The Buccaneers are losing WR Chris Godwin to injury, so ESPN wouldn’t show the replay

On the ESPN broadcast, both Troy Aikman and Joe Buck questioned whether the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should run out their time and not continue to put their players in harm’s way as they trailed the Baltimore Ravens by 10 points with less than a minute remaining.

Then the Buccaneers lost one of their best players to a horrific injury.

Receiver Chris Godwin caught a pass over the middle and his leg was caught underneath him by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith. Godwin didn’t get up and Buck let everyone know how serious the injury was.

“Our production truck told me we won’t show the replay,” Buck said.

Buck called the injury “ugly” and a Buccaneers player was heard yelling a profanity. Godwin was placed on the cart with an air cast on his left leg.

After the game, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles told reporters that Godwin likely suffered a dislocated ankle.

“It doesn’t look good,” Bowles said.

He was also asked why Godwin was still in the game while the Bucs trailed by 10 points with less than a minute left in the game.

“We’re just trying to win the ballgame,” Bowles said. “We’re still down 10 points and we’re trying to get extra points and get another onside kick. It just happened.”

“We have our boys, we play against whoever we have. It’s unfortunate that he was injured. We’re sorry about that. But he’s a football player and wanted to be in the game just like Baker.” [Mayfield] and everyone else wanted to be in the game.

He was then asked if he had an obligation to protect the players from themselves.

“I protect my players all the time,” Bowles continued. “It has nothing to do with why we left him in the ball game. We still had a chance to score a few points and win the ball game. It happens. It happens in football.”

Baltimore won 41-31.

The Buccaneers lost receiver Mike Evans to a hamstring injury in the first half. Then Godwin suffered an injury that looked like it would likely end his season.

Godwin had an outstanding year, with 43 catches for 511 yards and five touchdowns in Monday night’s game. He finished the game with seven catches for 65 yards on nine targets.

The Buccaneers lost the game, but more importantly, they lost their two best receivers. In Godwin’s case, it looks like they won’t be getting him back any time soon.