In Mike Evans' immediate future is a must-win Week 18 game, hopefully followed by clinching the NFC South and making a playoff run.
Anything beyond that will have to wait.
"I just approach it how I always approach it," Evans said Tuesday regarding the upcoming matchup and his future, via ESPN. "It's whatever happens, happens. I'll focus on that when the time is right. Right now, we have to win. And I'm always giving my all and I'm always gonna go out swinging."
When the Buccaneers face the Carolina Panthers on Saturday, it could potentially serve as Evans' final game in Raymond James Stadium should the wide receiver eventually choose to retire.
There's good reason for Evans not concerning himself with the hypothetical, though, considering what's a stake.
If Tampa Bay wins and receives help from the red-hot New Orleans Saints -- winners of four straight -- on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, Evans and the Bucs will capture the division crown and host another home game in the Wild Card Round just a week later.
A Panthers victory or even a Falcons win the following day would end Tampa Bay's once promising campaign.
Should that happen, questions over whether this is it for Evans, 32, will probably come in full force.
Evans, the image of consistency over his 12 NFL seasons, would potentially be going out on a trying season both individually and for his club, but has a lengthy Hall of Fame-worthy résumé to his name.
A six-time Pro Bowler, Evans has 864 career catches, 108 touchdown receptions and just last week became the 22nd player in NFL history with 13,000-plus receiving yards. He owns the record for most 1,000-yard receiving seasons to begin a career with 11, a streak that matches Jerry Rice's for most consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons overall. Before this year, he never missed more than three games in a season.
He's unfortunately only played in seven this year, with his 334 receiving yards far off the pace of continuing his run of 1K seasons.
A hamstring injury first robbed him of three games, then in his Week 7 return he suffered a concussion and a broken collarbone, causing him to miss six more. His absence and many others' is part of what has plagued the Bucs, who started 6-2 but have dropped seven of their past eight to fall to 7-9.
If there is a silver lining, it's the perspective he gained from missing the most games during a season in his professional career.
"It's kind of a blessing in disguise," Evans said. "I missed the game more than I thought I would. And I come back and I still got the love for the game. And who knows what it'll do for me in the future?"
A constant in the Bucs lineup since 2014, Evans being out so long in 2025 likely also enhanced outside appreciation for his steady production.
He's back now with everything to play for, allowing his talents to be enjoyed until whenever he plays his final game -- whether that's this weekend, in the playoffs or years down the line.
