With out Mike Evans, are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in bother in opposition to Aaron Rodgers and the Inexperienced Bay Packers? – Tampa Bay Buccaneers Weblog

NEW ORLEANS — Whereas Tampa Bay Buccaneers gamers have acknowledged receiver Mike Evans’ involvement in Sunday’s skirmish in opposition to the New Orleans Saints helped provoke the staff, his one-game suspension means he gained’t be out there in opposition to quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers within the Bucs’ dwelling opener Sunday.

The Bucs are already with out huge receivers Chris Godwin and Julio Jones, who’re each coping with hamstring accidents sustained in Week 1 on the Dallas Cowboys, together with a knee damage that lingered for Jones. Given the temperamental nature of hamstring accidents (and each receivers have a historical past of hamstring accidents), they won’t be out there once more this week.

Meaning the Bucs will likely be in the same predicament to the place they had been on the finish of final season, however with extra depth within the receiving corps and a protection that’s surrendering a league-best 6.5 factors per sport.

Bolstering receiver depth was a spotlight this offseason in an effort to keep away from a repeat of final season, when within the NFC divisional playoff sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams they had been lining up tight finish Cameron Brate within the slot as a result of there have been no extra wholesome receivers out there.

Stepping in for Evans, who was ejected Sunday — together with Saints defensive again Marshon Lattimore for his or her half in a brawl — was Breshad Perriman. Perriman caught the Bucs’ lone offensive landing of the sport within the fourth quarter — a 28-yard seize on a nook route working in opposition to P.J. Williams that gave the Bucs a 10-3 lead with 7:49 to go.

Evans is the opposite Buc to catch one in all quarterback Tom Brady‘s two landing passes this season. He’s the one receiver over 100 receiving yards (132) via two video games, and he leads the staff in receptions with eight.

Perriman could be very bodily and may definitely outrun defenders, however accidents have plagued him all through his eight-year profession (he missed a piece of coaching camp due to a hamstring damage), so he’s not a participant you may anticipate being out there all season. In spot responsibility although, he has stepped up and has proven he doesn’t want an entire lot of repetitions with Brady to get the job carried out. He caught the game-winning landing final season in opposition to the Buffalo Bills in additional time in Week 14.

Russell Gage, a brand new addition this offseason, cut up reps with Evans, Scotty Miller and Perriman within the slot Sunday. He caught 5 passes on seven targets for 28 receiving yards. Gage continues to be engaged on his chemistry with Brady, however the Packers are permitting 11.57 yards per reception — tenth most within the league this season — having had a variety of protection busts in Week 1 due to the Minnesota Vikings’ utilization of movement and the presence of Justin Jefferson.

Miller, who’s finest recognized for his buzzer-beating catch earlier than halftime within the NFC Championship Sport, will stand to see extra alternatives too. He was just about invisible final yr after getting back from a big turf toe damage. Some questioned if he’d be a coaching camp casualty after a shaky preseason. To date this season, he has caught simply three passes on eight targets, however the majority of these passes had been deep (16.75 common on air yards). He made a 23-yard seize within the first quarter Sunday.

However the Packers’ greatest gap is defending the run, and that may doubtless imply one other massive week of counting on working again Leonard Fournette, much like what occurred in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys, in opposition to whom he totaled 127 dashing yards.

The Packers have surrendered 306 yards on the bottom within the first two weeks — fifth most within the league. Dalvin Cook put up 90 dashing yards in Week 1, and David Montgomery had 122 in Week 2. This could alleviate a few of the pressure on the offensive line, which needed to depend on a third-string offensive deal with, Brandon Walton, to step in for Josh Wells at left deal with due to a calf damage Sunday.

If all else fails, the Bucs may depend on their protection in opposition to the Packers on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox) as they’ve within the first two video games.

Whereas the Bucs gave up some massive dashing performs in Week 1, their run protection continues to be thought of an space of power — permitting simply 86.5 dashing yards per sport (tied for ninth). They’re additionally giving up 189.5 passing yards per sport — eighth finest. Their six compelled turnovers are tied for third most within the league, and their 4 interceptions are tied for fourth.