Tampa Bay Buccaneers star wide receiver Mike Evans is expected to miss three to four weeks with a strained left hamstring, sources told ESPN.
Evans suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday's victory over the New York Jets. An MRI on Tuesday showed that Evans has a "mild to moderate" strain, according to sources.
Evans, 32, has battled hamstring issues in the past, missing three games last season and three in 2019 because of injuries to his right hamstring. The six-time Pro Bowler has 14 catches for 140 yards and a touchdown this season for the Buccaneers (3-0).
The Bucs already have been without Pro Bowl wide receiver Chris Godwin, who is working his way back from ankle surgery, and wide receiver Jalen McMillan, who suffered a neck injury in the second preseason game and is not expected to return until after their Week 9 bye.
Godwin could return to play in Tampa Bay's Week 4 showdown against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles (3-0).
The Bucs went 0-3 without Evans last year, which also coincided with Godwin's injury.
"I don't know if you can replace [Evans]," coach Todd Bowles said Monday. "Other guys can do other things, and we'll try to tailor it toward those things, but you can't replace a Mike Evans."
Evans already occupies the record for most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to start an NFL career (11). But the one record he has been chasing is the one he currently shares with Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. One more season of that would give Evans 12 and clinch the record.
In his return last year, Evans tied for a league-leading 669 receiving yards in the final seven games to secure the tie with Rice. It came down to the final play of the regular season, a 9-yard catch with 0:36 to go -- and trying to preserve a 27-19 to clinch the playoffs -- resulting in a very emotional moment for Evans, his coaches and his teammates.
Evans has always put the team first but has talked many times about wanting to break the record and Rice offered him his support, telling him this summer, "You know I'm pulling for you right?"
Evans had said he'd hoped it wouldn't come down to the wire, saying, "Hopefully I can do it ... early." That likely will not be the case.
The Bucs have already been leaning heavily on rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka as Evans has consistently occupied opposing defenses' attention. Egbuka's three touchdowns are tied for fourth most in the NFL. Tampa Bay has also gotten significant contributions from veteran wide receiver Sterling Shepard (153 receiving yards).