The Tampa Bay Buccaneers return from their Week 9 bye hoping to get healthy after a stretch plagued by injuries across their offensive roster. Chris Godwin has been sidelined since Week 5 with a fibula issue. Will fantasy football managers finally have their veteran receiver available for the stretch run?
Chris Godwin Injury Update
Godwin missed the first three weeks of the season recovering from an ankle fracture sustained late in the 2024 campaign. He made his 2025 debut in Week 4, immediately seeing substantial playing time with an 80% snap share. He looked healthy and showed no visible limitations from the ankle injury.​
Week 5 brought similar workload and snap counts, with Godwin once again playing close to 80% of Tampa Bay’s offensive snaps. However, at some point during that game, he picked up a new injury reported as a fibula issue.​
Godwin has not practiced or played since Week 5. The fibula injury has proven stubborn, keeping him out for three consecutive weeks heading into Tampa Bay’s bye. Head coach Todd Bowles addressed the injury at one point, clarifying that it’s not season-ending, which provides some long-term optimism but little clarity on a specific return timeline.​
The Bucs came out of their bye week with high hopes of getting several injured players back on the field. The extra week of rest should theoretically benefit Godwin’s recovery, though the lack of recent updates made his Week 10 status uncertain at best.​
Wednesday brought disappointing news for fantasy managers holding onto hope. Godwin did not practice, continuing a pattern that has persisted since he went down. Thursday brought more of the same. Godwin did not practice again, making it two consecutive missed sessions coming out of the bye week.
Bowles established a pattern throughout Godwin’s absence. The head coach has been hesitant to provide encouraging updates about his recovery, leaving fantasy managers in the dark about a concrete return timeline. Wednesday and Thursday’s absences suggest the fibula issue remains problematic.
If fantasy managers want to find something positive in a sea of negative, Bowles did not immediately rule Godwin out early in the week this time. The fact that Bowles is waiting until Friday to make the official ruling represents at least a small change in approach compared to how the team has handled other injured players.
To be clear, there is absolutely no chance Godwin plays this week. Two consecutive DNPs after a bye week makes that clear. It is also extremely unlikely he plays next week either, given the continued lack of progress. However, the fact that Bowles is waiting until Friday to rule him out is at least a little something that might suggest some form of progress, even if that progress isn’t enough to get him on the field.
Players returning from extended injuries don’t just need ‘one more day’ to recover without practicing. If they don’t practice on the first Wednesday after a long layoff, they don’t play that week. Godwin’s absence Wednesday and Thursday makes it abundantly clear he won’t play in Week 10.
Godwin’s Fantasy Outlook
The Bucs have been extremely shorthanded on offense without several key contributors available. Bucky Irving, Mike Evans, Jalen McMillan, and Godwin have all missed significant time, forcing Tampa Bay to rely heavily on depth pieces and role players.
Rookie Tez Johnson and veteran Sterling Shepard have been called upon for increased roles in the receiving corps. Both players have done their best to fill the void, but neither possesses the talent or experience to truly replace what Godwin brings to the offense when healthy.
Emeka Egbuka remains the clear WR1 in Tampa Bay’s passing attack and should continue seeing all the volume he can handle for as long as the injury situation persists. The rookie receiver should be back to 100% health after battling through a minor hamstring strain in the two games prior to the bye week. That extra week of rest should have him fully recovered and ready to shoulder the load.
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Baker Mayfield will also likely lean more on tight end Cade Otton and that reliance should continue for as long as Godwin remains sidelined. Otton has emerged as one of Mayfield’s most trusted targets, providing a reliable underneath option that’s particularly valuable given the receiver injuries.
When Godwin does eventually return, he’ll immediately reclaim a significant role in Tampa Bay’s offense. Before the fibula injury, he was on pace to resume his status as one of the team’s primary receiving threats. His chemistry with Mayfield and ability to work all three levels of the field make him irreplaceable in this passing attack.
Fantasy managers holding Godwin should remain patient and monitor Wednesday’s practice report closely. If he’s able to practice in any capacity, there’s reason for optimism about a near-term return. However, another DNP would suggest fantasy managers need to continue exploring other options for at least one more week.
