Since entering the NFL as a third-round pick, Chris Godwin has established himself as a premier receiving threat in the league. Forming a virtually unstoppable tandem with superstar Mike Evans, Godwin has ensured that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are an above-average offense courtesy of their wide receiver room alone.
However, that status is in question this year. The biggest reason for that doubt isn’t either player’s talent but availability for the All-Pro wideout. After being forced out of action for the second half of the 2024 season, all eyes are on Godwin entering the 2025 campaign.
What Happened to Chris Godwin?
Godwin suffered an ill-fated ankle injury in Week 7 of the 2024 season. The star wideout suffered a dislocated ankle against the Baltimore Ravens, and 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 season. Now, after undergoing a second surgery during the offseason, there is some concern that he’ll miss time early in the 2025 campaign as well.
A Buccaneers lifer, Godwin had a Pro Bowl appearance under his belt while also being a major contributor on the squad that won Super Bowl 55. With 7,266 receiving yards in his career, he also has four separate seasons (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023) crossing the 1,000-yard mark.
Before the injuries, 2024 was shaping up to be a fantastic year for him. Through seven games, he was already up to 576 yards and five touchdowns — easily on pace to establish career highs in both categories.
For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, Godwin’s availability over the course of the 2025 season is going to play a major part in determining their fate.
Before the official deadline to solidify the 53-man roster, head coach Todd Bowles made a critical decision in his route to a return. After signing him to a three-year, $66 million extension, Bowles decided that Godwin was coming off the PUP list.
Sources: Buccaneers plan to activate WR Chris Godwin off the Physically Unable to Perform list and have him on their 53-man roster to start the season, but only to begin his ramp-up process for games, not to immediately play in them. Godwin still is unlikely to play until October… pic.twitter.com/zGaaVeTRYc
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 21, 2025
If he stayed on the PUP list, Godwin would’ve been forced to miss the first four games of the 2025 season. Since he was activated, he can return before Week 5 if the Bucs feel he’s ready; however, reports have suggested that Godwin likely won’t be back until late September or early October at the earliest.
Read More: Should I Draft Chris Godwin? Fantasy Outlook for the Buccaneers WR in 2025
“He’s taken off the PUP list,” Bowles said, “but he’s got to get in football shape and everything else, so I wouldn’t expect him to play early on.”
Buccaneers’ general manager Jason Licht has confirmed that Godwin will miss at least the first month of the season. Godwin’s absence allows their first-round pick, Emeka Egbuka, to play a huge role in the offense early in the season.
Godwin’s Fantasy Outlook
We’re in “wait-and-see mode” with Godwin. The Buccaneers star was having an incredible year before an ankle dislocation disrupted fantasy managers’ seasons — a sad and frustrating end to his 2024 campaign.
He was not only outpacing Evans, but was on track to challenge for a top-three WR finish. But he has yet to practice in camp, and now Egbuka will be in the race for targets.
It seems unlikely that Godwin will play much early, if at all. Instead, a mid-season return and slow ramp-up will likely be his path. While that means he’s an easy fade at your fantasy draft, both you and the Buccaneers should keep a close eye on him for the playoffs.
Tampa will want him for a postseason run, so getting him up to speed in December should be a priority. If your Godwin manager is struggling out of the gate, consider making a move for him and taking a chance on a cheap-but-talented piece of an efficient offense.
