The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost more than just the game on Monday night to the Baltimore Ravens. As bad as the 41-31 loss was, which ended up trending in the right direction despite how things looked, an injury to Chris Godwin will likely have a ripple effect beyond just this week.
Tampa Bay was actually making a bit of a comeback push late in the fourth quarter. After trailing 41-18 at one point, the Bucs had shrunk Baltimore's lead to just ten points and go the ball back with under two minutes left and enough time to potentially score and attempt an onside kick.
It was on that drive that Godwin was hurt. After grabbing his seventh catch of the night, he got his leg caught under Roquon Smith and it bent in a way legs are not meant to. The severity of the injury was made known almost immedielty as players from both teams went to a knee, with Baker Mayfield slamming his helmet on the turf.
Godwin was carted off with an air cast around his leg.
chris godwin injury pic.twitter.com/dSjkI3xKyB
— ◇ (@HOODH3RO) October 22, 2024
After the game, head coach Todd Bowles said that nothing is official yet, but the team believes Godwin suffered a dislocated ankle, which is awful on several levels. It's a huge blow to the team on the field, especially when compounded with the fact that Mike Evans also left the game with an injury and his status for next week is up in the air.
Godwin is also set to become a free agent at the end of the season, and was playing his way into what seemed to be a pretty decent contract when he hit the market. Now that is all on hold, as his season might be over just seven games into the year.
Baker Mayfield noted after the game that Godwin's impact on the team goes beyond what he does on the field, and his presence is felt all throughout the building. Not having him is bigger than what it does on Sundays, and it's a blow that sets the Bucs back in more ways than one.
Tampa Bay now needs to figure out how to replace Godwin moving forward. If he's lost for the season, which it seems like he will be, the void is massive. Jalen McMillan and Trey Palmer will be looked at to step up into bigger roles, as will Sterling Shepard. There's a chance the Bucs go out and try to make a trade, but that seems to be an unlikely outcome given the team's lack of interest in making deals at the deadline.
It's a tough blow that will take a bit to fully settle in, but the Bucs road to the playoffs just got a lot harder now that Godwin won't be in the picture for the foreseeable future.
More Tampa Bay Buccaneers news and rumors