Mike Evans reflects on Buccaneers return lamenting Falcons loss

Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans made his long-awaited return to the football field in Week 15 against the Atlanta Falcons.

Yes, the result wasn't what the franchise wanted, and Evans himself was visibly annoyed post-game, but the Pro Bowler had a comeback to remember.

Six catches for 132 yards is quite the way to announce your return, even if it was in a 29-28 loss to your division rivals.

But result aside, how did it feel for Evans to finally be back doing the thing he loves?

"It felt good to be back,” Evans said. “I was super excited to be back and help the team. I thought the game was going to be taken away. I thought I was going to be done for the season, and to be back out there, I worked really hard. Training staff did a great job of getting me back. Did I have a good game? I had an okay game yardage-wise, I did all right, but there's a few more plays I could have made.

"I wish we could have won that game, but it was good to be back.”

More: Why Buccaneers' Mike Evans is at peace with 1,000-yard streak ending

Evans ready to help playoff push

This will be the first time in a while that Baker Mayfield will have all his weapons together at once.

Yes, the Falcons game was the beginning of it, and now with three games left, Evans, Jalen McMillan, Chris Godwin, and Emeka Egbuka are all healthy and ready to fire.

With the Buccaneers at 7-7, level with the Carolina Panthers at the top of the NFC South, and with two games against Carolina to come, the division is well and truly up for grabs.

And having Evans back to spearhead the offense might just be the deciding factor in the Buccaneers winning the division yet again.

More Buccaneers news:

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• Bucky Irving's frustrating lack of usage near goal line explained by Bucs reporter
• Todd Bowles points finger after Bucs' loss to Falcons and it wasn't at the coaches
• Buccaneers vs. Falcons final score, results: Kirk Cousins, Falcons storm back from 14-point deficit to shock Buccaneers