The Bucs lost 41-31 on Monday Night Football and may have lost their season in the process.

Beyond the embarrassment that was a defense that allowed over 500 total yards, 244 rushing yards and over eight yards per carry, and beyond an offense that failed to score for six straight possessions through the second and third quarters of the game, the Bucs lost both of their star wide receivers for an indeterminate amount of time.

But in both cases, it looks like it is going to be quite some time before either Mike Evans or Chris Godwin is on the field for Tampa Bay – unfortunately.

Mike Evans Played Hurt – And Needlessly So

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today

Mike Evans hurt his hamstring in Week 6 against the Saints. It was clearly a significant strain the way he pulled up lame. He did not practice for most of the week before being listed as a limited participant on Saturday.

Despite scoring his 100th career receiving touchdown, Evans still clearly looked diminished after the Bucs’ first drive on Monday night. It led some to openly question whether having Evans play this week rather than sit was the best course of action, especially with a crucial division game just six days away.

Mike Evans now has 100 career TD receptions as continues to cement his legacy as one of the NFL’s greatest wide receivers. pic.twitter.com/mQROJfJSG3

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 22, 2024

Just two drives later, that hamstring that everyone was concerned with gave out.

Bucs WR Mike Evans Injury 🤕

Andddd this is why you don’t try to play through a hamstring injury

High reinjury rates & a reinjury is ALWAYS worse than the initial injury

Expect him to be out ~4 weeks#WeAreTheKrewe #AskFFT #BALvsTB pic.twitter.com/PGQPYytUc8

— Sebastian Fearon DPT, CSCS, OCS (@TheDegenDoc) October 22, 2024

Evans, who has battled hamstring injuries throughout most of his career, looked like he was in more pain than at least I have ever seen him in. He was writhing in pain for several minutes in the back of the end zone before he was helped off the field by trainers.

Given how quickly he was ruled out of the game, there is a good chance he will miss multiple games – perhaps the next three through they bye week. Should he have been in the game to begin with? Was it worth risking a more serious injury for the sake of playing a primetime game when the opportunity cost was a full 14 days of rest and a healthier star receiver for a pivotal division game followed by an important stretch that includes four conference games in the next five weeks?

The saying is hindsight is 20/20, but foresight said this was a bad move.

Bucs Not Learning From Past Mistakes

Bucs safety Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photo by: USA Today

Do you remember alllll the way back in Week 1? The Bucs beat the Washington Commanders 37-20 in a game that was largely wrapped up with over half a quarter left in the game. The last five minutes of that game were largely forgettable, save for the last defensive play of the game for the Bucs.

On that play, All-Pro free safety Antoine Winfield Jr. suffered a foot injury that would cost him the next four games. It was a needless injury suffered in garbage time of a game that was long-before decided. And it cost the Bucs one of their best players for a month.

Surely, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles wouldn’t let that happen again, right?

RIGHT?!

Need to start resting the key guys for ATL next week. You lose another starter AWJ style and there’s going to be a riot.

— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) October 22, 2024

I tweeted this at 10:26 p.m. That was prior to the fourth quarter and just after the Ravens scored their fourth touchdown to go up 34-10. Was I premature to suggest pulling starters with 17 minutes of game clock still remaining? Probably. Was it the correct sentiment to follow shortly thereafter? Absolutely.

Scott Reynolds posted the exact same sentiment from the Pewter Report X account a minute later.

There was no reason for the Bucs to still be playing their starters with 1:04 left in the game. That is when Chris Godwin had a 21-yard catch-and-run before suffering a serious leg injury that required an immediate on-the-field air cast.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: USA Today

Some may argue that at the time of injury, the Bucs were down just 10 points with a reasonable chance to still somehow tie the game and push the game to overtime. That’s a load of crap.

For anyone…ANYONE…arguing the game was still in reach when Godwin got hurt, I submit exhibit A of why you are absolutely without a doubt wrong. pic.twitter.com/euNEKQ6Xmk

— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) October 22, 2024

Mike Evans’ injury looks bad. Godwin’s is even worse. It’s initially diagnosed as a dislocated ankle, which is season-ending.

The decision to play Evans was questionable.

The decision to leave Godwin in is indefensible.

Now through seven games, the Bucs offense has generated 1,752 yards through the air. Godwin and Evans have accounted for over 50% of that number. And now both will be missing for the foreseeable future. That’s a blow to the offense, to the team and to the organization’s playoff chances.

And it was needless.

Evans isn’t about personal accolades, but his consecutive 1,000-yard season streak was still a feather in his cap that he clearly enjoyed. That streak is in real jeopardy now. Godwin is on the last year of his contract and was finally playing like his pre-injury self, looking to set up one final big contract. That is now in potential peril.

There is no good to any of this. And it was avoidable.

But neither injury was avoided. Todd Bowles faced questions regarding his decision-making in both situations in his post-game press conference. He will face more at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday in his next presser.

And on Wednesday. And for weeks and months into the future.

If the Bucs’ season goes off the rails because the team has yet to find a reliable receiver not named Evans or Godwin; if they get blown out in Week 8 while contending for the division lead against a Falcons team they took to overtime just two weeks ago; if they end up with a losing record; these two pivotal decisions could cost Bowles his job.

And it was avoidable.