Todd Bowles Defends Decision on Chris Godwin Injury

Chris Godwin of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is likely facing a season-ending dislocated ankle injury suffered late in the game against the Baltimore Ravens, which the Buccaneers lost 41-31. Head coach Todd Bowles faced criticism for keeping Godwin on the field during the final minute, despite the team being down by ten points, stating that they were trying to win and had limited healthy receivers due to Mike Evans' earlier injury. Bowles defended his decision, emphasizing that Godwin wanted to play and the team was committed to maximizing their chances. The injury occurred when Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith tackled Godwin, leading to a controversial discussion about player safety and strategic decisions in the closing moments of a game. Godwin’s injury could severely impact the Buccaneers’ upcoming games, particularly a crucial matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. The NFL is investigating the tackle due to its potential classification as a hip-drop tackle, which the league aims to eliminate.