(Tampa) The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face the Green Bay Packers without star receiver Mike Evans.
Posted at 6:28 p.m.
Evans appealed his one-game suspension following a scrimmage, but was denied a challenge on Wednesday.
The NFL has sanctioned the receiver who has amassed more than 1,000 yards eight times in his career for “violation of rough and unsportsmanlike conduct rules.” Evans knocked Marshon Lattimore of the New Orleans Saints to the ground, adding fuel to the fire during an altercation between Tom Brady and the star cornerback.
Bucs running back Leonard Fournette pushed Lattimore, who shoved Fournette before Evans intervened and sent the New Orleans player to the ground.
Both Evans and Lattimore were ejected, but Lattimore was not suspended.
Evans will miss Sunday’s home game against the Packers. Receivers Chris Godwin (hamstring) and Julio Jones (knee) remain on the sidelines after sitting out last week against the Saints, which forced the Buccaneers to sign veteran Cole Beasley to the reserve squad.
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles had little to say about Evans’ appeal being dismissed.
“It hasn’t changed since the other day. When Sunday comes, whether he plays or not, and we have to prepare to play without him,” he said after practice on Wednesday.
This is the second time Evans will serve a one-game suspension due to a confrontation with Lattimore. In 2017, the Buccaneers wide receiver hit the cornerback in his blind spot as Lattimore grappled with former Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston.