TAMPA, Fla. – The Bucs still have a chance to win the NFC South for the fourth consecutive year. Plenty of season is left, despite losing their two offensive standouts in wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. That was the message in the Bucs locker room this week as they get set to take on the Atlanta Falcons Sunday.
“Obviously, it sucks,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said in being without Godwin and Evans. “There’s no way around that, but when it comes down to it, you should want to play. Next man-up mentality. We have tons of leaders around this building.”
READ: Buccaneers’ Mike Evans And Chris Godwin Injured In Loss To Ravens
Evans is out with a hamstring injury until at least the week after the Bucs’ bye in Week 11. Godwin is most likely out for the rest of the season, dislocating his ankle last Sunday in a loss to the Ravens.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said there’s a slim chance Godwin could make it back late in the postseason, but for now, they’re going to go with some younger receivers and the veteran Sterling Sheppard for this Falcons game.
“We like our young guys right now,” Bowles said. “We think Mike is coming back. There are guys out there, but for what we would have to give up to get them in the long run, it’s probably not worth it.”
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In Week 5, the Bucs and Falcons played a high-scoring affair, with Atlanta coming out on top 36-30 in overtime. Last Sunday, Tampa Bay was beaten by the Baltimore Ravens, while the Falcons were upset in Seattle.
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