Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said Thursday that Evans will not join the rest of the starting offense in suiting up for Saturday's preseason game against the Steelers, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Evans remains healthy, by all accounts, but Tampa Bay will opt to rest the veteran wideout for a second consecutive preseason contest. It remains to be seen whether Evans will be in consideration to suit up for the Buccaneers' preseason finale against Buffalo on Saturday, Aug. 23, a game that will occur just days after his 32nd birthday. Chris Godwin (ankle) remains on the active/PUP list, but Baker Mayfield will have the benefit of calling upon both rookie first-round pick Emeka Egbuka and second-year pro Jalen McMillan versus Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Evans isn't playing in Saturday's preseason opener versus Tennessee, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

Evans is healthy, but he's being held out Saturday along with fellow offensive regulars Baker Mayfield and Bucky Irving, among others. It's not yet clear how much the team's regular-season starters will play during other preseason contests. Prized rookie Emeka Egbuka should get a good look at wideout Saturday with both Evans and Chris Godwin (ankle) on the sideline.

Evans has made several signature plays throughout the first week-plus of training camp and is benefitting from repeatedly working against starting cornerback Zyon McCollum, Brianna Dix of the team's official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 12-year pro is on a quest to break Jerry Rice's record for most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2025, and Evans looks like he's ramping up early for just such a noteworthy campaign. The perennial Pro Bowler has made multiple highlight catches while working with both Baker Mayfield (hand) and Kyle Trask, and he also feels he's benefitting from constantly facing McCollum, a rising star at cornerback with 4.33 speed that recorded 17 defensed passes, including two interceptions, over 17 regular-season games in 2024. "We are sharpening each other's game," described Evans. "He has been my teammate for four seasons now and has come a long way and he is one of the best corners in the game. It is a battle every time we go against each other."

Evans agreed Wednesday to restructure his contract, converting part of his base salary into a bonus, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

EDGE Analysis

Evans' restructured deal will allow Tampa Bay greater room to maneuver as the team continues to work through free agency and prepare for the 2025 NFL Draft. Coming off his 11th consecutive 1,000-yard season, and with teammate Chris Godwin (knee - ACL) having re-signed with the Buccaneers, Evans is primed to run things back with quarterback Baker Mayfield in a familiar -- and ideal -- situation. Evans will turn 32 less than a month before the 2025 regular season kicks off in what will be a contract year. He's yet to show any signs of slowing down and remains positioned as Mayfield's go-to receiving option, though former offensive coordinator Liam Cohen's departure to take on the Jaguars' head coaching position is notable. Replacing Cohen via the internal promotion of last year's pass-game coordinator, Josh Grizzard, still gives the Buccaneers' offense some amount of continuity at the coordinator spot.

Evans brought in all seven targets for 92 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 23-20 wild-card loss to the Commanders on Sunday night.

EDGE Analysis

Frequently facing old nemesis Marshon Lattimore, Evans got the better of the veteran cornerback for once, including on his one-yard touchdown grab just before halftime. Evans finished the night with team-high totals in receptions, receiving yards and targets, a fitting follow-up to a regular season in which recorded 74 catches for 1,004 yards and 11 touchdowns over 14 games, and in which he tied Jerry Rice's record with an 11th consecutive 1,000-yard season. Evans clearly looks like he has plenty left in the tank as he heads into what is slated to be a contract year in 2025, during which he 's slated to earn $21 million in base salary and account for just over $26 million of the Buccaneers' cap.

Evans brought in nine of 14 targets for 89 yards in the Buccaneers' 27-19 win over the Saints on Sunday, tying Jerry Rice for most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons with 11 such campaigns.

EDGE Analysis

It literally came down to the last play of the game, but the Buccaneers, already assured of a victory and postseason spot, designed a short pass for Evans to get him at least the five yards he needed to reach the 1,000-yard mark for the season. The star wideout unsurprisingly finished the afternoon as the Buccaneers' leader in receptions, receiving yards and targets, and he also earned an additional $3 million in incentives by posting at least five catches for 85 yards Sunday. Evans will naturally remain Baker Mayfield's most indispensable target as the Buccaneers begin the postseason as the No. 3 seed in a yet-to-be-determined matchup on Super Wild Card Weekend.

Evans needs 85 yards Sunday against the Saints to tie Jerry Rice's record of 11 straight seasons with 1,000 receiving yards, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

In addition to the streak, Evans will earn a $3 million incentive if he catches five or more passes and records 85-plus yards. The Buccaneers aren't necessarily in position to force him the ball given that they need a win to lock up a playoff spot, but that could change in the second half if they pull away from the injury-riddled Saints. Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield said he's thinking about the milestone more than Evans is and believes the wideout will get the necessary numbers.

Evans secured eight of nine targets for 97 yards and two touchdowns in the Buccaneers' 48-14 win over the Panthers on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Evans and Baker Mayfield were clicking right from the onset of the high-scoring win, with the veteran wideout securing a pair of grabs on the game-opening six-play drive and capping off the possession with a two-yard touchdown. Evans subsequently recorded a one-yard scoring grab in the second quarter to lock in his fourth season with double-digit touchdown catches in the last five campaigns, and he'll need to record a manageable 85 receiving yards in the Week 18 home matchup against the Saints to tie Jerry Rice with 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons.

Evans caught five of eight targets for 69 yards in Sunday's 26-24 loss to the Cowboys.

EDGE Analysis

Evans led the team in receiving yards despite catching only one pass in the second half. The star wide receiver has produced at least 68 receiving yards in five consecutive games since missing three due to a hamstring injury. He needs 182 receiving yards over Tampa Bay's last two games, starting with Week 17 against the Panthers, to reach 1,000 receiving yards for the 11th time in as many NFL regular seasons.

Evans had nine receptions on 11 targets for 159 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 40-17 win over the Chargers.

EDGE Analysis

Evans showed no ill effects from the hamstring injury that limited him during the practice week, ripping off two long touchdown receptions in Sunday's lopsided victory. The nine receptions and 159 yards both marked new highs for the superstar wideout in 2024. Evans likely helped many fantasy managers advance in their respective playoff schedule, and he could be in for an encore against a middling Cowboys squad on Sunday Night Football in Week 16.