ESPN announcer feels ‘sick’ for what he said moments before NFL star’s season-ending injury

ESPN announcer Joe Buck admits he feels “sick” over an apparent curse from the commentator after announcing Monday’s game between the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baltimore Ravens.

Despite cutting a 24-point deficit to 10, Buck urged Bucs head coach Todd Bowles to accept the loss and pull some of his star players from the game for protection. The Bucs began their final drive on their own 25-yard line and with no timeouts and 1:34 on the clock, the game was all but over.

“I know it’s a 10-point game, and I know you don’t give up games, but at some point you want to get out of here and fight another day,” Buck said.

Moments later, wide receiver Chris Godwin went down with a sickening dislocated ankle injury after a tackle by Roquan Smith that is now being reviewed for being a hip drop tackle. Godwin has since undergone surgery and his season is all but over, with ESPN choosing not to show the gruesome replay. The Bucs lost 41-31.

You feel kinda sick about what happened,” Buck told him The Athletics. ‘I’d rather be wrong.

Godwin was hurt after a tackle by Roquan Smith in the Bucs’ loss to the Baltimore Ravens

Joe Buck (left) warned the Bucs about leaving their stars on the field just before the injury

‘I would have preferred if nothing had happened. Not that anyone is different than anyone else, but Godwin is one of the really great guys in the league.”

As Godwin went downstairs, Buck said live on air, “Oh no. He can’t get up. I am told from our production truck that we are not going to show the repeat.’

The Godwin injury made for an off night for the Bucs, who lost another wide receiver in Mike Evans with a hamstring problem earlier in the game. Evans is expected to be out until after their Week 11 bye.

In a speech Monday after the game, Bowles defended his decision to keep Godwin on the field.

“He’s a player and we’re trying to win the ball game,” Bowles said. “We were ten down, so we were still trying to get points and kick another offside, and it just happened.

‘With Mike [Evans] When we went down, we didn’t have as many receivers as it was, so we played with what we had.

“It’s a shame he (Godwin) got injured and we feel bad about that. But he’s a football player and he wanted to get in the game, just like Baker (Mayfield, the quarterback) and everyone else wanted to get in the game.”

The cart had to be brought outside after the 28-year-old got his left ankle trapped under Baltimore linebacker Smith at the end of a 21-yard reception.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield praised the “incredible” Godwin moments after he was hurt

Godwin crawled across the field after Smith’s goal, and medical personnel put his foot in an air cushion as he got into the back of the cart.

Mayfield paid tribute to Godwin after the game, saying: “He’s an incredible guy, an incredible teammate. You have clearly seen that he is playing exceptionally this year. I have a heavy heart right now.”

The Bucs, who are 4-3 this season, face NFC South rival Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.