Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin has built a reputation as perhaps the premier WR2 in football, creating a dominant pairing with superstar Mike Evans.
Right now, though, the All-Pro pass catcher is sidelined after suffering a severe injury that prematurely ended his 2024 season. So, what exactly happened to Godwin—and how long is his recovery expected to take?
What Happened to Chris Godwin?
Before injuries derailed his campaign, Godwin was on pace to have a career season in 2024. Over the first seven games, he racked up 576 yards and five touchdowns.
That momentum came to a halt in Week 7, when Godwin went down late in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Initially diagnosed as a dislocated ankle, further evaluations revealed he had also suffered a fractured fibula and a torn deltoid ligament.
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.
On Thursday, September 11, Godwin participated in his first practice of the season with the Buccaneers. While his participation was limited, it indicates that the star receiver is moving closer to a return, which should provide a significant boost 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 initially floating a potential playoff return last season to missing the first month of the 2025 campaign is certainly concerning, as is the fact that he required a second surgery over the offseason.
That said, the Buccaneers clearly had enough faith in Godwin’s recovery to hand him a three-year, $66 million contract this offseason. The expectation is that he’ll return by Week 5 or 6 and perform at his usual level, though the repeated setbacks remain a concern.
In the meantime, his absence opens the door for first-round pick Emeka Egbuka to take on a major role in the offense. With Jalen McMillan sidelined by a preseason neck injury, both Evans and Egbuka are set to handle as many targets as they can manage over 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 Bucs activated Godwin from the PUP list on August 21, but he still missed three games. That expectation was already factored into the 29-year-old’s draft cost.
It is the sixth time in seven seasons Godwin has missed multiple games. Still, the team’s cautious rehab strategy could pay off, with hopes he’ll be hitting peak form when it matters most for both Tampa Bay and fantasy managers.
The Bucs’ Week 9 bye comes at an ideal time, giving Godwin the chance to push his workload in October with the safety net of a rest week on the horizon. Ultimately, he was drafted with the expectation of producing at a 1,000-yard pace for the seventh straight year, and there’s little reason to doubt his ability to deliver once he’s back on the field.
His lack of touchdowns was a concern heading into last season, but five of his 50 catches in 2024 resulted in scores, giving us hope that we are looking at a WR2 down the stretch. The Bucs close the season with about as favorable a schedule as anyone in the league, giving him an even better chance to impact your fantasy season massively, even if he’s not doing that in the first month.
- Week 13 vs. Cardinals
- Week 14 vs. Saints
- Week 15 vs. Falcons
- Week 16 at Panthers
- Week 17 at Dolphins
- Week 18 vs. Panthers
