DETROIT — The Detroit Lions earned a convincing 24–9 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night at Ford Field, but the primetime clash was overshadowed by a string of injuries to key players on both teams.
Buccaneers Lose Mike Evans to Concussion and Shoulder Injury
Tampa Bay’s offense took a major hit when veteran wide receiver Mike Evans was forced to leave the game in the second quarter. The six-time Pro Bowler landed hard on his shoulder while diving for a deep pass from quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Evans stayed down for several minutes before being carted off the sideline in visible pain. ESPN’s Laura Rutledge reported that he appeared to be in “excruciating pain” as medical staff assisted him. The Buccaneers later confirmed he had suffered both a concussion and a shoulder injury, officially ruling him out for the remainder of the game.
The 32-year-old receiver had just returned after missing three games with a hamstring injury. His latest setback adds to a growing list of offensive absences for Tampa Bay, which was already without Chris Godwin and rookie running back Bucky Irving. Rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka, who was also nursing a hamstring issue, played through the injury on Monday.
Detroit’s Secondary Hit Hard Again
The Lions’ secondary entered the game severely depleted and suffered even more losses during the contest. Detroit was already without starting safeties Kerby Joseph (knee) and Brian Branch, who served a one-game suspension for his involvement in last week’s on-field altercation. Cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and D.J. Reed were also sidelined due to injuries.
The attrition continued in the second half when cornerback Rock Ya-Sin exited in the third quarter after pulling up during coverage. A replay showed him clutching his left hamstring before heading to the locker room. The Lions later announced that Ya-Sin was questionable to return.
In the fourth quarter, defensive back Arthur Maulet, who had earlier recorded an interception, appeared to suffer an injury of his own. He walked off the field under his own power but was evaluated on the sideline before being taken to the locker room.
Despite the mounting injuries, Detroit’s backup defenders managed to contain Mayfield and the Buccaneers’ passing attack for most of the night.
Additional Notes
Running back Craig Reynolds also joined Detroit’s injury list after leaving the game with a hamstring injury, and his status remains uncertain moving forward.
The Lions improved to 5–2 with the victory, while the Buccaneers dropped to 3–4. Both teams now face critical injury evaluations heading into Week 8, with the health of Mike Evans and Detroit’s battered secondary at the top of the watch list.
