Mike Evans enters the 2023 NFL Season with a chance to make his mark in league history.
Evans’ first nine NFL seasons have yielded a 1,000-yard season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
With another such campaign in 2023, Evans will tie Jerry Rice’s record of 10 straight 1,000-yard seasons.
In a recent conversation with sports news anchor Ari Alexander via the NFL’s website, Evans said, “I hope I can pass the great Jerry Rice and his record.”
Buccaneers WR Mike Evans hopes to build off his nine straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons to take down Jerry Rice's record of 11 consecutive: "I'm already one of one right now. I hope I can pass the great Jerry Rice and his record."https://t.co/tUoY19kVQR pic.twitter.com/2CpFkU9hb7
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) July 1, 2023
While Evans will do everything in his power to break Rice’s 1,000-yard streak, he also has his expectations tempered for Rice’s other records.
“Nobody will pass his records probably, like ever, total,” Evans said about Rice’s other career records.
Rice leads all receivers with 22,895 career receiving yards.
The next closest to this total is Larry Fitzgerald, with 17,492.
As Evans indicates, this record will likely be untouched, unless another player can dominate the league for as long as Rice did.
Does Evans have a legitimate chance to have another 1,000-yard season?
He later contended, “I should get 1,000 yards if I’m healthy.”
Evans will face an uphill battle this year, however, as he’ll face one of the most uncertain quarterback situations of his entire career.
Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask are slated to face off for the starting job this season, a marked decline from Tom Brady last year.
The Buccaneers are hoping to win the division for the third-consecutive season and will have to do so with an experienced quarterback.
Evans’ path to another 1,000-yard season could be a challenge, but he appears ready for this test.
NEXT: Buccaneers RB Makes His Thoughts Clear About Team's Chances In 2023
