Chris Godwin has been plagued by injuries during the 2025 NFL season so far. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers star missed the start of the season as he was recovering from an ankle fracture from last year, and after returning, he injured his fibula.
This has limited the veteran wide receiver to just two games this year, but the franchise is hoping to get him back soon. His next opportunity to do so will come in Week 10 when they take on the surging New England Patriots.
Chris Godwin Injury Update and Timeline for a Return
Godwin has spent his entire career with the Buccaneers and has been a significant part of their offense. Unfortunately, this has not been the case in 2025, as multiple leg injuries have severely limited his availability.
He suffered a gruesome ankle injury last year, and after spending the entire offseason recovering, he still missed the start of this season. He made his return, but after playing in two games, a fibula injury in Week 5 sidelined him again.
He has been unable to play since then, but with the Buccaneers on a bye last week, he could have potentially returned for their game against the Patriots. However, as of Thursday, November 6, Godwin has not returned to practice yet.
The team declined to place him on the injured reserve list, which may suggest that he is nearing another return. Being placed on the IR comes with a minimum four-game absence, and Godwin has already missed the Buccaneers’ past three games.
If they put him on IR, he would’ve been required to sit out in Week 10 if he were on IR, but since they didn’t, he is available to play. If the Buccaneers were expecting a longer absence than three games, they likely would have placed him on IR to free up a roster space.
He may be taking longer to recover than they initially expected, but his practice activity throughout the week will likely contribute to his potential availability for their next game. Godwin wasn’t spotted at practice on Wednesday, but he still has a chance to return to practice on Thursday and Friday.
Injuries have been an unfortunate storyline for their wide receivers this season, as Mike Evans is also set for an extended absence after breaking his collarbone. This hasn’t stopped the Buccaneers from having a strong year, including a 6-2 record.
The Buccaneers are surely hoping to get Godwin back as soon as possible, but rookie Emeka Egbuka has stepped up in a big way in his absence. He ranks 24th among wide receivers in PFSN’s Impact Rankings with 34 receptions for 562 yards and five touchdowns.