Progression of Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan
On Wednesday, receivers Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan were designated to return from injured reserve and begin their allotted 21-day period of practicing with the team, during which time they can be activated at any point. Both will provide much-needed reinforcement to the Buccaneers' offensive arsenal upon their return to action. Evans was placed on IR on October 22 after suffering a fractured clavicle in the Monday Night Football matchup with the Detroit Lions. He missed three other games earlier in the year with a hamstring injury and has only appeared in four contests so far this season. McMillan incurred a neck injury in the Preseason Week Two battle with the Steelers and was sidelined with a neck brace for the past several months. Evans, a future Hall of Famer and jump-ball specialist, is the team's prized vertical weapon and McMillan can manipulate coverage with leverage and fakes.
"Mike just attracts so much attention," said Baker Mayfield. "Obviously, his play-making ability is great to have. Obviously, I can trust him and I know where he is going to be. He just attracts so much attention and it really affects how a defense plays you and how a coordinator is going to call it so we will see how they progress continually. Getting him and J-Mac, for J-Mac it has obviously been a long time coming going back to training camp and the preseason games. He worked his tail off to get to this point and hopefully he keeps heading in the right direction. It will keep getting better for us but like I said last week, we have what we need to win right now. Those pieces will be bonuses for us but we need to execute with what we have right now."
Saints' Defensive Playmakers
The Saints' 2-10 record is not indicative of how physical their defense is, according to Mayfield. Linebacker Demario Davis, the heartbeat of the New Orleans' unit, ranks fifth in the NFL with 111 tackles. He sets the standard as the Mike linebacker and pairs a high football IQ and reactive skills with explosion through gaps. Davis blows up screen games and is effective at covering tight ends/running backs, and on blitzes through the A-gap. The Saints' defensive line is led by Chase Young and Carl Granderson. Granderson has a proficient speed-to-power conversion and spin counter. Young overwhelms tackles and has a quick-twitch first step, along with outstanding change-of-direction.
"The pass rush is getting home a little bit more and they are trusting Demario in coverage and letting some of the other guys blitz," noted Mayfield. "He is still a matchup nightmare when he lines up in the line of scrimmage. Got to be aware of where he is at but I think Granderson and Chase Young are also playing really well on the edges."
Chris Godwin Jr. Stressed Patience During Recovery
Chris Godwin Jr. returned to the field against the Rams after missing five games with a fibula injury. The slot weapon is no stranger to injury but since 2019, Godwin ranks 10th in the NFL with 72.7 receiving yards per game. In his small sample size post-injury, Godwin has showcased his trademark yards-after-catch ability, blocking prowess on stalks and tremendous contact balance. On Wednesday as the team gears up for the Saints, Godwin reflected on his rehabilitation journey and tight inner circle that prompted growth and provided perspective.
"Unfortunately, I have been through this a couple of times," noted Godwin. "To your point, I have been fortunate to have a ton of people in my corner, most notably my wife Mariah. She has seen the thick of the dark of it and when I have been at my lowest and when I have been at my highest as well. She has been an incredible rock for me and has supported me throughout the entire thing…I am getting a lot closer to what I expect of myself. Turns out, it is really tough to play at a high level in the NFL, right? I think that can go past people sometimes that they see everyone out there doing it but we are all the best in the world at what we do. In order to play at an elite level, it takes a ton of time and it takes a ton of work and a ton of focus. I just have to be patient with myself and I have learned that multiple times now."
