On Monday night’s ESPN broadcast, both Troy Aikman and Joe Buck said they were using their time to put their players in danger as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were down by less than one point and trailing the Baltimore Ravens by 10 points. He questioned whether they should continue to be exposed to such conditions. One minute left.
Then the Buccaneers lost one of their best players to a gruesome injury.
Receiver Chris Godwin caught a pass over the middle and had his leg pinned underneath by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith. Godwin was unable to get up and Buck let everyone know how serious his injury was.
“The production truck told us they wouldn’t show the replay,” Buck said.
Buck called the injury “ugly” and Buccaneers players could be heard swearing. Godwin was carted away with his left leg in an air cast.
After the game, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles told reporters that Godwin appeared to have dislocated his ankle.
“I don’t feel well,” Bowles told reporters after the game.
He was also asked why Godwin was still in the game even though the Bucks trailed by 10 points with less than a minute left in regulation.
“We’re just trying to win ballgames,” Bowles said. “We were still up by 10 points and trying to get another point and trying to take another onside kick and it just happened.
“We have a player and he’s playing as hard as he can. It’s unfortunate that he got hurt. It’s unfortunate. But he’s a football player and he wanted to be out there like Baker (Mayfield) was. And everyone else wanted to be in the game. ”
“It’s unfortunate that he (Chris Godwin) got hurt and we’re sorry for that, but he’s a football player and as much as Baker and everyone else wanted to play, he I also wanted to be in the game.”
—Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles on Chris Godwin’s injury in the 4th quarter pic.twitter.com/qFoYE38Pfq
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 22, 2024
To be clear, if the Buccaneers had scored in that situation, they would have been allowed to attempt a second onside kick. Under new NFL rules this season, a losing team is allowed to attempt an onside kick in the fourth quarter. There is no limit to the number of onside kick attempts a team can make in the fourth quarter.
Bowles was then asked if he had a duty to protect his players from themselves.
“I always protect my players,” Bowles continued. “It has nothing to do with why we left him in the ballgame. We still had a chance to score and win the ballgame. That happens. It happens in football.”
Baltimore won 41-31.
The Buccaneers lost receiver Mike Evans to a hamstring injury in the first half. Godwin then suffered an injury that will likely end his season.
Godwin was having a great year, entering Monday night’s game with 43 catches for 511 yards and five touchdowns. He had seven catches for 65 yards on nine targets.
The Buccaneers lost the game, but more importantly, they lost their top two receivers. In Godwin’s case, it looks like they won’t be getting him back anytime soon.
