Chris Godwin's injury was so severe that broadcaster Joe Buck announced they would not replay the incident
As the Buccaneers fought to close a 10-point gap with not much time left, their first-team offense stayed on the field. Unfortunately, one of their key receivers got seriously hurt.
What seemed like a routine tackle at first quickly took a turn. Chris Godwin went down after Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith brought him to the ground. When ESPN’s Joe Buck mentioned that they wouldn’t be showing the replay, it was clear the injury was significant.
“I’m told by our production truck we are not going to show the replay,” Buck said.
He also called the injury “ugly,” and a Buccaneers player was overheard swearing in frustration. Godwin was taken off the field on a cart, his left leg in an air cast.
Earlier in the game, Mike Evans aggravated a hamstring injury, ending his night early.
Even though the game hadn’t officially wrapped up, it was practically over when Godwin got injured. Many will likely question Coach Todd Bowles for not pulling the starters earlier and putting in the backups.
It’s a tough decision. A single big play could have cut the lead to just three points, leaving room for an onside kick and a possible field goal to push the game into overtime. Wild things have happened in football before. However, the Buccaneers didn’t just lose the game—they might have lost one of their best players for the season due to this injury.
In a difficult Monday night game, the Buccaneers not only lost Mike Evans to a hamstring injury but also Chris Godwin, who may be out for the rest of the season. Godwin was having a great season, with 43 catches for 511 yards and five touchdowns heading into Monday’s matchup.
Losing their top two receivers in a game that was all but decided with just 41 seconds left made the defeat even harder to swallow.
Coach Bowles will likely face questions about why he didn’t bench the starters once the game seemed out of reach. While the loss stings, the bigger blow comes from the uncertainty surrounding Godwin’s return. Here’s a breakdown of Godwin’s 2024 season stats:
In 2024, Chris Godwin played 6 games, with 43 receptions for 511 yards, averaging 11.9 yards per catch. His longest reception was 55 yards, scoring 5 touchdowns and converting 29 first downs.
Year | Team | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | 1st | 1st% | 20+ | 40+ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 6 | 43 | 511 | 11.9 | 55 | 5 | 29 | 67.4 | 6 | 2 |
Godwin also contributed with one rushing attempt in 2024, covering 2 yards. Although he didn’t score a rushing touchdown, he managed to convert that single attempt into a first down.
Year | Team | G | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | 1st | 1st% | 20+ | 40+ | FUM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 |