Just as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were wrapping up the first of three practices this week at Tulane University in New Orleans, where they evacuated before Hurricane Milton, conditions began to deteriorate rapidly about 700 miles back home Wednesday.

The area is hit by a major hurricane for the first time since 1921, and it did not go unnoticed by the players and coaches.

“A lot of prayer, a lot of prayer,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said in a video call with reporters.

Added wide receiver Mike Evans: “We’re not even just playing for football now. We’re trying to play for something bigger.”

Ten days ago, Hurricane Helene slammed into Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm, forcing Mayfield and others living in coastal areas to evacuate. The worst impact was felt in the Big Bend region of Florida, about 200 miles (320 kilometers) north of Tampa, but piles of broken furniture and other debris still remained in places such as Pinellas and Manatee counties.

Much of that debris remained along the road Wednesday as Milton neared landfall and prepared to slice through one of the state’s most densely populated areas as a Category 3 storm — somewhere between the mouth of Tampa Bay and Siesta Key, where approximately 3 million people call. At home.

“I just want everyone to be safe,” said Evans, who evacuated with his wife and family. “Ultimately, we obviously have a job to do, so that’s what we’re going to do. The games are being played, but that’s the hardest part: just making sure everyone is good and just praying. and hope for the best. So that’s the hardest part, but I’m just trying to stay locked in. I have to be ready.’

Like Evans, cornerback Zyon McCollum grew up in Galveston, Texas, and is no stranger to Hurricanes. He called on residents to follow the evacuation order. Winds of up to 120 mph were expected in some areas when the storm made landfall around 9 p.m. ET, while a storm surge of up to 10 feet was expected, according to the National Hurricane Center.

“Mother Nature is not one to be trifled with,” McCollum said. “The flood will probably be the biggest thing I’ve tried to tell people. It’s not necessarily the rain and everything itself, but the wave is the most important thing. So make sure everyone’s families are in the right place. If you are in an evacuation zone, please evacuate.”

Mayfield said he has done his best to compartmentalize, having done everything he can to ensure his family’s safety with another evacuation, and to secure their family’s home. Just last week, before an overtime heartbreaker Thursday night in Atlanta, he and Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​came together to donate $100,000 to Helene’s relief effort. Now he returns to a community in need of even more help.

“This could be a kind of Sunday to give the people of Florida, especially in our region, some hope and something to look forward to,” Mayfield said before quickly correcting himself as many won’t be able to watch. “You know, (I) don’t expect anyone to really have power, but I’ll find out in the days to come.”

Coach Todd Bowles said the team is exploring contingency options if Tampa were unsafe to travel to after Sunday’s game. The Bucs will host the Ravens on Oct. 21.

“We’re talking about it,” Bowles said. “We hope this is not necessary, but we will see what happens in the coming days and then we will adjust accordingly.”