The NFL season is finally here, and turns out, it wasn’t a nightmare — Mike Evans will actually play for a team that isn’t the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In free agency back in March, Evans decided to walk away from Tampa Bay after 12 seasons to sign with the San Francisco 49ers. It was an absolute gut punch to the fan base that cheered him on for over a decade, watched him make history with his 1,000-yard streak, and saw him become a Mount Rushmore player for the franchise.
Evans finished his time in Tampa Bay 10th all time in touchdown receptions and 21st in receiving yards. He, of course, also owns the record for most consecutive 1,000 yard seasons to start a career and tier Jerry Rice’s record for the most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons outright, with 11.
Seeing a future Hall of Famer unexpectedly move on in the final chapter of his pro career was never going to be easy. Bucs fans have had all offseason to accept the reality that Evans will finish his career wearing another team’s colors, but that reality becomes even more real tonight when Evans makes his debut for the 49ers.
Mike Evans will make his San Francisco 49ers debut on Thursday Night Football
The 49ers will take the field against their NFC West rival Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night in Melbourne, Australia.
It’ll be Evans’ first time suiting up for San Francisco, and with the game being broadcast in front of a national audience, Bucs fans will be able to watch him in action.
He’ll be San Francisco’s WR1, and should see plenty of targets in a potentially high-scoring game with offensive guru Kyle Shanahan calling the plays. That means Bucs fans could be seeing plenty of the Mike Evans they grew accustomed to watching dominate in Tampa Bay over the past 12 seasons.
The production, the big catches, and the touchdowns are likely to continue at the same elite rate that he’s posted for his entire career. After all, he’s still the same future Hall of Fame talent that has tormented defensive backs around the league for over a decade.
The difference is that, for the first time, Bucs fans will have to watch those moments happen for another team. The cannons won’t be firing for Evans anymore. Bucs fans might never get accustomed to seeing him find the end zone, make his signature contested catches, and celebrate big plays in red and gold instead of red and pewter.
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