Chris Godwin
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Chris Godwin isn't playing for the Buccaneers in Week 1, so when could he make his return from injury for the team?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will kick off the 2025 campaign with an important divisional matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. However, they will be without one of their top weapons on offense in star wide receiver Chris Godwin, as he is still recovering from a gruesome ankle dislocation that ended his season early in Week 7 last year.
In his absence, the Bucs have more than enough weapons to keep the offense going, but they will obviously be hoping to have Godwin back at their disposal sooner rather than later. According to a recent report, though, it still sounds like it will be a few weeks until Godwin is able to take the field for Tampa Bay.
Chris Godwin Targeting Week 5 Return for Buccaneers
A third-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Godwin has turned himself into a key pillar of the Buccaneers’ offense. Despite playing alongside another star wide receiver, Mike Evans, for his entire career, Godwin has turned himself into a star, earning a Pro Bowl and Second Team All-Pro selection in 2019, while also helping Tampa Bay win Super Bowl LV over the Kansas City Chiefs.
In 2024, Godwin appeared to be on his way to enjoying the best season of his career, as he racked up 50 catches for 576 yards and five touchdowns in seven games before suffering his aforementioned injury. Losing Godwin was a blow Tampa Bay struggled to grapple with, and while they won their division, they ultimately lost to the Washington Commanders in the wild card round of the postseason.
Godwin opted to re-sign with the Buccaneers in free agency this offseason, and he’s been working on getting himself back to full health. While it was always unlikely that Godwin would suit up in Week 1, NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Judy Battista of NFL Network reported that Godwin is targeting a return to action in Week 5.
“The Bucs will be without WR Chris Godwin today, as he recovers from a second surgery on his ankle, this time to tighten up hardware,” Rapoport shared in a post on X. Sources tell me and Judy Battista he should return to practice soon and Week 5 is the target for a return. W6 or 7 is also possible. It’s coming.”
Buccaneers Hoping Chris Godwin Can Return Sooner Rather Than Later
Chris Godwin
GettyTampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin.
The Buccaneers activated Godwin off of the Physically Unable to Perform list ahead of the start of the season, which indicated they believed he could be ready to return to action by Week 4, because if they left him on the PUP list, he would have missed at least the first four games of the season. However, according to this update, Godwin may still end up missing those four games anyway.
In the meantime, Evans will continue leading the pack at wide receiver, with first-round rookie Emeka Egbuka also factoring into the mix. Add in Bucky Irving and Rachaad White at running back and Cade Otton at tight end, and quarterback Baker Mayfield has more than enough weapons to throw to in Godwin’s absence. Kickoff for Tampa Bay’s season-opening clash against the Falcons is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.