TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers misplaced each of their star large receivers — Chris Godwin and Mike Evans — in a 41-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on “Monday Night time Soccer,” with Godwin struggling what coach Todd Bowles mentioned was a dislocated left ankle and Evans struggling a proper hamstring damage.
Bowles mentioned he was ready for additional particulars on Evans however that “it [didn’t] look good” for Godwin, who was met by a number of teammates within the coaching room after the sport.
“Our prayers exit to him,” Bowles mentioned of Godwin. “Chris is a hell of a participant and a hell of a human being. Not a lot you may say. You’re feeling unhealthy for him, and sadly, they are not going to cancel the video games. We acquired to step up and transfer on. However our hearts are heavy.”
With 1:04 left in regulation, Godwin caught a go from Baker Mayfield and was tackled from behind by inside linebacker Roquan Smith, with Godwin’s left ankle showing to get caught beneath Smith.
Smith’s sort out seems to have all the weather of a hip-drop sort out and is being reviewed by the NFL, sources informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday. Whether it is deemed to be a hip-drop sort out, Smith could be topic to a positive.
A number of teammates have been visibly shaken as Godwin remained on his knees and was shortly attended to by the coaching workers. Mayfield turned away, knelt down and put his head into his fingers.
“This positively sucks,” Mayfield mentioned. “Yeah, it sucks for our staff, however Chris deserves higher than that. He is an unbelievable man. An unbelievable teammate. Clearly, you guys have seen — he is performed extraordinary this 12 months. Received a heavy coronary heart proper now.”
Your complete Buccaneers bench cleared and gathered as Godwin was helped onto an damage cart, as chants of “Godwin! Godwin!” broke out together with a standing ovation.
Godwin and Evans entered the sport tied for the league lead with 5 landing receptions over Tampa Bay’s first six video games, with Mayfield calling them a “enormous heartbeat of this staff.”
Bowles defended holding Godwin and different starters within the recreation regardless of it being out of attain with two onside kicks already tried and no timeouts remaining, saying, “We do not second-guess,” and pointing to the truth that the staff was already with out Evans.
“I do defend my gamers on a regular basis,” Bowles mentioned. “That has nothing to do with why we left him on this ballgame. We nonetheless had a shot to attain some factors and win this ballgame. It occurs. It occurs in soccer.”
“This positively sucks. Yeah, it sucks for our staff, however Chris deserves higher than that. He is an unbelievable man. An unbelievable teammate. Clearly, you guys have seen — he is performed extraordinary this 12 months. Received a heavy coronary heart proper now.”
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield on Chris Godwin’s damage
Mayfield had no objection to remaining within the recreation.
“We talked about it on the sideline, considering, ‘If we get a fast landing — clearly already acquired an onside kick through the recreation — get a fast landing, an onside kick, have a chance for a Hail Mary,” he mentioned. “Now we have a bunch of fighters. All of us needed an opportunity to attempt to win that factor any means, a way, someway.”
Evans, who entered the sport with a hamstring pressure however was decided to play, caught a 25-yard landing go from Mayfield on the opening drive, making him simply the eleventh participant in NFL historical past to achieve 100 receiving touchdowns.
However within the second quarter, Mayfield tried to seek out Evans ultimately zone on a 25-yard go route in opposition to Brandon Stephens, and Evans could not dangle onto the go. Evans fell to the bottom and grabbed the again of his leg whereas writhing in ache.
Evans remained on the sphere for a number of seconds as trainers and teammates gathered round him. He was in a position to stroll off the sphere with Bucs vp of sports activities medication and efficiency Bobby Slater however limped considerably as he entered the tunnel to a standing ovation.
Evans missed two days of apply this week with the damage, which coach Todd Bowles described earlier within the week as a lingering damage versus an acute one. The wideout was in a position to apply Friday in a restricted capability and carried no damage designation heading into Monday night time’s recreation, the place he was honored with a message on the videoboard commemorating his scoring achievement within the first quarter.
Evans and Godwin sit No. 1 and a couple of for the Bucs in all-time receiving yards. Evans had hoped to tie Jerry Rice this season for essentially the most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons after recording 10 in his first 10 campaigns. Up till this level, Evans has solely missed 9 regular-season video games, with simply seven as a consequence of damage or sickness.
However for Godwin, that is the second main career-threatening damage he has handled, having torn an ACL and an MCL in Week 15 of the 2021 season. Godwin mentioned he lastly felt like he was again to his previous self this summer time, and a number of other teammates and coaches took discover too.
“I am sick about it,” tight finish Cade Otton mentioned of his injured teammates. “We discuss nice guys and nice leaders and nice gamers. It sucks. It is the horrible half about this job, however we’ve got to come back collectively for them and play higher and win video games and simply keep on like they’d.”
As exterior linebacker YaYa Diaby mentioned of Godwin, “He was having such a tremendous 12 months, and for a man like that … we want him on this offense. After which for Mike — we want him, as nicely. You already know, I do not know what the story is, however I hope he can get nicely.”
The 4-3 Bucs now should face their largest divisional impediment this weekend after they host the Atlanta Falcons (additionally 4-3) in a rematch of a Week 5 time beyond regulation heartbreaker for Tampa Bay.
“It sucks,” Mayfield mentioned. “Going to be excited about Chris and Mike for some time right here, however going to maneuver ahead. This group goes to must be resilient. Going to must have guys step up. That is simply the way in which it’s. There is no such thing as a different means round it. Going to must look this factor within the face and take it head on.”