Buccaneers News
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin might not return until late November or early December as he continues recovering from a fibula injury sustained five weeks ago.
Godwin has missed three straight games since suffering the injury during the Week 5 victory over Seattle. The 29-year-old did not practice Thursday as the Buccaneers prepared for Sunday’s matchup against the New England Patriots, making a Week 10 appearance unlikely.
The injury affects a different area of Godwin’s fibula than the fracture that accompanied his dislocated ankle in Week 18 of last season. That gruesome injury ended his 2024 campaign and kept him sidelined through the first three games of 2025.
Godwin appeared in just two games before the latest setback. He caught two passes for 26 yards against Philadelphia in Week 4, then added one reception for 26 yards versus Seattle before leaving with the fibula problem. The team has not placed him on injured reserve, suggesting they expect a return within the four-game minimum absence such a designation would require.
Tampa Bay faces a challenging situation at receiver with Godwin sidelined and tight end Mike Evans out for most of the season with a broken collarbone. Evans fractured his clavicle during the Week 7 loss to Detroit on Monday Night Football and could miss the remainder of the regular season.
The Buccaneers have leaned heavily on their draft class to fill the void. Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson have emerged as quarterback Baker Mayfield’s primary targets in recent weeks. The pair combined for seven touchdown catches through nine games, giving Tampa Bay the most scoring receptions by rookies in the NFL this season.
Egbuka, selected 19th overall out of Ohio State, has recorded 34 catches for 562 yards and five touchdowns through eight games. Johnson, a seventh-round pick from Oregon, has carved out an expanded role with his speed and route-running precision.
Head coach Todd Bowles has declined to provide specifics on Godwin’s recovery timeline beyond describing the situation as week-to-week. The Buccaneers are cautious about rushing back a player who already endured a lengthy rehabilitation from last season’s ankle injury.
Tampa Bay enters Week 10 with a 6-2 record following a bye week. The Patriots bring a six-game winning streak and 7-2 record to Raymond James Stadium on Sunday.
