Bucs WR Mike Evans has game to forget

TAMPA, Fla. - Tampa Bay receiver Mike Evans dropped six passes in Sunday's 32-18 loss to the New York Giants, many of them that would've resulted in big gains and coming on third down. It's the most drops by a receiver in an NFL game in 10 years, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

But it's not the first time this season Evans has struggled catching the football. In fact, of the top 50 receivers in the league, none have caught a lower percentage of passes than Evans, who has 32 receptions for 73 targets this season.

Evans blamed his problems Sunday on the weather. More specifically, the rain and humidity.

"I don't know what it is," Evans said. "I've got to work on wet ball drills or something. I mean, the Giants receivers were catching them in the rain and I wasn't and I live here. That's unacceptable. I have to be better for this team.

"It was humid. It was wet, but it was humid and I kept sweating through my gloves. I put the rain gloves on and I dropped a third-down conversion and I had to keep changing them. The ball was too slick. That's no excuse. I've got to catch those."

As a result, the Bucs were 1-of-4 in the red zone, the only touchdown coming on the 10-yard run by quarterback Jameis Winston, who has not turned the ball over in the past four games.

"Offensively we're moving the ball most of the time, but we are doing things to stop drives," Bucs coach Lovie Smith said. "Yesterday [there were] too many drops. Anybody that watched the game knows that, too many drops. The two fumbles didn't help us by any means, either. Red zone, of course we need to be able to get touchdowns in the red zone."

Evans wasn't the only Bucs player who couldn't hold onto the football. Both running backs Doug Martin and Charles Sims lost fumbles, resulting in 10 points off turnovers for the Giants. Martin even dropped a wheel route at the Giants' 15-yard line that washed out another opportunity.

"Those guys are usually pretty solid," center Joe Hawley said. "I can't speak for them. I'm sure they're pretty upset about it. Those are big plays in the game and those are the kind of plays you need to make. It's unfortunate. But moving forward, I'm sure they'll get that fixed."

--The Bucs have released veteran cornerback Tim Jennings, who quickly went from starter to not playing a snap on defense in the last three games.

Jennings, a former Pro Bowl player with Lovie Smith in Chicago, never found the same high level of play with the Bucs, as part of a defensive secondary that has struggled to stop opposing quarterbacks. Picked up by Tampa Bay after he was cut by the Bears, he's now a free agent again - he played seven snaps on special teams Sunday after being inactive in the previous two games.

As expected, the Bucs used that opening on the roster to activate tackle Demar Dotson, who has been on short-term injured reserve for the first nine weeks of the season. Dotson returned to practice two weeks ago and is expected to compete with Gosder Cherilus for his old job as the starting right tackle.

--The Bucs need to get more out of defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and linebacker Lavonte David. McCoy has only four tackles and no sacks in his past four games. David missed four tackles and committed two penalties in Sunday's game.

"Wish I knew the answer for that," coach Lovie Smith said. "We do have a high expectation. They have high expectations for themselves. Lavonte David missed some tackles yesterday. He was in position to make some other plays. Sometimes, it just doesn't happen for whatever reason. It eventually will happen."

NOTES: Guard Ali Marpet has a left ankle sprain and could miss a week or two. C/G Evan Smith took his place in Sunday's game. ... Wide receiver Vincent Jackson missed his second game with a knee injury. It's unlikely he will play Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. ... Tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins (shoulder) has practiced on a limited basis the past two weeks but still might not be ready to play Sunday against the Cowboys. ... Cornerback Sterling Moore got his first start for the Bucs and had an interception on the game's first play.