The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are playing out their 2024 season without the services of wideout Chris Godwin.
Godwin went down in the final minutes of a 41-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 7 in a game that was well out of hand with many wondering why Godwin was even still on the field.
Regardless of the seemingly poor coaching decision, the league investigated the Roquan Smith tackle of Godwin as an illegal hip-drop tackle. There was no foul called on the play, but the league retroactively fined Smith $16,883 for the tackle.
After an appeal by Smith, the league rescinded the fine earlier this week, confirmed by Smith as he spoke to reporters.
“First and foremost, [I’m] wishing a speedy recovery for Godwin,” Smith said, via transcript from the team. “It was never my intention to hurt anyone, like I’ve said before, but it was a clean tackle.
"It was just on Monday Night Football, the entire world was watching, and hey, it may look like something, but it wasn’t. That was clear that it wasn’t, but speedy recovery to him, and I move on with my day.”
Godwin dislocated his ankle on the play and needed surgery to correct it. If Tampa Bay makes the postseason, there's a slim chance Godwin could be ready for it.
The Bucs also lost fellow wideout Mike Evans in the same game with a hamstring injury that he had already been dealing with, leading many to wonder why he was playing while not at full strength.
Evans remains out but is eligible to return after the team's bye in Week 11.
