Ex-Penn State football star Chris Godwin carted off field with serious injury, NFL future left uncertain

Former Penn State football star and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin is feared to have suffered a dislocated left ankle in Monday night’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The injury could sideline the ex-Nittany Lions standout for the remainder of the season.

The Buccaneers trailed 41-31 with a minute remaining in the game when Godwin had his ankle rolled under Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith. Described as a “gruesome” injury, the Penn State football letterman was carted off the field with an air cast on his left ankle.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles told reporters postgame that the “early indication” was that the ankle was dislocated.

“He’s got an ankle, early indication is that it’s dislocated,” Bowles said. “It doesn’t look good.”

A dislocated ankle would end Chris Godwin’s season and, possibly, his time in Tampa, too. Godwin is scheduled to be a free agent after this season. pic.twitter.com/DibV2XPrtO

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 22, 2024

Chris Godwin had previously suffered a near career-ending knee injury three years ago. Bowles is drawing criticism from some for keeping his starters in the game down 41-18 with under four minutes to play. He did not take the same approach when trailing by eight with 93 seconds remaining in last year’s divisional playoff game against Detroit.

“We don’t second-guess,” Bowles said. “We got our guys, we’re playing everybody we got. Unfortunately, he got hurt. We feel bad about that, but he’s a football player. He wants to be in the game like [quarterback] Baker [Mayfield] and everybody else.”

The injury now leaves the ex-Nittany Lions’ NFL future unclear. Chris Godwin is scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the 2024 season, and it is possible that his eight-year career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could come to an end. Godwin currently leads the league with 50 receptions, is second in receiving yards with 576, and tied for third with five touchdowns.

A former four-star and a member of the first recruiting class for James Franklin in Happy Valley in 2014, Chris Godwin recorded 154 catches for 2,421 yards and 18 touchdowns over his three-year Penn State football career.

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