Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin has established himself as arguably the best WR2 in the NFL, forming a virtually unstoppable tandem with superstar Mike Evans.
However, the All-Pro wideout is currently sidelined after suffering a gruesome injury that also ended his 2024 season. What’s the latest on Godwin’s health, and how many games will he miss due to his injury?
What Happened to Chris Godwin?
Before the injuries, 2024 was shaping up to be a career year for Godwin. Through seven games, he had produced 576 yards and five touchdowns.
Then, in Week 7, Godwin went down in the final minutes of a loss against the Baltimore Ravens. While it was initially reported as a dislocated ankle, it was recently revealed that he also fractured his fibula and tore his deltoid.
The injuries required surgery and caused him to miss the remainder of the 2024 season. Now, after undergoing a second surgery during the offseason, he will miss some time this year as well.
The Buccaneers decided to take Godwin off the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, meaning he isn’t forced to sit out the first four games of the 2025 season (like San Francisco 49ers wideout Brandon Aiyuk, for example).
However, Bucs general manager Jason Licht quickly clarified that this was just so Godwin could practice with the team, noting that they expect the wideout to miss at least the first month of the season.
When Will Godwin Return for Buccaneers?
On Thursday, September 11, Godwin practiced with the Buccaneers for the first time this season. Although he will be limited, this signals that the standout receiver is trending toward a return to action and will provide a major lift for the team.
According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, Godwin is expected to make his season debut in Week 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Even though Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin (ankle) and OT Tristan Wirfs (knee) both were ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Jets, both players have a “strong chance” to make their season debuts next Sunday at home vs. the Eagles, per sources,” Schefter wrote. “Both Godwin and Wirfs are expected to start practice reps this week with the starters and, if all goes well and there are no setbacks, they are expected to play next Sunday.”
The fact that Godwin went from targeting a possible playoff return last season to now missing the first month of the 2025 campaign is troubling, especially given that he required a second offseason surgery.
Still, the Buccaneers showed faith in his recovery by handing him a three-year, $66 million deal, with the expectation he’ll be back by Week 5 or 6 and playing at his usual level. Even so, the string of setbacks he’s faced remains a clear red flag.
Godwin’s absence opened the door for first-round pick Emeka Egbuka to take on a major role in the Buccaneers’ offense early in the year. With Jalen McMillan also out after sustaining a preseason neck injury, Evans and Egbuka should command as many targets as they can handle throughout the opening month.
In the first two games of the season, Egbuka has recorded eight catches for 86 yards and three touchdowns on 13 targets.
Godwin’s Fantasy Outlook
The Buccaneers activated Godwin from the PUP list on August 21, though he’s still expected to sit out the entire month of September. Naturally, that timeline was already factored into the 29-year-old’s draft-day value.
For now, we’re essentially in “wait-and-see mode” with Godwin. Before an ankle dislocation derailed his campaign, he was not only outperforming Evans but also trending toward a top-three WR finish.
With Egbuka flashing star potential early, it will be fascinating to see how Tampa Bay integrates all of its weapons once Godwin returns to the field.
It looks doubtful that Godwin will see much action early on, if at all. Tampa Bay’s focus will be on having him ready for a postseason push, making December the ideal time to get him back to full speed. If the Godwin manager in your league is struggling out of the gate, this could be the perfect buy-low opportunity on a talented weapon in an efficient offense.
