Tampa Bay Buccaneers star wide receiver Mike Evans is widely expected to become a Pro Football Hall of Famer one day. His chances of having his bust in Canton should get even stronger if he could rack up enough receiving yards to tie legendary NFL wide receiver Jerry Rice for most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in the NFL.
Evans has garnered at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first 10 seasons in the league. He needs 85 more on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints to enter Rice’s unique territory. The former Texas A&M Aggies star wideout will enter the Saints game with 915 receiving yards on 65 catches in the 2024 NFL season, to date.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) attempts to catch the ball against the Carolina Panthers.
© Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Apart from the historical angle, there’s also the great financial ramification of a huge Week 18 for Evans. As noted by NFL Network’s Peter Schrager, Evans is due to pocket a bonus worth $3 million if he finishes the 2024 season with at least 70 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards. That means Evans has to have no fewer than five catches and 85 receiving yards against the Saints to unlock the enormous incentive.
The 31-year-old Evans would have already been richer by $3 million had he not missed three games this season because of a hamstring injury. Nevertheless, he’s still done enough to put himself in a realistic position to hit the 70-catch, 1,000-yard marks on Sunday.
