Buccaneers' Mike Evans dominates against Jalen Ramsey in joint practice
During Thursday's highly anticipated session between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers, the future Hall of Fame receiver reminded everyone exactly who he is. Evans was dominant from the first rep, torching Pittsburgh's defensive backs in red-zone drills, one-on-ones, and team periods. According to multiple reports, Evans looked flat-out unguardable, even against elite competition.
The signature moment of the day came during a "seven shots" red-zone drill, where Evans lined up across from All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey. What followed was vintage Mike Evans: a precision release, physical leverage, and a leaping touchdown grab in the back corner of the end zone. Ramsey, known for his lockdown skills, had no answer.Evans wasn't done. Throughout the drill, he continued to win with ease, using a combination of size, route savvy, and body control that few defenders can match.
Whether it was a fade, a quick out, or a post, the result was the same: Evans was open, and the ball was his.
Now entering his 12th NFL season, Evans shows no signs of decline. The Buccaneers may be developing young receivers around him, but the standard remains unchanged: Evans is WR1, and still one of the most feared red-zone targets in football. At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, his physical traits remain elite. But it's his experience that separates him in joint practices like these.
For all the offseason talk about Tampa Bay's youth movement and new offensive wrinkles, Thursday's joint practice sent a clear message: as long as Mike Evans is on the field, the Buccaneers have a mismatch nightmare at their disposal.
It may have been just practice, but it felt like a statement.
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