In a devastating blow to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, star wide receiver Chris Godwin will be sidelined indefinitely, potentially for the rest of the season, after suffering a dislocated ankle in Monday night’s matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
Head coach Todd Bowles somberly shared the grim news, acknowledging that “it doesn’t look good” for Godwin. Questions arose about why Godwin was even on the field with just 41 seconds left in the game, to which Bowles responded, “You could say [he shouldn’t have been in the game], because he got hurt. We don’t second guess. We got our guys, and we’re playing everybody we’ve got. It’s unfortunate he got hurt and we feel bad about that.”
Despite the criticism, Bowles defended Godwin’s presence on the field, highlighting the competitive nature of football players. “But he’s a football player and he wanted to be in the game just like Baker [Mayfield] and everyone else wanted to be in the game,” Bowles added.
The moment of Godwin’s injury was a harrowing sight as the receiver was tackled by Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith, leaving him writhing in pain on the field. The severity of the injury was such that ESPN opted not to air a replay of the incident.
Expressing empathy for Godwin, Bowles emphasized the player’s talent and character. “Chris is a hell of a player, and he’s a hell of a human being, even more so than that,” Bowles remarked. “But there’s not much you can say. We feel bad for him.”
The news only worsened for the Buccaneers as they also lost their other star receiver, Mike Evans, in the first half of the game due to a hamstring injury sustained while attempting to catch a touchdown pass. Evans was taken down by Ravens defensive back Brandon Stephens, exacerbating his ailment.
Godwin, who is set to become a free agent in the upcoming offseason, had been a significant contributor to the team’s offense with 43 catches for 511 yards and five touchdowns prior to the Ravens game. Despite his injury-shortened outing where he managed seven receptions for 65 yards, Godwin’s absence will be keenly felt by the Buccaneers as they navigate the remainder of the season without their standout receiver.
