Mike Evans trash-talked Trevon Diggs during San Francisco's Week 5 win over Seattle, grabbing the cornerback by the shoulders and spinning him to read the name on his jersey. The moment became a social media flashpoint.
Evans said after the game he did not immediately recognize Diggs inside his helmet. "I was blocking him until the whistle," Evans told CBS Sports Bay Area. "He said something like I'm doing extra, or something like that. I didn't know that was him at first. I play against him a few times, and we've always been cool. He was a good player. I honestly didn't know it was him, because in the helmet, it's hard to tell sometimes. We were talking trash, and I think I pushed him. I was like, 'Who are you?' I looked to make sure. I was like, 'Oh, it's f---ing Diggs.' Then he pushed me. Should've been a penalty."
The two have history. Evans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat Diggs and the Dallas Cowboys in the 2021 and 2022 regular seasons. The roles reversed when Seattle faced Tampa Bay in an NFC Wild Card game in January 2023.
Diggs, 26, peaked as a defensive player in 2021, when he led the NFL in interceptions, earned first-team All-Pro honors and secured his first Pro Bowl selection. He signed a five-year, $97 million extension with Dallas in 2022 after another strong season. Since then he has battled injuries, moved to the Packers, and then to Seattle, where the team elevated him from its practice squad for Sunday's game.
Evans's antics drew attention across the NFL. The cornerback has fallen from his 2021 form as a perennial All-Pro candidate to competing for a roster spot with the Seahawks.
"Mike plays with an edge," 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams said. "He plays with a huge edge. Something that you wouldn't expect a receiver to have. But that was pretty funny."