Chris Godwin Injury Update
Chris Godwin's ankle injury is still a hot topic for Buccaneers fans (and honestly, fantasy football managers everywhere who drafted early and are now sweating through their coffee runs). The short story: Godwin suffered a pretty gnarly dislocated left ankle last October, during Week 7 of the 2024 season, and he’s been on the long road to recovery ever since.
He had surgery soon after the injury, and then (because sometimes life throws curveballs at your ligaments) had a second, minor surgery this spring to clean things up a bit. Some of us watched the injury as it unfolded live — I mean, who can forget seeing Godwin clutching his leg, teammates rallying around, and that heavy silence as everyone wondered what this would mean for Tampa Bay’s offense? Injuries just hit different when they happen to guys who've always brought grit and reliability, don’t they?
The upshot is: he hasn't practiced with the team yet this summer and is still listed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list as of mid-August. But, hey, General Manager Jason Licht says he's right on schedule with his recovery protocols. So there’s hope, but also uncertainty. Cautious optimism — classic sports vibe.
Yahoo Sports tweet shows Chris Godwin is still on PUP.
How Long Is Chris Godwin Out?
Right now, it looks like Chris Godwin is unlikely to suit up for Week 1, and could miss the first 4+ games of the regular season as he rehabs that ankle. The most probable scenario, given the second surgery and cautious approach by the Bucs, is that he’ll begin the regular season on the reserve/PUP list. That means he’ll be ineligible for Weeks 1 through 4 (those games: vs. Atlanta, at Carolina, vs. Denver, at Baltimore), with an eye on a potential Week 5 return against Seattle.
Here's a quick rundown of how Tampa Bay's receiving corps will look minus Godwin:
Mike Evans takes the lead (as usual, but he’ll be drawing even more coverage).
Rookie Emeka Egbuka is getting rave reviews in camp, and could see major snaps.
Jalen McMillan also enters the spotlight, but the Bucs are patching things together — “like a fantasy manager frantically rifling through the waiver wire at 2AM” sort of vibe.
When Will Chris Godwin Return?
The million-dollar question: Godwin could be back by Week 5 (October 5 vs. Seattle), but nobody’s putting down hard money on it yet. Head Coach Todd Bowles and GM Jason Licht have both played things close to the vest, talking about protocols and optimism but, frankly, refusing to guarantee a Week 1 miracle.
Here's a little timeline flavor:
- Spring 2025: Godwin’s second ankle procedure.
- July–August 2025: No team practices, remains on PUP list.
- Mid-August: Still not running or making cuts on the practice field, which usually means several weeks away from game speed.
- Projected activation: If placed on the reserve/PUP list at 53-man cutdown, the earliest Godwin can return is Week 5 against the Seahawks, then potentially faces the 49ers (Week 6), Lions (Week 7), and Saints (Week 8)
