The Players’ Tribune always brings out the best of athletes, with Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin being no exception. His story, “Half Man, Half Monster”, is a stellar read as the 29-year-old broke down everything regarding his ankle injury.
With him set to return on September 28 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Godwin recalled the struggles and everything it took for him to get back on the field.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin Revisits His Gruesome Ankle Injury
Entering his ninth season in the league, Godwin has been with Tampa Bay every step of the way. Last year, an ankle injury held him to just seven games, the lowest of his career. Prior to that, Godwin hadn’t played fewer than 12 in a season. He hasn’t been on a football field since October 21, 2024, when the Bucs fell to the Baltimore Ravens, 41-31.
“I heard one of the Ravens’ guys go, ‘Oh, s***!’ That’s when I knew it was bad,” Godwin said. “You never want to hear an ‘Oh, s***!’ I couldn’t move my leg. I was crawling. I looked at my left leg and my foot was going in a direction I’d never seen before. And then I heard somebody on Baltimore say, ‘Ohhhhh, s***.'”
Godwin continued, “Next thing I know a trainer is telling me my ankle’s out and they have to put it back in. My head is spinning. Then I’m on a cart and I’m seeing all these guys come up to me. And, man … they got this look in their eyes. These dudes were playing me hard as hell for four quarters and now they’re just looking at me with pity. Like this sadness in their faces.”
Prior to his injury, Godwin was putting up numbers that could’ve all resulted in career highs. He had 50 receptions in seven games with 576 yards and five touchdowns. With five touchdowns in seven games, Godwin had matched his touchdown total from his previous 32 combined games. QB Baker Mayfield will be without veteran WR Mike Evans, but the return of Godwin changes everything.
Chris Godwin Jr.’s first game with his son on the sideline 🥹 pic.twitter.com/oNm7tQQuwA
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) September 28, 2025
Coming off a major injury, there’s no doubt Godwin will be on a snap count. Rookie WR Emeka Egbuka has already proven to be in WR1 conversation, a role he’ll have to slot into in just his fourth game in the league. In three games, Egbuka has earned an impact grade of B- according to PFSN’s wide receiver impact metric.
Without Evans, Egbuka and Godwin remain a solid WR duo that any team in the league would love to have. Ultimately, Godwin’s return could not have come at a better time, as the reigning Super Bowl Champions are coming to town.
