So in Week 1 last season, Bucs No. 3 cornerback Bryce Hall was on the field for the defense against the Commanders.
It was his Tampa Bay debut after being signed months earlier as a veteran free agent — and it ended with Hall being carted off with what looked like an air cast on a shattered ankle.
Little did anyone know that six weeks later the same ugliness would come for Chris Godwin late in the Week 7 game against the Ravens.
The duo were traveling down a similar rehab road with dislocated ankles and broken legs. But it was nothing new for Hall.
He had the same injury during his senior season at the University of Virginia and it cost him a full year before he was cleared to play. By then, Hall had missed rookie and training camp with the Jets, in addition to games.
This time, however, Hall was cleared to play in February, only 5 1/2 months after the Week 1 disaster. The Bucs re-signed him in March.
Talking to Joe yesterday after an interception in Bucs minicamp practice, Hall explained that injuries greatly have improved and evolved the mental and spiritual side of his game. He believes his attitude and faith helped accelerate his current rehab.
Hall says Godwin has had a tremendous mental approach to his rehab, too.
“We talk a lot going back and forth throughout the rehab process. [Godwin has] been such a good dude, just his spirit, his mentality,” Hall said.
Godwin’s injury was 7 1/2 months ago, so he’s on a different recovery track.
Everyone tied to the Bucs hopes Godwin won’t need a one-year rehab like Hall had in college.
“Obviously, Chris kind of had to have a little bit longer because his break was a little bit different than mine, a little bit worse,” Hall said. “But we encourage one another. He told me the other day that seeing me on the field really motivated and encouraged him. We had pretty much the same injury.”
“Day 1 when I stepped on the field and started running around, that’s kind of when I knew. You never know kind of going into that moment, you know, obviously you’ve been rehabbing but you haven’t been able to play live bullets.
“… For me, I’ll say Day 1 on the field, just moving running around cutting and not thinking about it, that was pretty cool. And I look forward to that for [Godwin].”
Hall said he’s been telling Godwin how special it will be when he can get back on the field — and when they’re on the field together, maybe even across from each other in training camp.
Joe feels great about Hall’s return. He’s a young veteran, 27 years old, who was the Jets’ No. 1 cornerback before Sauce Gardner. If Hall falls into, say, a No. 4 outside cornerback role with the Bucs this season, that should be high-quality depth.
As for Godwin’s timeline, regular readers here know Joe has no confidence in Godwin being ready Week 1. Yesterday, Todd Bowles said he’s waiting on Godwin being cleared to start rehabbing outdoors.