Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles defended his decision to keep Chris Godwin in the game while Tampa’s chances of winning were slim, leading to a potentially season-ending injury late in the Bucs’ 41-31 loss to the Ravens.

Godwin twisted his ankle with less than a minute to play when he was tackled by Roquan Smith and had to be carried off the field.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Godwin will undergo ankle surgery this week.

The serious injury was the second suffered by a Buccaneers receiver during Monday’s game, and Mike Evans also left early after suffering a hamstring problem late in the first half.

“He is a player. We’re trying to win the ballgame,” Bowles said of the decision to keep Godwin in the game. “We were still down 10 points. We try to get extra points and get another onside kick. (The injury) just happened.”

Bowles refused to question the decision, calling it “unfortunate” that Godwin ended up injured.

“You can say that because he got hurt. We have no doubts,” Bowles said. “We have our boys. We play against everyone we have. It’s unfortunate that he got hurt, but he’s a football player and he wants to be in the game, just like Baker (Mayfield) and everyone else wanted to be in the game.”

The Bucs’ head coach dismissed the notion that he wasn’t protecting Godwin and that they viewed the situation as one in which they believed they could find a way to win.

“We still had a chance to get a few points and win the ball game. It happens. That happens in football,” he said.

Tampa is 4-3 this season and has the same record as NFC South rivals the Falcons, who are heading into a crucial showdown with Atlanta next weekend.