The Tampa Bay Buccaneers cannot seem to shake the injury bug during the 2025 season, particularly with their top offensive weapons.
They have several players as possibilities for Week 7, and several others who are likely to be out. It has fans wondering if Chris Godwin will finally return for their Monday Night Football showdown against the Detroit Lions.
Will Chris Godwin Play in Week 7?
Godwin had already missed more than half of the 2024 season after suffering a devastating injury in last year’s Week 7 game against the Baltimore Ravens. During the first half of the game, he dislocated his ankle when a tackle by Roquan Smith caused it to get trapped.
His ankle required surgical repair as well as extensive physical therapy and rehabilitation. He missed the rest of 2024, the entire offseason, and the first three games of 2025. It took Godwin about 11 months to return to full speed, and he was just settling in when he suffered a setback.
Godwin looked like he was 100% recovered when he returned Week 4. He was playing in the majority of offensive snaps, but unfortunately, the production wasn’t there. Godwin had only six receptions for 52 yards on 14 targets in two games.
Then last Wednesday, Godwin was not at practice, listed as having a fibula issue. Head coach Todd Bowles called his absence “precautionary,” noting he was likely sore.
Thursday rolled around, and he once again missed practice, leading fans to think this wasn’t just normal soreness. Then it was announced he wouldn’t play against the San Francisco 49ers. Now, fans are wondering when he will return and are hoping it will be for the Week 7 Lions game.
According to a post on X from Adam Schefter, fans will have to wait a bit longer to see Godwin.
“Bucs HC Todd Bowles told reporters that RB Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder) and Chris Godwin (fibula) are ‘not in play’ for next Monday night’s game against the Detroit Lions,” wrote Schefter in his post.
As of Thursday, Godwin has not returned to practice, and he is all but confirmed to not play in Week 7 against the Lions.
29-year-old Godwin was the Buccaneers ‘ third-round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft after his successful time at Penn State. He was a part of the team that won Super Bowl 55 with Tom Brady.
During his time in Tampa, he has been an All-Pro and Pro Bowler once, both in 2019. He has racked up 585 receptions for 7,318 yards and 39 touchdowns.
Unfortunately, his time on the field in 2025 has been so brief that he hasn’t yet accumulated a grade from PFSN’s Wide Receiver Impact metric. However, Tampa’s offense has continued to find a way to win despite the injuries and is ranked ninth by PFSN, with a grade of B-.
It appears Godwin may not return until after the team’s Week 9 bye. Mayfield and company have to be keeping their fingers crossed that they have him back for a late-season push into the postseason.