1 day Ago
The New York Giants will play host to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, hoping to return from the bye week and snap a five-game losing streak. Of course, it will come with a new face under center. Quarterback Tommy DeVito has replaced Daniel Jones , who was released on Friday, and will attempt to spark the offense like he did a year ago, He’s back in the spotlight.
But beating the Buccaneers will take more than a strong performance from the second-year passer. © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images One factor that could decide New York’s Week 12 fate is the status of Tampa Bay receiver Mike Evans. By all accounts, he’s getting the green light for Sunday afternoon in MetLife Stadium.
But hamstring injuries can linger and he’s been dealing with them for much of the season. The Buccaneers, at 4-6, need Evans for the home stretch. However, they may not feel like they need him at 100 percent to beat the Giants, who are five-point underdogs.
Jeremy Fowler provided an update on how Tampa Bay is handling its best playmaker. “The Buccaneers hope to get receiver Mike Evans a healthy workload Sunday but will also monitor snaps in his return from a hamstring injury,” Fowler wrote. “He will be out there on crucial downs, but Tampa Bay will be smart with him, too, depending on how he feels during the flow of the game.
The Bucs had reduced Evans' snaps even before the injury, as a way to keep the 31-year-old fresh. They can't afford to lose him for multiple weeks again with a reaggravation, so hamstring fatigue will be considered.” Related: Tommy DeVito Is Back in the Spotlight A small part of this equation is Evans’ chase for 1,000 yards.
With 10 consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns to his name, embarking on an 11th would be historic. Yet, injuries have been an obstacle and threaten to write him off altogether. He needs 665 yards in seven games to get the job done.
Playing against a weak New York secondary is lucrative, but if he’s at risk of aggravating his lower half, caution could play a role in limiting his production. Further, there’s reason to believe New York is equipped to handle him on its own. Corner Deonte Banks has had a bad year, both in terms of production and effort.
His best showings, though, have come against receivers, like Evans, who win with their physicality. If the second-year corner returns to form, the Giants secondary will have a chance to force Evans out of quarterback Baker Mayfield’s plans, more than the Buccaneers already have. Even so, Evans’ track record doesn’t come without the talent to make it all possible.
He doesn’t need a full slate of snaps to leave a mark on Sunday’s proceedings, and his ability to create explosive plays could leave DeVito’s offense in the dust if the defense doesn’t hold up its end of the bargain. Related: Giants Home 'Dogs vs. Buccaneers.
