Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin was carted off the field on Monday night after suffering a severe ankle injury during the final moments of the game against the Baltimore Ravens. The Buccaneers, trailing 41-31 with just over a minute remaining at Raymond James Stadium, were facing a 3rd-and-17 from their own 18-yard line.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield connected with Godwin on a pass up the middle, just short of the first-down marker.
In a display of determination, Godwin fought through two Ravens defenders, striving for the first down. However, as he was forcefully tackled by Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith, he went down hard and was unable to get back up.
The broadcast opted not to replay the tackle, as the injury was reportedly too graphic. After the game, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles confirmed that Godwin had dislocated his ankle. The severity of the injury immediately concerned his teammates, who gathered nearby in prayer while medical staff attended to the 28-year-old wide receiver.
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Before being carted off the field, Godwin shared a heartfelt moment with quarterback Baker Mayfield, embracing him as the gravity of the situation set in.
The Buccaneers ultimately fell to the Ravens, 41-31, but the game’s result felt secondary to the devastating blow of Godwin’s injury. It was a particularly rough night for Tampa Bay, as star receiver Mike Evans also exited the game due to injury.
Together, Godwin and Evans have been the core of the Buccaneers’ receiving attack, combining for 11 of the team’s 18 receiving touchdowns over the first seven games of the season. The two rank first and second on the team in targets, receptions, and receiving yards, making them crucial to Tampa Bay’s offensive success.
Godwin’s injury casts a shadow over his future with the Buccaneers, as he is set to become a free agent in the offseason.
There is now speculation that Monday night’s game against the Ravens could have been his last in a Buccaneers uniform, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already difficult situation for the team.
