Terminator-like determination.
Joe remembers two weeks ago at the combine in Indianapolis Bucs types pretty much all agreed that if any player could bounce back from an awful injury like a dislocated ankle, it would be Chris Godwin.
And Godwin yesterday at One Buc Palace oozed that confidence, all but promising a full return.
“I’m fully confident in my ability to make that come back,” Godwin said. “Unfortunately or fortunately, I’ve had the opportunity to do it once before, but it’s just like anything else.
“If I just focus on my process and actually get better each day, it will take care of itself.”
Godwin refused to elaborate on his injury or his rehab. Wouldn’t even put a timeline on his return, only to say he was good with where he was in the rehab.
Godwin did say one reason he didn’t want to offer up a date for a return to the practice field or even playing in a game is that it’s an empty date. If his rehab is lagging and tries to push it too hard to meet that day, it all could blow up in his face and actually set him back.
Obviously, Godwin wants to avoid that. But taking the rehab at its own pace is possible, Godwin said, because of the talent the Bucs have on offense.
“I think the beautiful thing is the way this team is set up,” Godwin said. “We have a ton of playmakers all over the field and I think we had a really good view of that when I got hurt, when Mike [Evans] got hurt and we were still one of the best offenses in the league.
“To me, I look at that as there’s a world of opportunities out there and not just for myself but for all of us. When we’re all healthy, we’re going to be a hell of an offense to try to deal with and that excites me.”
If Mike Evans can avoid his seemingly annual hamstring issues until Godwin gets back, that will be a plus. Bucky Irving and Cade Otton and Jalen McMillan and Evans can carry the Bucs until Godwin gets the green light to return to the field.
If new Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard can keep the Bucs offense in the top ten — Joe doesn’t want to put unreasonable expectations on a first-year coordinator expecting him to duplicate or improve on a top-three offense — until Godwin returns, look out NFC South.