After losing receiver Mike Evans in the second quarter of Monday Night Football against the Ravens, the Buccaneers were dealt another terrible blow. Chris Godwin, who’s next on the depth chart, suffered what looked like a brutal leg injury late in the fourth quarter.
Following the game, a 41-31 loss for the Bucs, head coach Todd Bowles said that early indications suggest Godwin suffered a dislocated ankle, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN.
The full weight of Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith came down on Godwin’s lower left leg. The injury was gruesome enough that Joe Buck said the broadcast team informed him and Troy Aikman they would not be showing a replay.
Godwin screamed when the injury occurred and it was immediately obvious that he could not get up and that he was in intense pain. Players from both teams gathered around to show support and prayed for Godwin as he was carted off the field. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Godwin was in an air cast.
All players gathered around Chris Godwin as he’s being attended to by the training staff and the cart awaits. Entire bench has cleared to be with him. I’m sick.
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) October 22, 2024
Baker Mayfield spoke about the injuries to Godwin and Evans after the game.
Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield on losing Chris Godwin and Mike Evans to injury: “There’s no way around it. We’re gonna have to look this thing in the face and take it head on.” Mayfield called them the “huge heartbeat of this team.” pic.twitter.com/7H4AKz7zIX
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) October 22, 2024
A dislocated ankle would obviously be the end of his season. It’s a contract year for Godwin, and it will truly be a shame if this garbage-time tragedy was his last play as a Buccaneer.
There were just 41 seconds remaining in the game, the Ravens led by 10, and the Buccaneers had already attempted two onside kicks. Under the new onside kick rules this season, teams can only attempt onside kicks in the fourth quarter, when they’re trailing … and they’re only allowed to try a total of two.
Here is where Chris Godwin was injured. Ravens had 99.99% win probability, 3rd and 17, down 10, with ~1 minute left, no timeouts.
*zero* reason for starters to be out there. pic.twitter.com/2H9JQXddud
— Shaun Newkirk (@Shauncore) October 22, 2024
Godwin has 50 catches on 62 targets for 511 yards and five scores this season.
We will update this post as more information becomes available.