The Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced a tough Monday night, losing their top two wide receivers during a Week 7 home game against the Baltimore Ravens. Mike Evans exited early in the first half with a hamstring injury, while Chris Godwin suffered a serious leg injury with just over a minute left to play.
Postgame, head coach Todd Bowles indicated that Godwin likely dislocated his ankle, a diagnosis later confirmed by tests. Godwin will undergo surgery, and with free agency looming in 2025, this injury could mark his last game as a Buccaneer. The injury occurred on a 21-yard catch-and-run with Tampa trailing 41-31, the game’s final score. ESPN refrained from showing a replay due to the severity of the injury.
Godwin was having a standout season, leading the league in receptions (50), while ranking second in receiving yards (576) and tied for third in touchdowns (five). Evans’ six receiving touchdowns tie him with Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase for the NFL lead. The tackle that injured Godwin appeared to involve the now-illegal hip-drop technique. If confirmed, Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith could face a fine.
Head coach Todd Bowles defended his decision to leave Godwin, Baker Mayfield, and other starters in the game, saying they were still trying to score despite being down by 10 points.
With both top receivers out, the Buccaneers may explore aggressive moves ahead of the Nov. 5 trade deadline. Tampa Bay’s remaining wideouts include Sterling Shepard, 2023 sixth-round pick Trey Palmer, and rookie Jalen McMillan.
