By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-10-22 12:58:11 | Updated at 2024-10-22 15:23:41
2 hours ago
Chris Godwin is set to undergo surgery on his dislocated ankle this week, ending his 2024 season - and potentially his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The star wide receiver was carted off in the final moments of Monday night's loss against the Baltimore Ravens, and he had his left leg in an air cast.
It has now been revealed that he dislocated his ankle, and he will see a doctor today to determine the full extent of the damage, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
It is expected that Godwin will make a full recovery for the start of the 2025 season, but by then he will be a free agent and it is unclear who his next game will be for.
Godwin, 28, was selected by the Bucs in the third round of the 2017 Draft, and has played eight seasons in Tampa Bay - the entirety of his professional career.
Bucs' star wide receiver Chris Godwin is carted off the field with his left ankle in an air cast
Godwin was immediately in serious pain after suffering the injury with 53 seconds to go
On Monday night, Godwin suffered the injury after making a catch and being tackled to the turf.
As he laid on the turf, his left leg could be seen twisted in the wrong direction.
After medical personnel tended to Godwin and applied an air cast to his leg, his Buccaneers teammates were distraught as they surrounded him.
Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield was seen slamming his helmet into the turf in frustration because of the injury.
Footage of Godwin not being able to walk at all and being taken to the trainers room emerged after the Buccaneers loss.
Godwin has spent his entire professional career in Tampa Bay since being drafted in 2017
Baltimore defeated Tampa Bay 41-31 with the Ravens nearly scoring all of their points unanswered through the dominance of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry.
The Buccaneers had already lost top wide receiver Mike Evans to a leg injury earlier in the game.
'There’s no way around it. We’re gonna have to look this thing in the face and take it head on,' Mayfield said of the losses to two of the team's star players.
Now, the Buccaneers will likely head into the immediate future without their top two wide receivers, sitting in second in the NFC South.
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles drew some criticism after the game for leaving one of his best players on the field with less than two minutes left in a game his team could not win.
Godwin saluted the crowd knowing his season is over due to the severity of the ankle injury
'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,' Bowles said after the game.
Players from the Ravens and Buccaneers were seen at midfield praying together for Godwin's well-being.
Off the gridiron, Godwin has become well-liked in the Tampa community in part for his charity work.
Godwin and his wife, Mariah, founded the Team Godwin Foundation, whose mission is 'providing at-risk animals a second chance through advocacy and financial support,' per its website.
