NFL Legend Tom Brady 'Praying' for Former Teammate on Tuesday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Oct 22, 2025 6:01 AM ET

Tom Brady played three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning a Super Bowl in 2021.
Mike Evans suffered a broken collarbone and will miss most of the current season.
Brady sends a message for his former teammate.

Tom Brady spent the first 20 years of his historic NFL career with the New England Patriots, where he won six out of his seven Super Bowl titles. He then took his talents to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020 via free agency. The 15-time Pro Bowler played the final three years of his career with the Bucs, winning his seventh and last Super Bowl championship in 2021.

Brady had the opportunity to play alongside several notable teammates during his stint in Tampa. One of them is wide receiver Mike Evans, who played a key role in the Bucs’ title run during the 2021 season.

Former NFL quarterback Tom Brady looks on before the game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Washington Commanders.Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Evans has played his entire career in Tampa since joining the team as the seventh-overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He got the chance to play with Brady for three seasons, serving as one of the superstar quarterback’s top weapons.

In the Bucs’ 2021 championship season, Evans registered 74 catches for 1,035 yards and 14 touchdowns. That year was one of the six times the former Texas A&M Aggies standout was named to the Pro Bowl squad.

Evans is now in his 12th year in Tampa. His campaign, however, took a turn for the worse after he suffered an injury in the Bucs’ 24-9 loss against the Detroit Lions on Monday night. Evans had to exit the game in the second quarter after a tackle from Lions cornerback Rock Ya-Sin. The veteran wideout was unable to return to the game and was later diagnosed with a broken collarbone. Evans is now expected to be sidelined for most of the year.

On Tuesday, Brady released his Week 7 Power Rankings for Fox Sports. From No. 1 last week, the Bucs fell to the fourth spot after their loss to the Lions, who have now emerged as the top team in Brady’s rankings after seven weeks played.

“The Bucs stay in the top five after a Monday night loss to the Lions,” Brady said. “Detroit could be the toughest away team in the league right now. So I expect Tampa to bounce back next week.”

Brady then took the opportunity to send a message for Evans, whom the former Bucs QB described as a “warrior.”

“I’m thinking about brother Mike Evans and praying for a speedy recovery,” said Brady.

The Buccaneers have yet to provide an official timeline for Evans’ return, but he is not expected to be back on the field anytime soon. Depending on the severity of the injury and other factors, the usual recovery time for adults with an injury of this nature is eight to 12 weeks.

As Brady said, the hope now is that Evans has a speedy recovery. The Bucs, however, will be without their star wide receiver in Week 8. It will be a road game for Tampa as they face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Caesars Superdome. Kickoff is scheduled at 4:05 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: