The Buccaneers’ 41-31 loss to the Ravens on Monday night got even worse when wide receiver Chris Godwin left the game late with a serious ankle injury. The injury occurred with just 1:04 left in the fourth quarter when Tampa Bay needed a touchdown or field goal, recovered onside kick, and another touchdown or field goal to tie or win the game.
Godwin had to be carted off the field, likely jeopardizing his season.
A dislocated ankle would end Chris Godwin’s season and, possibly, his time in Tampa, too. Godwin is scheduled to be a free agent after this season. pic.twitter.com/DibV2XPrtO
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 22, 2024
That came after Mike Evans aggravated his hamstring injury in the first quarter of the game, leaving the Buccaneers one wide receiver short the rest of the game.
While some coaches may have pulled their starters at that point, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles was still going for the win. However, not everyone agreed with Bowles’ decision.
Todd Bowles defends decision to leave in Chris Godwin prior to injury
After the game, Bowles explained that he thought the team still had a chance to win even with just one minute left in the game.
“We were trying to win the ball game,” “We were. still down 10 and trying to get extra points to kick another onside kick.”
Video: Todd Bowles talks about Chris Godwin still being in the game down 10 in the final minute. pic.twitter.com/QkMktyA194
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) October 22, 2024
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Reactions to Chris Godwin injury
Many people believed Bowles should have conceded the game at that point and not risked further injury. to his starters, as the Buccaneers have a huge divisional matchup with the Falcons next week.
I’m actually furious. Didn’t need to happen. Completely pointless. After Mike Evans was out on the field clearly injured.
In a contract year for Godwin too. Having an amazing season. Completely let down by his coach. Awful.
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) October 22, 2024
For anyone…ANYONE…arguing the game was still in reach when Godwin got hurt, I submit exhibit A of why you are absolutely without a doubt wrong. pic.twitter.com/euNEKQ6Xmk
— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) October 22, 2024
I understand it’s a big gameI understand you play until it’s overI understand hindsight 20/20
But…
Mike Evans shouldn’t have been out there prior to his injury
Chris Godwin shouldn’t have been out there prior to his injury
It’s Week 7
It’s not the Super Bowl pic.twitter.com/QiWhCMrIJo
— ??? ???????? (@ZacOnTheMic) October 22, 2024
Really glad Todd Bowles left all his starters in down by 24 in the fourth quarter to instead lose by 10
Terrible coaching decision will now cost them Chris Godwin for maybe the entire season as he is carted off the field
Inexcusable…
— YagerSports (@yagersports) October 22, 2024
However, not everyone was critical of the decision. During SportsCenter after the game, Scott Van Pelt and Ryan Clark defended Bowles’ decision by arguing that teams can’t just pull players during every game.
“The NFL, you only have 53 players on your roster,” Clark said. “This is not high school, this is not college when you get to pull the entire team, when everyone has a freakin’ backup. You sign up to go win games, you are paid for what you do each day, every single second, every single minute of every single game.”
Terrific job by @notthefakeSVP and @Realrclark25 on The injury to Chris Godwin – and Todd Bowles did nothing wrong! Worth a listen for sure! #ESPN pic.twitter.com/rLQmol2v8T
— Connie Carberg (@ConnieScouts) October 22, 2024
Clark argued that the Buccaneers fought from down 34-10 to make it 41-31, and that the NFL isn’t like other sports that play multiple games during the week.
“That’s where he wanted to be, that’s the shield he wanted to go out on,” Clark added. “To continuously question Todd Bowles as if he did something wrong and put Chris Godwin in harm’s way in a game that is inherently putting you in harm’s way every single snap, absolutely ridiculous.”
Hindsight is always 20/20, and an injury like this will always lead to second-guessing. Either way, the Buccaneers are at a major disadvantage for the foreseeable future and must figure out how to pick up the pieces and put together some semblance of a passing game with Jalen McMillan, Sterling Shepard, and Trey Palmer as the top remaining receivers.
