Buccaneers WR Mike Evans Suspended for Fourth Quarter Brawl

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans has been suspended for one game without pay following his involvement in Sunday night’s brawl with New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore.

Started with an Incomplete Pass

After an incomplete pass early in the fourth quarter, Lattimore had a heated exchange with Bucs quarterback Tom Brady. Coming to his quarterback’s defense, Bucs running back Leonard Fournette got into a tussle with Lattimore. Adding more fuel to the fire, Evans ran in and used his body to knock Lattimore to the ground. Both benches cleared as the altercation turned into a full-blown brawl.

Evans and Lattimore were suspended for the remainder of the game and left the field. On his way out, the Tamps receiver gave his gloves to a fan, while being heckled by Saints fans who threw items at the tunnel.

https://twitter.com/NFLonFOX/status/1571581071736569858

Following the fight, Tampa Bay went on to beat New Orleans 20-10.

Mike Evans Suspended One Game: https://t.co/5skOxbD6gi pic.twitter.com/odqoGSI1xY

— NFL345 (@NFL345) September 19, 2022

NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan issued the suspension after Evans violated Rule 12, Section 2, Article 8(g) which prohibits “unnecessarily running, diving into, cutting, or throwing the body against or on a player who is out of the play or should not have reasonably anticipated such contact by an opponent, before or after the ball is dead.” The Texas A&M grad was also in violation of Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1.

A Repeat Offense for Evans

Back in 2017, Evans was given the same suspension after shoving Lattimore on the sideline. In a statement later released by the Bucs, Evans labeled his behavior as inappropriate. A team statement has not yet been released regarding Monday’s decision.

Bruce Arians’ Role Under Investigation

https://twitter.com/NFLonFOX/status/1571580120363581440

Former Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians was on the sidelines during the game, and had an exchange with Lattimore before Evans knocked him down. The now senior football consultant is under NFL investigation for his role in the brawl.

Evans will return to the Buccaneers’ active roster on Monday, Sept. 26 following Tampa’s game first home game against the Green Bay Packers.