Mike Evans Shocks the Entire NFL With His ‘With Otts’ Wristband – And the Story Behind It Unites All of Tampa Bay Ahead of TNF

Tampa, Florida – December 11, 2025

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter a must-win Thursday Night Football showdown against the Atlanta Falcons carrying enormous pressure: four losses in their last five outings, a sputtering offense, and a defense stretched thin by injuries. Yet the focal point of this matchup isn’t scheme, statistics, or playoff math — it’s the unexpected return of Mike Evans after seven weeks on the sideline with a fractured collarbone. The Bucs’ longtime star didn’t just come back at the moment Tampa Bay needed him most — he returned carrying a story that stunned the entire locker room.

Evans participated in four straight practices ahead of TNF, despite team medical staff estimating he was operating at only about 75 percent. Doctors urged him to rest another week or two. But with the Bucs fighting to keep control of the NFC South, Evans didn’t hesitate. “If I can walk, I’m playing,” he told reporters earlier in the week — a seven-word declaration that sent shockwaves across the NFL.

But the most inspiring part wasn’t how quickly he healed. It was the meaning behind his decision to push through.

Before taking the field for practice, Evans removed his gloves and pulled out a strip of white athletic tape — on it, he had written two words: “WITH OTTS.” It was a tribute to Cade Otton, the young tight end who recently suffered a serious knee injury and is now expected to miss significant time just as the Bucs needed him most. Evans has called Otton a “quiet brother,” a vital part of Tampa Bay’s run game and pass protection.

When asked about the message on his wrist, Evans opened up emotionally during a private media availability with team reporters:
“The Buccaneers have always been my family. And Cade is part of that family. If he can’t fight tonight, then I’ll fight for him. We never step on the field for ourselves — we step on it for each other.”

On the field, Evans’ return could create an immediate schematic shift. He remains one of the most dangerous matchup nightmares in the league — especially against an Atlanta secondary that ranks among the NFL’s 10 worst in yards allowed to wide receivers. With Jalen McMillan and Chris Godwin also trending upward, the Buccaneers will field their full WR trio at maximum strength for the first time all season. Evans’ presence alone can reshape coverages, opening lanes for rookie Emeka Egbuka to thrive in the slot.

Yet Evans’ greatest contribution this week may not be measured in snaps, yards, or touchdowns. It may be measured in spirit.

Tampa Bay has struggled to find consistency, but its locker-room unity has never been stronger. Otton’s sacrifice, Evans’ determination to return, and the offense finally regaining its identity have created a surge of belief — the kind head coach Todd Bowles insists “can flip an entire season.”

And on Thursday night, when No. 13 walks onto the turf at Raymond James Stadium under the bright TNF lights, wearing the words “With Otts” on his wrist, the Buccaneers will take the field not just fighting for a playoff berth, not just for their city — but for each other, the way the toughest and most resilient NFL teams always do.

Tampa Bay has weathered weeks of turbulence. But with this renewed spirit, the Falcons know one thing: this is no longer just a game — it’s a declaration that the Buccaneers are alive, dangerous, and ready to rewrite the story of their 2025 season.