In a span of 24 hours, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went from Super Bowl favorites to a team in crisis. The gut-wrenching losses of star receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans to devastating injuries has left the Bucs reeling and searching for answers. Can Baker Mayfield and a depleted receiving corps keep the team afloat in a highly competitive NFC?
Buccaneers Dealt Devastating Blows
Monday night’s game against the New Orleans Saints started as a celebration. The Buccaneers unveiled their Super Bowl championship banner in front of a raucous home crowd, eager to embark on another title run. The festive atmosphere quickly turned somber when Godwin’s left ankle got pinned awkwardly under a tackler late in the fourth quarter. The All-Pro receiver suffered a dislocated ankle on the play, likely ending his season.
The injury bug struck again on the Bucs’ next possession. Evans pulled up lame on a deep route, grabbing at his hamstring. MRI results confirmed the team’s worst fears – a severe strain that will sideline the perennial Pro Bowler for at least a month, possibly longer.
“It obviously sucks,” said quarterback Baker Mayfield. “You don’t want anybody to get hurt, but you should want to play for those guys. They meant a lot to this team.”
– Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers quarterback
Losing Godwin and Evans deals a devastating blow to a Buccaneers offense that relies heavily on an aerial attack. The dynamic duo combined for over 2,300 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, Godwin’s first after returning from an ACL tear suffered in 2021. Their chemistry with Mayfield, who arrived via trade from Cleveland in the offseason, had been the driving force in the team’s 4-3 start.
Next Men Up
With Godwin and Evans sidelined, the Buccaneers will be forced to turn to a mostly unproven receiving corps. Sophomore Trey Palmer and rookie Jalen McMillan, who impressed coaches throughout training camp, are expected to see significantly larger roles starting with Sunday’s pivotal NFC South showdown against the Atlanta Falcons.
“I’ll be extremely confident in those guys,” Mayfield said of Palmer and McMillan. “I expect those guys to have success and play really well.”
– Baker Mayfield on the Buccaneers’ young receivers
The Bucs also hope to get major contributions from veteran Sterling Shepard, who was signed just before the season and has prior experience playing with Mayfield at Oklahoma. Shepard’s workload should increase significantly as he likely takes over Godwin’s spot in the slot.
However, it would be unrealistic to expect this patchwork group to come close to replicating the production of Evans and Godwin. The timing and chemistry built up through countless practice reps can’t be replaced overnight. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen will likely need to get creative with his personnel packages and play-calling.
A Treacherous Road Ahead
The Buccaneers’ mettle will be tested immediately with upcoming games against the Falcons, who beat them earlier this season, and the red-hot Chiefs. Any hiccups could put Tampa Bay behind the eight ball in the competitive NFC South.
The Bucs have already faced their share of injuries on both offense and defense. Cornerback Jamel Dean landed on injured reserve last week with a hamstring issue of his own, while nickelback Tykee Smith is in concussion protocol. But the losses of Godwin and Evans cut far deeper.
“As a defender, I’m like, ‘we have to step up more,'” cornerback Zyon McCollum said. “We have to add more pressure to our play, we have to add more. And sometimes that makes guys crumble in it, but to me, it’s motivation.”
– Zyon McCollum, Buccaneers cornerback
The onus will be on Baker Mayfield to keep the offense afloat and the team’s Super Bowl aspirations alive. The former No. 1 overall pick is off to the best start of his career, currently leading the NFL in touchdown passes with 18. But without his top two targets, Mayfield faces the stiffest test of his rollercoaster tenure in Tampa Bay.
General manager Adam Watson hinted the team could explore the trade market for receivers ahead of the November 1 deadline. But mortgaging future draft picks for a rental would be an uncharacteristically desperate move for the typically judicious Buccaneers front office.
“For us right now, we’re excited to see our young guys play,” head coach Bruce Pearson said. “We had to play without some defensive guys this year, now we have to play without some offensive guys. We fared pretty well. We think we’ll fare pretty well with these guys.”
– Bruce Pearson, Buccaneers head coach
The Buccaneers have reached a crossroads in their season far earlier than anyone could have anticipated. Their depth, resilience, and championship mettle will all be put to the ultimate test. For a team with its sights firmly set on another Lombardi Trophy, the only option is to weather the storm and find a way to overcome this misfortune. The road won’t be easy, but bet against Brady and the battle-tested Bucs at your own peril.
The Bucs also hope to get major contributions from veteran Sterling Shepard, who was signed just before the season and has prior experience playing with Mayfield at Oklahoma. Shepard’s workload should increase significantly as he likely takes over Godwin’s spot in the slot.
However, it would be unrealistic to expect this patchwork group to come close to replicating the production of Evans and Godwin. The timing and chemistry built up through countless practice reps can’t be replaced overnight. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen will likely need to get creative with his personnel packages and play-calling.
A Treacherous Road Ahead
The Buccaneers’ mettle will be tested immediately with upcoming games against the Falcons, who beat them earlier this season, and the red-hot Chiefs. Any hiccups could put Tampa Bay behind the eight ball in the competitive NFC South.
The Bucs have already faced their share of injuries on both offense and defense. Cornerback Jamel Dean landed on injured reserve last week with a hamstring issue of his own, while nickelback Tykee Smith is in concussion protocol. But the losses of Godwin and Evans cut far deeper.
“As a defender, I’m like, ‘we have to step up more,'” cornerback Zyon McCollum said. “We have to add more pressure to our play, we have to add more. And sometimes that makes guys crumble in it, but to me, it’s motivation.”
– Zyon McCollum, Buccaneers cornerback
The onus will be on Baker Mayfield to keep the offense afloat and the team’s Super Bowl aspirations alive. The former No. 1 overall pick is off to the best start of his career, currently leading the NFL in touchdown passes with 18. But without his top two targets, Mayfield faces the stiffest test of his rollercoaster tenure in Tampa Bay.
General manager Adam Watson hinted the team could explore the trade market for receivers ahead of the November 1 deadline. But mortgaging future draft picks for a rental would be an uncharacteristically desperate move for the typically judicious Buccaneers front office.
“For us right now, we’re excited to see our young guys play,” head coach Bruce Pearson said. “We had to play without some defensive guys this year, now we have to play without some offensive guys. We fared pretty well. We think we’ll fare pretty well with these guys.”
– Bruce Pearson, Buccaneers head coach
The Buccaneers have reached a crossroads in their season far earlier than anyone could have anticipated. Their depth, resilience, and championship mettle will all be put to the ultimate test. For a team with its sights firmly set on another Lombardi Trophy, the only option is to weather the storm and find a way to overcome this misfortune. The road won’t be easy, but bet against Brady and the battle-tested Bucs at your own peril.
