Evans really is Buffalo's next big thing
by MATT KRUEGER Reporter

Wide receiver Lee Evans looked ready to take over as the No. 1 pass catcher this year with his 115-yard performance in the Bills' 44-31 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals Friday in the team's second preseason game. Photo by Patrick McPartland

Seeing a speedy receiver wearing No. 83 sprinting across the middle of the field, hauling in a pass and taking off into open territory is nothing new for Buffalo Bills fans.

Everyone fondly remembers the many highlights Andre Reed provided during the peak of the franchise's success in the late 1980s and 90s. Well, there's a new 83 cashing in short slant patterns for big gains.

In just his third season in the NFL, Lee Evans has become the Bills' biggest offensive weapon and the guy opposing defenses are going to have to shut down.

While it is still way too early to tell if Evans will find the same success Reed - Buffalo's career leader in every receiving category and a strong candidate for the Hall of Fame - had, the 2004 first-round draft pick has quickly, and easily, made the transition from rookie to No. 2 receiver to gotoguy.

"I always feel real comfortable with Lee," said quarterback J.P. Losman, Buffalo's other first-round pick in 2004. "So, anytime he's in the one-on-one match-up, we're going to look to him and see if he can go up and get the ball."

Evans took over the No. 1 receiver position during the off season when veteran Eric Moulds left for Houston. Questions flew about whether the young Evans could handle such a high-profile role in just his third season, but his play in the preseason has led

almost everyone to believe he'll make the transition with no problems.

Evans, Losman and running back Willis McGahee, Buffalo's first-round pick in 2003, are supposed to be the new triple threat, following in the large footsteps of Reed, quarterback Jim Kelly and running back Thurman Thomas. But of the three, only Evans looks ready to ascend to that status. Losman and McGahee could, but questions still surround each of them.

That was evident in Friday's 44-31 preseason loss to Cincinnati at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Evans caught three passes from Losman for 115 yards, including a sweet-looking 46-yard touchdown.

Down 21-10 with six minutes to go in the first half, Evans streaked across the middle and hauled in a Losman pass for 22 yards to set the Bills up on their own 46-yard line. After an eight-yard run by Anthony Thomas, it was Losman to Evans again, this time on a deep pass down the right sideline. Evans, well clear of the defensive backfield, made an over-the-shoulder catch and cruised into the end zone.

"I think it just shows our potential," Evans said. "We have the potential to do a lot of good things. The main goal right now is consistency. At times, we did good things in the first half and at times, we didn't. It still speaks volumes for our team. We turned the ball over so many times and we (were) still in the game."

The touchdown came right after Losman threw an interception

to Cincinnati's Keiwan Ratliff, who waltzed untouched into the end zone for the Bengals' third score. Cincinnati had also scored on a 72-yard fumble return by Dexter Jackson, after picking up McGahee's drop.

Losman went 7 of 11 passing for 134 yards with a touchdown and an interception. McGahee rushed for 88 yards on nine carries with a touchdown and a fumble. While they looked good, those turnovers led directly to 14 Cincinnati points.

"Sometimes, early in the season, you can lose focus on how important ball security really is," Losman said. "I just have to hold onto the ball a lot tighter than that. It was unacceptable."

McGahee responded to his fumble by coming back the next possession and breaking off a 61-yard touchdown in the first quarter. It was his longest run in the NFL.

"It's a relief off of my shoulders," McGahee said. "That was one test I was waiting on and it came through for me."

Buffalo will play its third preseason game at 6 p.m. Saturday against the Cleveland Browns at at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

e-mail: mkrueger@beenews.com