Joe Buck speaking in broadcast booth (left). Chris Godwin being carted off (right).Joe Buck and Chris Godwin (Photos via ESPN)
In a frightening coincidence, ESPN “Monday Night Football” announcer Joe Buck was questioning the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ decision to continue playing starters in garbage time seconds before Chris Godwin suffered a gruesome season-ending ankle injury.

The Buccaneers were trailing by 10 points with less than 90 seconds remaining in their MNF clash with the Baltimore Ravens. Unfortunately, Chris Godwin suffered a dislocated ankle in a horrific scene after catching a pass from Baker Mayfield.

Per ESPN’s Jenna Laine, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said Godwin will undergo surgery and is likely done for the season. This terrible development comes three years after Godwin suffered a season-ending ACL tear in a game against the New Orleans Saints.

Several fans on X/Twitter pointed out that Buck and Troy Aikman were criticizing the Buccaneers’ decision to keep their starters in, even though the game was practically out of reach.

After Mayfield took a sack, Buck said, “I know it’s a 10-point game…but at some point you want to get out of here and live to fight another day.” Aikman stated that his former Dallas Cowboys HC, Jimmy Johnson, would aggressively blitz the opposing team if they tried to score in garbage time.

Sadly, Chris Godwin suffered the awful ankle injury on the following play:

 

The Buccaneers especially have a strange habit of keeping their starting players in the game during garbage time. They did this aplenty in the Tom Brady days, whether they were on the right side of a blowout or not.

Fair or not, Bowles will continue receiving immense criticism for the decision to keep his star receiver out there. Remember, this happened after Mike Evans left the game in the second quarter, having re-aggravated his hamstring injury that will sideline him indefinitely.

The banged-up Buccaneers will stay home to host the NFC South rival Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday.

Chris Godwin May Have Played Last Game As A Buc

The 28-year-old Godwin is in the final season of a three-year deal he signed with the Bucs in the 2022 offseason. So if he doesn’t end up re-signing with Tampa, that means he already played his final snap with the only NFL team he’s ever known.

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

Todd Bowles looking on during game (left). Chris Godwin being carted off (right).Todd Bowles and Chris Godwin (Photos by Getty Images)
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:

 

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.