In the much-anticipated Monday Night Football clash featuring the Ravens against the Buccaneers, Tampa Bay fans faced a double blow: their team lost 41-31, and they suffered injuries to both of their star receivers, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Evans had an impressive start, scoring his 100th career touchdown, but he seemed to re-aggravate a previous hamstring injury while attempting a second touchdown during the first half.
#MikeEvans @Buccaneers
Aggravates hamstring and drops 2nd TD pass
Too locker room and likely done
Both WR1 #BALvsTB injured pic.twitter.com/8b3rkbD5eh— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) October 22, 2024
As the game neared its conclusion with one minute remaining and the team down by 10 points, Godwin made a 21-yard catch but fell victim to what has been reported as a dislocated ankle. The 28-year-old wide receiver was carted off the field.
In the course of the play, Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith seemed to land on him awkwardly, resulting in an injury so severe that the ESPN commentary team chose not to show a replay.
🚨WARNING: GRAPHIC🚨#Bucs star receiver Chris Godwin is being carted off the field, his leg was air casted, after what appears to be a devastating leg injury.
The video is gruesome.
40 seconds left in the game down by 10 points and still in there
pic.twitter.com/EKlO3MK3ju— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) October 22, 2024
It’s worth noting that Godwin previously endured a torn ACL/MCL injury toward the end of the 2021 season but has since achieved three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
Throughout his eight-year career, since being selected in the third round from Penn State, he has amassed 7,201 yards on 572 receptions, accompanied by a total of 41 touchdowns.
The Buccaneers will need to rally in the face of this adversity, as quarterback Baker Mayfield must now proceed without both Evans and Godwin for the foreseeable future.
As a result, Tampa Bay’s record currently stands at 4-3, placing them in a tie with the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South division, whom they will face next Sunday, October 27, at 1:00 pm ET.
Image Source: Steve Jacobson / Shutterstock
