TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers misplaced each of their star huge receivers — Chris Godwin and Mike Evans — in a 41-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on “Monday Evening Soccer,” with Godwin struggling what coach Todd Bowles mentioned was a dislocated left ankle and Evans struggling a proper hamstring harm.
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 possibly can say. You are feeling unhealthy for him, and sadly, they are not going to cancel the video games. We bought to step up and transfer on. However our hearts are heavy.”
With 1:04 left in regulation, Godwin caught a move 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 deal with seems to have all the weather of a hip-drop deal with and is being reviewed by the NFL, sources informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday. Whether it is deemed to be a hip-drop deal with, Smith can be topic to a high quality.
A number of teammates have been visibly shaken as Godwin remained on his knees and was rapidly attended to by the coaching employees. Mayfield turned away, knelt down and put his head into his arms.
“This positively sucks,” Mayfield mentioned. “Yeah, it sucks for our group, however Chris deserves higher than that. He is an unbelievable man. An unbelievable teammate. Clearly, you guys have seen — he is performed extraordinary this yr. Obtained a heavy coronary heart proper now.”
The complete Buccaneers bench cleared and gathered as Godwin was helped onto an harm 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 “large heartbeat of this group.”
Bowles defended retaining 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 group 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 group, however Chris deserves higher than that. He is an unbelievable man. An unbelievable teammate. Clearly, you guys have seen — he is performed extraordinary this yr. Obtained a heavy coronary heart proper now.”
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield on Chris Godwin’s harm
Mayfield had no objection to remaining within the recreation.
“We talked about it on the sideline, pondering, ‘If we get a fast landing — clearly already bought an onside kick through the recreation — get a fast landing, an onside kick, have a risk for a Hail Mary,” he mentioned. “Now we have a bunch of fighters. All of us needed an opportunity to try to win that factor any method, a way, in some way.”
Evans, who entered the sport with a hamstring pressure however was decided to play, caught a 25-yard landing move 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 in the long run zone on a 25-yard go route towards Brandon Stephens, and Evans could not grasp onto the move. Evans fell to the bottom and grabbed the again of his leg whereas writhing in ache.
Evans remained on the sector for a number of seconds as trainers and teammates gathered round him. He was capable of stroll off the sector with Bucs vice chairman of sports activities drugs and efficiency Bobby Slater however limped considerably as he entered the tunnel to a standing ovation.
Evans missed two days of observe this week with the harm, which coach Todd Bowles described earlier within the week as a lingering harm versus an acute one. The wideout was capable of observe Friday in a restricted capability and carried no harm designation heading into Monday evening’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 pair 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 on account of harm or sickness.
However for Godwin, that is the second main career-threatening harm 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 outdated self this summer time, and several other teammates and coaches took discover too.
“I am sick about it,” tight finish Cade Otton mentioned of his injured teammates. “We speak about nice guys and nice leaders and nice gamers. It sucks. It is the horrible half about this job, however now we have to return collectively for them and play higher and win video games and simply stick with it like they might.”
As outdoors linebacker YaYa Diaby mentioned of Godwin, “He was having such a tremendous yr, and for a man like that … we want him on this offense. After which for Mike — we want him, as effectively. You recognize, I do not know what the story is, however I hope he can get effectively.”
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 fascinated about Chris and Mike for some time right here, however going to maneuver ahead. This group goes to should be resilient. Going to should have guys step up. That is simply the way in which it’s. There is no such thing as a different method round it. Going to should look this factor within the face and take it head on.”
