Evans attended and played college football at Oklahoma. He contributed from 2013 to 2016.[1] On October 3, 2015, against West Virginia, he recorded a fumble recovery, which he took 41 yards for a touchdown.[2] In 2016, Evans was named first-team All-Big 12 by the league's coaches and the AP.
The Cincinnati Bengals selected Evans in the sixth round (193rd overall) of the 2017 NFL draft.[4] Evans was the 23rd linebacker drafted in 2017.[5] On May 15, 2017, the Bengals signed Evans to a four-year, $2.55 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $156,506.[6]
He made his professional regular season debut in the Bengals’ season-opener against the Baltimore Ravens and made one solo tackle during their 20–0 loss. Evans was inactive for the Bengals’ Week 4 victory at the Cleveland Browns due to a hamstring injury.[10] On December 4, 2017, Evans earned his first career start in place of Vigil who was inactive due to a knee injury. Evans recorded five combined tackles during a 23–20 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13. In Week 14, he collected a season-high ten combined tackles (nine solo) as the Bengals lost 33–7 to the Chicago Bears. He finished his rookie season in 2017 with 38 combined tackles (27 solo) and two pass deflections in 15 games and four starts.[11]
On January 8, 2018, the Bengals announced their decision to hire former Detroit Lions’ defensive coordinator Teryl Austin as the new defensive coordinator after it was left vacant by the departure of Paul Guenther to the Oakland Raiders.[12] Evans entered training camp slated as a starting outside linebacker. Head coach Marvin Lewis named Evans the starting weakside linebacker to begin the regular season, alongside Vigil and middle linebacker Preston Brown.[13] Evans started in place of Vontaze Burfict who was serving a four-game suspension.[14]
On October 23, 2018, Evans collected a season-high 11 combined tackles (seven solo), deflected a pass, made 1.5 sacks, and made his first career interception during a 37–34 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 8.[15] Evans intercepted a pass by Buccaneers’ quarterback Jameis Winston, that was intended for tight end Cameron Brate, and returned it for a seven-yard gain during the third quarter.[16] On November 13, 2018, the Bengals announced their decision to fire defensive coordinator Teryl Austin after they lost 51–14 to the New Orleans Saints in Week 10. Head coach Marvin Lewis stated he would take over duties as defensive coordinator for the remainder of the season.[17] He was placed on injured reserve on December 28, 2018 with an ankle injury.[18] He finished his second season fifth on the team with 61 tackles through 14 games and five starts.[19]
Evans was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on November 7, 2020,[20] and was activated on November 11.[21]
Evans re-signed with the Bengals on a one-year contract on March 28, 2021.[22] He was placed on injured reserve on October 11, 2021 after suffering a torn ACL in Week 5.[23]
His father Scott Evans played college football at Oklahoma and for the Phoenix Cardinals in the NFL. His sister, Jacie Evans, played college basketball at Harding[30] and his sister, Jessika Evans, played college basketball at Tulsa.[31][32]
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