NFL fans are ripping on Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles for playing star wide receiver Chris Godwin in garbage time before the latter suffered a gruesome ankle injury in Monday night’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Todd Bowles opted to keep his starters on offense out with 1:34 remaining and his team down 41-31. Baker Mayfield completed a 21-yard pass to Godwin at the Tampa 39, who unfortunately suffered a horrific ankle injury on the play.
The 28-year-old Godwin was down for several minutes and had to be carted off. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Bowles said after the game that Godwin suffered a dislocated ankle.
The Bucs also lost fellow superstar wideout Mike Evans in the second quarter with a hamstring injury. Evans suffered the injury as he was falling to the ground after Mayfield missed him on a pass to the end zone.
Todd Bowles received immense criticism from fans for keeping Godwin in the game late, even though the Ravens had the game in the bag:
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Todd Bowles received immense criticism from fans for keeping Godwin in the game late, even though the Ravens had the contest in the bag:
Godwin is the Buccaneers’ leading receiver with 50 receptions for 576 yards and five touchdowns. The Super Bowl 55 champion is in his contract year and could hit free agency for the first time in his career next March, so there’s a real possibility that he has already played his last game with Tampa.
Playoff Hopes For Todd Bowles & Buccaneers Now In Jeopardy
With Godwin and Evans injured, the Bucs’ playoff hopes suddenly took a significant blow. As good as Mayfield has been in Tampa, almost no QB can get through a tough schedule like the Bucs’ without their two superstar wide receivers.
If Tampa Bay loses to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Kirk Cousins’ squad will have swept the season series. And with a rash of injuries to go along with their miserable schedule, it’d be hard for the Bucs to sneak into the postseason.
