The Ripple Effect of Chris Godwin’s Injury on Tampa Bay’s Offense

The gravity of Chris Godwin’s injury was apparent on his Bucs teammates’ faces as he writhed on the turf Monday night.

• “Chris deserves better than that,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said later. “… I’ve got a heavy heart right now.”

Why it matters: Tampa Bay lost more than a game Monday: Godwin’s likely to miss the remainder of the season after dislocating his ankle in the ugly collision late in the game.

• Godwin leads the NFL in receptions at 50 and has five touchdowns on the season, tied for second-most.

His fellow all-star wideout, Mike Evans, left the game with a hamstring injury. It’s unclear when he’ll return to play. Threat level: The injuries couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Bucs, who have lost two of their last three games after a 3-1 start.

• Next up: The division-rival Atlanta Falcons, who are tied with the Bucs atop the NFC South and have already beaten Tampa Bay once this season.
• Then, the Bucs face the two teams from last year’s Super Bowl: the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers.

Friction point: Head coach Todd Bowles faced criticism for keeping Godwin and the other starters in a game that appeared out of reach.

• Godwin was injured with the Bucs down 10 and only a minute left on the clock.

What they’re saying: “We still had a shot to score some points and win this ballgame,” Bowles told reporters after the game. “It happens. It happens in football.” What we’re watching: There’s speculation that the Bucs could trade for an additional receiver, with the Jets’ Mike Williams and Titans’ DeAndre Hopkins rumored to be available. Source