The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been on a rollercoaster ride this entire season. Early in the year, the team was firing on all cylinders, with quarterback Baker Mayfield earning some MVP buzz as well. But a Week 7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens was demoralizing in more ways than one.
While the team lost the game, they also lost Chris Godwin, on pace for a career year, to injury. Since then, the team has gotten some of its momentum back and should be a lock for the NFC South. Moreover, there seems to be a good chance that Godwin could even make a return for them. Here’s the latest on Chris Godwin and his injury status.
What Is Chris Godwin’s Injury?
A 4-2 start for the Bucs felt like the right escalation after last season’s brilliant resurgence. While Mayfield was stringing together another quality season, the biggest standout for the team was WR Chris Godwin. Even though Mike Evans was WR1, and rightfully so, Godwin was having arguably the best season of his career.
Through seven games, he was already at 576 yards and 5 TDs on 50 catches, near his best numbers from 2019, when he had 1,333 yards in just 14 games. But, it all came to a crashing halt in that Week 7 matchup against the Ravens.
Late in the fourth quarter, after already losing Mike Evans, Bucs fans had to witness a harrowing scene. A scary lower leg injury would eventually turn out to be an ankle injury, leading to Godwin being carted off the field with less than a minute left in the contest.
Eventually, head coach Todd Bowles officially confirmed it as a left ankle dislocation, effectively ending Godwin’s 2024 season. While he has been a favorite of Baker Mayfield, it remains to be seen if Tampa Bay will bring back the unrestricted free agent, given his injury history.
When Will Godwin Return From Injury?
The expectation with the ankle dislocation is that Godwin would most likely miss the entire season. However, the complete possibility of a return isn’t up in smoke yet. According to Bowles, a slim chance of a return is still in question.
“He will be undergoing surgery very soon and probably be out for the year,” Bowles said in October. “There’s a chance if we can make a late playoff run, he could be back.” But it isn’t just the head coach who’s holding out optimism.
Speaking to Jenna Laine from ESPN, Godwin himself reiterated the same thing, stating, “I mean, I think that’s the best case scenario, right? Like, absolute best case. For all involved. Everything lines up. That’s what you kind of aim for.”
But, since then, he’s elaborated on how he views the situation. Talking to ABC Action News’ Kyle Burger, he would go into detail about the outlook. “It’s still too soon to really know for sure, but, I mean, me as an optimist, that’s what I always aim for. I hope to be back as soon as I can. And if I’m able to, I’ll be over the moon. But if not, I’m sure my guys will be able to take care of it and handle business.”
The signs aren’t too bright for Tampa Bay fans, with Godwin still in a crutch. However, the rehab process has been going as smoothly as one could hope for. “Man recovery’s been going great. It’s a slow grind, for sure, but just like anything else, it just takes a lot of work. That’s what I’m focused on, putting in the work so I can get back to my teammates as quick as possible.”
With free agency looming, a chance to return to the field has to be lucrative for Godwin in hopes of bagging a major deal.
How Has Godwin’s Absence Impacted the Buccaneers?
In the immediate aftermath of the Evans and Godwin injury, the Buccaneers were reeling. The Ravens game would begin a four-game slide as the team fell in the standings. But, since then, they have been able to course correct, with a returning Mike Evans giving them extra juice.
Now the winners of four straight, they sit at 8-6. With a firm lead in the NFC South, the Bucs look poised to enter the playoffs with a ton of momentum. The injury to Godwin and Evans did clear the way for Cade Otton to take over more responsibilities. While it did not affect the win column initially, it has added another element to the Tampa Bay offense.
With wins over some of the best teams in the conference in Detroit, Philadelphia, and Washington, the Buccaneers have momentum on their side. Their remaining three games combine for the fourth-easiest schedule in the league, with games against the Dallas Cowboys without Dak Prescott, the Carolina Panthers, and the New Orleans Saints.
PFN’s Playoff Predictor gives them an 83.7% chance of making the playoffs. But, with the schedule as it is, they could be entering the postseason on a 7-game win streak, giving them a ton of momentum and home-field advantage.
Even without Godwin, the Buccaneers have found their early season form. If he were to return at some point during the playoffs, it could spell disaster for all remaining NFC teams at that point.
