Chris Godwin and Todd Bowles (Photos via ESPN)Todd Bowles took some heat for appearing to laugh after Chris Godwin’s season came to a premature end on Monday night.
Bowles and the Buccaneers lost their prime receiving options in the space of one game. Mike Evans aggravated a hamstring injury and is likely to miss time, while Godwin sustained a dislocated ankle and is done for 2024.
“We’re just trying to win the ballgame,” the head coach told reporters after being asked why the latter was on the field with the Bucs down by 10 with less than a minute to go. “We’re still down 10, trying to get extra points, kick another onside kick. It just happened.
“We’ve got our guys, we’re playing everybody we’ve got. It’s unfortunate he got hurt. We feel bad about that. But he’s a football player, and he wanted to be in the game just like Baker [Mayfield] and everybody else wanted to be in the game.”
“It’s unfortunate he (Chris Godwin) got hurt and we feel bad about that. But he’s a football player and he wanted to be in the game just like Baker and everyone else wanted to be in the game.”
— Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles on Chris Godwin’s injury in the fourth quarter pic.twitter.com/qFoYE38Pfq
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 22, 2024
Todd Bowles Gets Slammed For Laughing
Bowles has been hit with some heavy criticism over the above, but he also got flak for what he was seen doing in the immediate aftermath.
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Various social media accounts have shared videos of Bowles laughing in the wake of the injury.
“Todd Bowles laughing after Chris Godwin’s season ending injury it’s not funny at all, especially when Godwin is about to hit free agency,” one wrote as a caption. “That kind of reaction is unacceptable. Todd should get dismissed for this behaviour, Godwin broke his ankle just before 45 seconds of game end against Ravens,”
Todd Bowles laughing after Chris Godwin’s season ending injury it’s not funny at all, especially when Godwin is about to hit free agency. That kind of reaction is unacceptable. Todd should get dismissed for this behaviour, Godwin broke his ankle just before 45 seconds of game… pic.twitter.com/W429UbFPLA
— SciTech (@autoscienc78209)
October 22, 2024
To be fair, Bowles’ laughter did not seem malicious at all, as it appeared he couldn’t believe he’d just lost two of his best players.
Most fans agreed with that notion.
“Probably laughing at the fact Evans now Godwin both in the same game, “just my luck” kind of vibe. Man you people so quick to jump on s**t it’s crazy 😂,” a user noted.
“You can clearly see this isn’t a hysterical laugh but a laugh from disbelief. Rubbed his eyes and folded his arms. He knows his job is done. He lost Mike, the game, then Chris. I would laugh too. One of those “you gotta be kidding me” laughs. Bad take,” someone else wrote.
“I don’t think he was “laughing”.. he looks nervous and in disbelief,” another added.
Godwin will have surgery to repair his ankle this week, but his season is over. The timing really sucks for him as he will be a free agent next summer, and the injury could come into play.
NFL Fans Are Destroying Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles For His Foolish Decision That Cost Superstar WR Chris Godwin His Entire Season For No Reason At All
NFL fans are ripping on Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles for playing star wide receiver Chris Godwin in garbage time before the latter suffered a gruesome ankle injury in Monday night’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Todd Bowles opted to keep his starters on offense out with 1:34 remaining and his team down 41-31. Baker Mayfield completed a 21-yard pass to Godwin at the Tampa 39, who unfortunately suffered a horrific ankle injury on the play.
The 28-year-old Godwin was down for several minutes and had to be carted off. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Bowles said after the game that Godwin suffered a dislocated ankle.
The Bucs also lost fellow superstar wideout Mike Evans in the second quarter with a hamstring injury. Evans suffered the injury as he was falling to the ground after Mayfield missed him on a pass to the end zone.
Todd Bowles received immense criticism from fans for keeping Godwin in the game late, even though the Ravens had the game in the bag:
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Todd Bowles received immense criticism from fans for keeping Godwin in the game late, even though the Ravens had the contest in the bag:
Godwin is the Buccaneers’ leading receiver with 50 receptions for 576 yards and five touchdowns. The Super Bowl 55 champion is in his contract year and could hit free agency for the first time in his career next March, so there’s a real possibility that he has already played his last game with Tampa.
Playoff Hopes For Todd Bowles & Buccaneers Now In Jeopardy
With Godwin and Evans injured, the Bucs’ playoff hopes suddenly took a significant blow. As good as Mayfield has been in Tampa, almost no QB can get through a tough schedule like the Bucs’ without their two superstar wide receivers.
If Tampa Bay loses to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Kirk Cousins’ squad will have swept the season series. And with a rash of injuries to go along with their miserable schedule, it’d be hard for the Bucs to sneak into the postseason.
