Buffalo Bills wide receiver Lee Evans, who injured his left ankle with about three minutes remaining in the first half of Sunday's 13-6 win over Cleveland, is out indefinitely, according to head coach Chan Gailey.
Evans was injured on a 35-yard catch-and-run by Bills tight end Jonathan Stupar. Blocking out in front of Stupar, Evans went down when the foot of Browns linebacker Chris Gocong, chasing the play from behind, caught Evans' ankle as Gocong dove to make the tackle. Evans immediately went to the turf, then to the sidelines, and did not return to the game.
Gailey told assembled media after the game that Evans will miss "one or two" games, and that his status for the season finale is also in doubt. Evans, in his seventh pro season out of Wisconsin, appeared in his 109th consecutive game today, and has not yet missed a contest in his NFL career. That streak appears to be at its end.
Stevie Johnson (66 catches, 874 yards, 9 TD this season), Donald Jones (12 catches, 130 yards, 1 TD) and David Nelson (28 catches, 292 yards, 2 TD) will see much more extensive action with Evans out of the lineup. This will be a particularly interesting stretch for Johnson, who is having a break-out season but will now need to deal with the attention of being a true No. 1 receiver.