoulder and foot injuries, and his absence was particularly noticeable on Monday. While Rachaad White is a serviceable pass-catching back, his ineffectiveness as a runner allowed the Lions' pass-rush to key in on rushing Mayfield. Even if Irving can't repeat the success of his rookie season, just his presence will help take pressure off Mayfield and the passing attack.
All told, this is still a skill-position core that most of the NFL would love to have, and that's without mentioning Chris Godwin, who has managed just two subpar games due to recurring leg injuries. It may look a little different than previous seasons, but with Mayfield playing some of the best football of his career, there is no reason why the Buccaneers can't still be a top-flight offense.
Steelers’ DK Metcalf ripped for blowing game with Quay Walker eye poke
The Pittsburgh Steelers were not able to help Aaron Rodgers get a win against his former team, losing to the Green Bay Packers 35-25. The Steelers had control of the game in the first half, but it was the second half that doomed them. The Packers scored 28 points in the half, with 21 of them coming in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, the Steelers only had nine points in the second half.
The Steelers were on their way to scoring in the fourth quarter to cut their deficit, but DK Metcalf got into an altercation with Quay Walker, where he got in his face and poked his eye. That gave the Steelers a 15-yard penalty and hurt them as they tried to drive the field.
Social media made sure to let Metcalf know he didn’t make the best decision with his actions.
“Cost them the game, from 3rd and 2 to 3rd and 17 packers scored right after that,” one user wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“DK really trying to play Mortal Kombat instead of football. Bro went for an Eye Fatality mid-drive. Fifteen yards wasn’t enough they should’ve handed him a controller and told him to sit the next quarter out,” another user wrote.
“Welcome to what Seahawks fans have been dealing with for years! Man is such a hothead, and he doesn’t mind if it affects his team negatively,” a third user wrote.
Steelers looking to regroup after Packers loss
Metcalf’s penalty wasn’t the only thing that cost the Steelers a win on Sunday Night Football, and the entire team knows they have to be better. Cam Heyward mentioned how the team doesn’t have much fight in them right now, and how they need to focus on the game instead of what the referees are calling.
We can’t let penalties or stuff that goes against you affect your heart in the game,” Heyward said via Joe Rutter. “When you’ve got a love affair with this game, there has got to always be a buy-in.”
After being up 20-7 going into halftime, some would think that the Steelers were in the driver’s seat for the game and would continue to pile up the points. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, and they have dropped their second game in a row. Things won’t get easier for them as they face the Indianapolis Colts next week, another team has been playing well this season.
