Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Mike Evans' one-game suspension upheld, will miss Packers game
The NFL announced Wednesday that the hearing officer jointly appointed by the league and the NFL Players Association upheld the one-game suspension of Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans.
Evans, 29, had been appealing the one-game ban that stemmed from his shoving Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore during Sunday's 20-10 Buccaneer victory over New Orleans.
James Thrash was the hearing officer who heard Evans' appeal. NFL senior vice president of football and international communications Michael Signora announced the decision Wednesday in a tweet.
NEVER MISS A SNAP: Sign up for our NFL newsletter for exclusive content
The Buccaneers (2-0) host the Green Bay Packers (1-1) Sunday afternoon in a game that pits two of the projected top contenders in the NFC.
OPINION: Bucs' Mike Evans, who is appealing suspension, should have known consequences of brawl
MORE: Buccaneers WR Mike Evans suspended one game for role in brawl with Saints CB Marshon Lattimore
Evans' agent, Deryk Gilmore issued a statement to ESPN, expressing disappointment over Thrash's decision.
"We are disappointed that the league upheld a suspension when there are several arguments of players doing more egregious violations including: punching, kicking, and choking players and not being suspended," Gilmore wrote to ESPN. "Evans had already been ejected, which is penalty enough, but the league chose to discipline him even more. This is unfortunate, but we will respect the league's decision."
On Sunday, Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and Lattimore exchanged words following a third-down incompletion early in the fourth quarter. Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette joined the fray, and Evans sprinted in and decked Lattimore to the ground. A brawl ensued and culminated with both Evans and Lattimore being ejected.
This was not the first time Evans had mixed it up with Lattimore.
In 2017, Evans was suspended one game for blindsiding Lattimore on a play near the Buccaneers sideline. The burst was similar to the one he unleashed Sunday.
Evans is in his ninth season in the NFL, each of which have been with the Buccaneers. In 2022, he has caught eight passes for 132 yards with one touchdown.