TAMPA, Fla. -- On a night that saw Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans become just the 11th player in NFL history to reach 100 receiving touchdowns, the 11-year veteran left the game with a hamstring injury.
Evans, who entered the "Monday Night Football" contest against the Baltimore Ravens with a hamstring strain but was determined to play, caught a 25-yard touchdown from Baker Mayfield on the opening drive. But in the second quarter, Mayfield attempted to find Evans in the end zone on a 25-yard go route against Brandon Stephens, and Evans couldn't hang onto the pass. Evans fell to the ground and grabbed his right hamstring while writhing in pain.
Evans remained on the field for several seconds as trainers and teammates gathered around him. He was able to walk off the field with Bucs vice president of sports medicine and performance Bobby Slater but limped significantly as he entered the tunnel to a standing ovation.
Evans missed two days of practice this week with the injury, which coach Todd Bowles described earlier in the week as a lingering injury versus an acute one. The wideout was able to practice Friday in a limited capacity and carried no injury designation heading into Monday night's game, where he was honored with a message on the video board commemorating his 100th career receiving touchdown.
Through the first six weeks of the season, Evans' five touchdowns were tied for the league lead. (His touchdown Monday night was his sixth.)
He is the only player in NFL history to record 10 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in his first 10 seasons in the league. Evans is aiming to tie Jerry Rice's league-record 11 consecutive 1,000 yard seasons.