Tom Brady built a legendary 20-year career with the New England Patriots, securing six of his seven Super Bowl rings. In 2020, he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent, spending the final three years of his career there and clinching his seventh Super Bowl title in 2021.
During his time in Tampa, Brady teamed up with standout players, including wide receiver Mike Evans, a critical component of the Bucs’ 2021 championship season.
Drafted seventh overall by the Buccaneers in 2014, Evans has remained a cornerstone of the team throughout his career. For three seasons, he was one of Brady’s primary targets, delivering standout performances as a key offensive weapon.
In the 2021 title-winning season, Evans recorded 74 receptions, 1,035 yards, and 14 touchdowns. That performance earned him one of his six Pro Bowl selections, a testament to his time as a Texas A&M Aggies star.
Now in his 12th season with Tampa, Evans faced a setback during the Bucs’ 24-9 defeat to the Detroit Lions on Monday night. In the second quarter, a tackle by Lions cornerback Rock Ya-Sin forced Evans out of the game.
Diagnosed with a broken collarbone, he’s expected to miss most of the season.
On Tuesday, Brady shared his Week 7 Power Rankings for Fox Sports, dropping the Bucs from No. 1 to No. 4 after their loss to the Lions, who now lead his rankings after seven weeks.
“The Bucs stay in the top five after a Monday night loss to the Lions,” Brady said. “Detroit could be the toughest away team in the league right now. So I expect Tampa to bounce back next week.”
Brady also shared a heartfelt message for Evans, calling him a “warrior.”
“I’m thinking about brother Mike Evans and praying for a speedy recovery,” said Brady.
The Buccaneers have not yet announced an official timeline for Evans’ return, but recovery from a broken collarbone typically takes eight to 12 weeks, depending on the injury’s severity and other factors.
As Brady expressed, the focus is on Evans’ swift recovery. However, the Bucs will miss their star receiver in Week 8 as they travel to face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Caesars Superdome, with kickoff set for 4:05 p.m. ET.
