5 Buccaneers players the Carolina Panthers must keep quiet in Week 18
By Jason Huber
Mike Evans – WR
The last time the Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced the Carolina Panthers, Mike Evans missed the game with an injury. This time around, he’ll be one of the only proven wide receivers on the field with teammate Chris Godwin out for the year and Antonio Brown no longer on the team.
Carolina can try to double Evans despite being depleted themselves within the secondary. But he’s an elite receiver and should be one of Tom Brady’s favorite targets all day if open.
Evans has the ability to make big plays, is fast and is still searching for his first 100-yard game since early October. Something the former first-round pick out of Texas A&M is more than capable of.
The wideout will be lined up opposite Cyril Grayson in the receiving corps. While the inexperienced depth chart piece caught a huge touchdown last week to help Tampa Bay win the game, Evans is the far more reliable target and someone who’se been a constant thorn in Carolina side since entering the league.
The Panthers secondary is completely banged up and will have to put together some type of solid game plan to keep Evans in check. This can only be achieved by the likes of C.J. Henderson and Keith Taylor Jr. stepping up in a big way.