To begin the 2025 season, the Buccaneers are 3-0. Their first three victories each took place on the drive they won in the fourth quarter. Baker Mayfield led the team to their fourth quarter comeback for the third consecutive time.
Kicker Chase McLaughlin hit a 36-yard field goal against the Jets in Week 3, winning the game. During that contest, Bucs’ WR Mike Evans was out early after suffering a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter. He finished the game with four catches and one touchdown for 33 yards. NFL Insider confirmed Tuesday that Mike Evans missed three to four weeks due to a hamstring injury.
Mike Evans misses 3-4 weeks for Buccaneer due to hamstring injury
#bucs WR Mike Evans, who left Sunday’s dramatic victory with a hamstring injury, had an MRI that revealed he was out for several weeks, according to insiders. But it’s not as bad as last year when he missed out on four weeks. Good news. pic.twitter.com/jtpcxvfouv
– Ian Rapoport (@rapsheet) September 23, 2025
Tampa Bay’s Pro Bowl WR Mike Evans felt hamstring tension in the third week of the 2025 NFL season. Insiders report that Evans misses three to four weeks due to injuries. In 2024, Mike Evans missed three consecutive games due to a hamstring injury. Evans came back early as Tampa Bay was about to run late in the season. He wasn’t the guy who returned to the first three games, but by the end of the season he was back in his form.
Evans misses time in 2025, but that’s better than what’s happening early on. The Bucs will rest WR1 so he can be used for the rest of the season. To start 2025, the Buccaneers didn’t have WR Chris Godwin. He was still recovering from ankle surgery. Sources believe Godwin can return in week 4. Tampa Bay is at home to play against the Philadelphia Eagles.
#bucs WR Mike Evans is expected to miss weeks due to a hamstring injury he suffered Sunday, sources told insiders.
Evans’ hamstring injuries aren’t as bad as last year’s injuries. However, he is expected to go out a little. pic.twitter.com/qkzcddipnf
-Tom Pelissero (@tompelissero) September 23, 2025
Chris Godwin last played in week 7 of the 2024 season. He missed the Bucks’ final 10 games of the season due to injuries. Godwin spent extra time recovering, but the veteran WR is on the cliff of the return home. Additionally, Tampa Bay has the up-and-coming star of rookie WR Emeka Egbuka. He was the Buccaneers’ 19th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft from Ohio State.
Throughout three games, Egbuka has 14 catches and three touchdowns for 181 yards. He made four catches and two touchdowns for 67 yards in his NFL debut. That included a touchdown in the game to beat the Falcon. WR Mike Evans of Bucs said Emeka Egbuka asked for a post route on Huddle. He scored a winning touchdown in the game running that route vs. Falcons. While Mike Evans is out, Emeka Egbuka will see more production for the Buccaneers.
