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Injuries have slowed the Bucs offense under Tom Brady

Receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin have rarely been on the field healthy at the same time.
 
Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans (13) is tackled by Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson (33) during Tampa Bay's loss last week in Chicago.
Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans (13) is tackled by Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson (33) during Tampa Bay's loss last week in Chicago. [ NAM Y. HUH | AP ]
Published Oct. 15, 2020

TAMPA — Mike Evans played one game with a bad hamstring. Chris Godwin suffered a concussion. Evans returned and sprained his ankle. Godwin returned and strained his hamstring. Justin Watson hurt his shoulder. Scotty Miller has been in and out of the lineup with a groin injury.

The revolving door at receiver — to say nothing of the season-ending Achilles injury suffered by tight end O.J. Howard ― has slowed the evolution of the Bucs offense behind quarterback Tom Brady.

“It’s tough, but it’s the reality,” Brady said Thursday. "There’s an old saying, ‘It is what it is,’ but that’s really the way it is. It’s something we have to deal with, and I think everyone is probably dealing with things that are a little tricky this year with practice and meetings and all sorts of protocols that are in place and gatherings and all those. So everything has its unique challenges, but everyone is dealing with the same thing.

“The reality is that we’ve got to execute well to win the game and execute well over 60 minutes. That’s what it takes to win.”