Bucs' Todd Bowles defends decision to keep Chris Godwin in game despite small chance of winning

Chris Godwin is apt to person a season-ending ankle wounded aft the prima Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver needed to beryllium carted disconnected the Raymond James Stadium tract connected "Monday Night Football" against the Baltimore Ravens.

Bucs fans person a bony to prime with caput manager Todd Bowles, though, arsenic Godwin’s wounded came successful garbage clip — 43 seconds near to play with Tampa Bay down 10 to Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. 

Bowles, though, defended his determination to support Godwin and his different starters retired connected the tract during his postgame presser. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (14) is carted disconnected of the tract aft an wounded during the 2nd fractional of an NFL shot crippled against the Baltimore Ravens, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, successful Tampa, Fla.  (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

"He’s a player," Bowles told reporters. "We’re trying to triumph the ballgame. We were inactive down 10. We’re trying to get other points and footwear different onside kick. [The injury] conscionable happened."

Bowles added that the hamstring wounded Mike Evans sustained earlier successful the crippled near the Bucs with conscionable 4 steadfast receivers, making it indispensable for Godwin to beryllium successful the crippled contempt the people and clip connected the clock.

"We didn’t person that galore receivers near arsenic it was," Bowles said. "So, we play what we got."

BUCS STAR CHRIS GODWIN SUFFERS GRUESOME ANKLE INJURY BROADCAST WON'T SHOW IN LOSS TO RAVENS

The wounded occurred erstwhile Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith rolled connected apical of Godwin’s ankle portion making a tackle, and ESPN wouldn’t amusement the replay of the wounded due to the fact that it was wide thing atrocious happened to Godwin’s near ankle. 

Trainers rapidly ran retired to measure the situation, and Godwin was yet placed successful an aerial formed and carted disconnected the field. Bowles would archer reporters aft the crippled that the aboriginal prognosis was a dislocated ankle — an wounded that would beryllium season-ending based connected the clip of recovery. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (14) is stopped by Tampa Bay Buccaneers moving backmost Sean Tucker, rear, aft a reception during the archetypal fractional of an NFL shot game, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, successful Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Godwin, who is ranked 2nd successful receiving yards successful the NFL this season, is acceptable to beryllium a escaped cause aft this year. 

The tackle by Smith is presently being investigated by the NFL arsenic it appeared to person each the elements of a hip-drop tackle — a maneuver the league is trying to eradicate from the game. However, penalties oregon suspensions for these types of tackles are not however the league is enforcing it. 

Instead, if the NFL deems Smith’s tackle a hip-drop, helium would beryllium taxable to a fine, per ESPN. 

The past happening the Buccaneers wanted to spot connected Monday nighttime was 2 of their apical violative weapons going down astatine the aforesaid clip with terrible injuries. While Godwin could beryllium missing the remainder of the year, Evans’ hamstring wounded is terrible capable that helium is apt retired until aft the Week 11 bye for Tampa Bay, according to aggregate reports. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers caput manager Todd Bowles arrives earlier a crippled against the New Orleans Saints astatine Caesars Superdome. (Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The Bucs person a precise important divisional matchup coming up with the Atlanta Falcons, who they mislaid to earlier this play successful overtime. The gathering volition find who owns archetypal spot successful the NFC South aft Week 8. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.