Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that there isn't a specific timetable on wide receiver Chris Godwin's (ankle) return, but Bowles also noted he is "on track." Godwin's season ended in Week 7 last year when he suffered a dislocated ankle, and he hasn't been able to practice with the team at all. The 29-year-old was put on the Physically Unable to Perform list this week, although he can be activated at any time during training camp. The Bucs gave Godwin a three-year, $66 million deal back in March, so we'd be a bit surprised if he wasn't ready for Week 1 of the regular season this fall. However, that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be at full speed by then, and he could very easily get off to a slow start if he's eased back in. The longer Godwin sits out in camp, the more of a risk he'll be in fantasy drafts, especially after Tampa took rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka in the first round in April.
Jul 23, 2025 5:19 PM EST
Multiple sources told ESPN's Jenna Laine that Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) had another minor ankle procedure this spring to have it "cleaned out." However, a source said it wasn't a surprise and that Godwin is "doing well." He was officially placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list on Tuesday after he suffered a season-ending dislocated left ankle in Week 7 of 2024. Godwin was told in October of last year that as a "best-case scenario," he could return in the playoffs in January. General manager Jason Licht said back in April that the plan was for Godwin to return in Week 1 of 2025. However, the 29-year-old didn't take part in OTAs or minicamp and is now sidelined to start training camp. The longer Godwin remains on PUP this summer, the greater the chance he'll get off to a slow start. With Godwin out, rookie first-rounder Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan will be starters in three-wide sets next to Mike Evans.
Jul 22, 2025 8:36 PM EST
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have placed wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) on the PUP list, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It makes sense, as it was recently revealed that the Penn State product would not participate in team activities while recovering from a dislocated ankle sustained in Week 7 of last season. There's still a slight chance that Godwin will be ready for the start of 2025, though even then, it's difficult to tell in what capacity that will be. If he were to miss time, fellow wideouts Jalen McMillan and Emeka Egbuka immediately become more interesting regarding fantasy. McMillan flashed down the stretch in 2024 and was solid amid injuries, while Egbuka profiles to eventually be a plus starter.
Jul 22, 2025 4:39 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) will continue to rehab with trainers and will not participate in team activities as he recovers from last season's ankle injury. The 29-year-old suffered a dislocated ankle in Week 7 of last year. He re-signed with the Bucs to a three-year, $66 million contract this offseason. The news puts a damper on hopes of reuniting the veteran tandem of Godwin and Mike Evans heading into the 2025 campaign. Godwin was productive when healthy last season, posting 576 receiving yards and five touchdowns in just seven games before landing on injured reserve. His status for the start of the regular season is now in question as the Bucs monitor his recovery. Jalen McMillan and Emeka Egbuka would see an increase in target share if Godwin isn't ready by Week 1.
Jul 21, 2025 10:40 AM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said the team is hopeful that wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) will be ready for Week 1 of the 2025 regular season this fall after dislocating his ankle last year. Bowles said that Godwin has been working hard ahead of this week's mandatory minicamp. The 29-year-old was on his way to a career year and had five touchdowns in seven games before suffering a season-ending injury in 2024. He took less money to return to Tampa in the offseason on a three-year, $66 million deal in March. With offensive coordinator Liam Coen now out of town and Godwin coming off a serious ankle injury, fantasy managers have plenty of reasons to be skeptical that he'll look as good as he did before his injury last year. Perhaps the biggest threat to Godwin's workload in 2025 is rookie first-round wideout Emeka Egbuka.
Jun 9, 2025 6:14 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin said that the New England Patriots offered him $30 million per year on a multi-year deal in free agency this offseason. However, Godwin turned down the Patriots to re-sign with the Buccaneers for $22 million per season. The 29-year-old was on pace for a career year in 2024 through the first seven weeks of the season before suffering a season-ending dislocated ankle. In addition to the Patriots, the Pittsburgh Steelers were another team interested in signing him this offseason. There are multiple reasons why fantasy managers should be skeptical of Godwin in 2025, with the biggest one being his recovery from his serious ankle injury. Additionally, he might not have the same volume with offensive coordinator Liam Coen now gone and Jalen McMillan and rookie first-rounder Emeka Egbuka in the fold.
Jun 9, 2025 12:12 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that he's optimistic that wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) will be ready to play in Week 1 of the 2025 regular season. "I'm hoping he's on the field Week 1. I'll have more to know about that after [this] month goes on - see how he feels when he gets running and practicing and everything else," Bowles said. Despite suffering a dislocated left ankle in Week 7 of 2024 that sidelined him for the rest of the season, the Bucs re-signed Godwin this offseason to a three-year contract. The 29-year-old pass-catcher will continue to form an excellent one-two punch with veteran Mike Evans when he's healthy, but there will be plenty of skepticism about his fantasy value until we see him get back on the field this offseason. The good news is he was averaging a career-high 19.7 PPR fantasy points per game last year before his injury.
Apr 1, 2025 1:34 PM EST
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are re-signing wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) to a three-year deal worth $66 million on Monday, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Godwin will be guaranteed $44 million at signing. There were some whispers that the New England Patriots would make a play to snag Godwin, but the Bucs made sure that the 29-year-old never reached the open market. With Tee Higgins being franchise-tagged by the Cincinnati Bengals, Godwin was the next most attractive wideout in free agency at the receiver position. Godwin ended up playing in only seven games in 2024 due to a fractured ankle, but before that season-ending injury, he was on pace for career-best numbers with 50 receptions, 576 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 62 targets. Despite the presence of Mike Evans, Godwin should continue to have a big role in Tampa's passing attack in 2025 as long as he doesn't have any negative effects from his ankle injury.
Mar 10, 2025 12:20 PM EST
Free-agent wide receiver Chris Godwin is expected to draw a ton of attention in free agency this offseason. The Pro-Bowl wideout will hit free agency for the first time since he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2017. The Bucs have made it known they want to bring back Godwin, but decided not to franchise tag him and let him walk into free agency. The New England Patriots are rumored to be a heavy favorite for Godwin, but he should have a handful of suitors. The 29-year-old has been excellent since coming into the league in 2017. It's worth noting that Godwin only played seven games this past season due to a season-ending ankle injury. Before that, Godwin posted three straight season of 1,000-plus receiving yards, so the injury shouldn't impact his value on the open market. It wouldn't be shocking to see Godwin get a deal that is worth more than $25 million per season.
Mar 7, 2025 10:00 AM EST
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that if Tampa Bay Buccaneers impending free-agent wide receiver Chris Godwin makes it to free agency, don't be surprised if the New England Patriots get involved. It's no secret that the Patriots are looking to upgrade their receiving corps with a bona fide No. 1 wideout this offseason, and after the Cincinnati Bengals placed the franchise tag on wideout Tee Higgins, Godwin would be by far and away the top available pass-catcher on the open market. However, Tampa has made Godwin a priority, and the feeling around the NFL is that they will make him a Buc for the rest of his career. It wasn't financially feasible for the Bucs to use the franchise tag on Godwin for a third straight season, but they may look to lock him up before he becomes available to other teams. The 29-year-old was on his way to a career year in 2024 alongside Mike Evans before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in mid-October.
Mar 5, 2025 11:52 PM EST
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) agreed on Tuesday to move the void date of his current contract to the final day of the new league year on March 12. Godwin's previous contract was due to void soon, which would have triggered $18 million in dead money against the team's 2025 salary cap. Tampa still has the option to place the franchise tag on the 28-year-old, but that won't be happening for the third straight year. The restructure of Godwin's contract gives the two sides more time to work out a contract extension since he's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March. Before suffering a season-ending dislocated left ankle in Week 7 against the Ravens, Godwin was on his way to a career year with 50 catches, 576 yards and five touchdowns. He should be fully recovered for the start of the 2025 season and will reprise his role as a heavily targeted No. 2 WR if he stays in Tampa.
Feb 18, 2025 9:02 PM EST
According to ESPN's Jenna Laine, there's "no chance" the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will use the franchise tag on wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) this offseason. Sources say that the Bucs very much want to bring Godwin back in 2025, but it won't be via the franchise tag. This would be the third time that Tampa has used the franchise tag on the 28-year-old, which would have to be a 144 percent raise. The former third-rounder in 2017 out of Penn State was very productive alongside Mike Evans last year, but then he suffered a season-ending ankle injury and played in only seven games, finishing with 50 catches, 576 yards and five touchdowns on 62 targets in his eighth year with the team. Godwin is still on the right side of 30, so he should have a fairly decent free-agent market. If he returns to Tampa, he'll be working with quarterback Baker Mayfield again, albeit with the third different offensive coordinator in the last three years.
Feb 17, 2025 10:06 PM EST
According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to attempt to re-sign wide receiver Chris Godwin. Fowler noted that multiple executives believe Godwin views himself as a "Buc-for-life," similar to Mike Evans. Godwin had his 2024 season cut short due to a season-ending ankle injury during their Week 7 contest. However, prior to the injury, Godwin was enjoying a strong season as he tallied 82.3 yards and 7.1 receptions per game. He found the back of the end zone five times and averaged a solid 11.5 yards per reception. While sidelined, rookie Jalen McMillan enjoyed a late-season breakout as he found the back of the end zone seven times over the final five contests. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Godwin's status during the offseason, as he would likely return to his role in the slot if he returns to Tampa Bay in 2025.
Feb 1, 2025 2:06 PM EST
The NFL's Ian Rapoport reports that Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) will undergo surgery on Wednesday to repair his dislocated ankle. Rapoport noted that tests done leading up to surgery were "as good as they could've been," according to sources. Additionally, there is an outside shot Godwin could return in 2024, depending on how late in the winter the Bucs play. However, the likelihood of such an outcome is not very good. With fellow wideout Mike Evans (hamstring) expected to miss time through Week 11, Tampa Bay is suddenly reeling on offense. It'd not be surprising to see the team seek veteran help, but in the meantime, wide receivers Jalen McMillan, Trey Palmer, and Sterling Shepherd will attempt to fill the void. Running back Rachaad White and tight end Cade Otton should also continue to see an uptick in usage.
Oct 23, 2024 10:12 AM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) will be undergoing surgery on Tuesday to fix his dislocated left ankle and will likely be out for the rest of the season. However, there's a small chance that Godwin could make it back early in 2025 if the Buccaneers make a deep playoff run. The 28-year-old suffered a gruesome ankle injury late in the fourth quarter in Monday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Fantasy managers in single-year leagues can send Godwin to the waiver wire now for a healthy body. It's devastating news for Tampa and Godwin, as he was excelling in his return to the slot in 2024 with a league-high 50 catches, 576 yards and five TDs in seven games. With Mike Evans (hamstring) to miss at least three games, the Bucs will be forced to use rookie Jalen McMillan, Sterling Shepard and Trey Palmer in three-wide sets moving forward.
Oct 22, 2024 4:31 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) is set to undergo an MRI before surgery to repair his dislocated ankle on Tuesday, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero. The 28-year-old is likely to miss the remainder of the 2024 NFL season. Needless to say, this is an unfortunate development for Godwin, who looked to be on track for a career season. Godwin caught 50 passes for 576 yards and five touchdowns before going down with a serious-looking injury in the Monday Night Football loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Mike Evans (hamstring) suffered a hamstring injury and exited in the first half, so the Buccaneers could be down to Jalen McMillan, Sterling Shepard, and Trey Palmer in Week 8. Fantasy managers with Godwin should wait on official work, but he's likely to be droppable considering he likely won't return this year.
Oct 22, 2024 9:12 AM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) was diagnosed with a dislocated ankle near the end of Monday's game against the Baltimore Ravens, head coach Todd Bowles told the media postgame. Godwin will be out indefinitely. He suffered the injury with one minute left in the fourth quarter as the Buccaneers trailed by 10 points. Godwin finished Week 7 with nine targets, seven catches, and 65 receiving yards. He was placed in an air cast and carted off the field. The injury was gruesome enough that ESPN declined to show a replay on its broadcast. Football fans on social media were quick to criticize head coach Todd Bowles for keeping his starters in the game with such little time left on the clock. While Bowles explained postgame that he felt the Buccaneers still had a chance to win, his decision evidently backfired as Tampa Bay lost and Godwin is now expected to be done for the season. He finishes the 2024 campaign with 50 catches, 576 receiving yards, and five touchdowns. It's possible the veteran receiver has played his final game with the Buccaneers as he prepares to hit free agency during the 2025 offseason. It's a devastating loss for Tampa Bay and fantasy football managers everywhere, as well as crushing news for Godwin amidst a promising start to the 2024 season. Moving forward, Jalen McMillan and Trey Palmer should earn more snaps alongside starting wide receiver Mike Evans.
Oct 22, 2024 12:22 AM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin is coming off his best performance of the season. Last week, Godwin hauled in 11 receptions for 125 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the New Orleans Saints. It was season highs across the board for the veteran wideout who has been fantastic since his move back to the slot. The expectation is that Godwin will remain a focal point in the passing game this weekend against the Baltimore Ravens. A defense that has struggled to contain the passing attack early on this year. Godwin has done enough to be plugged in as a WR1 for this Week 7 contest.
Oct 19, 2024 8:30 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin was seemingly unstoppable on the field during Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. The veteran wideout had taken a backseat to Mike Evans lately, but had another breakout performance this weekend. Godwin hauled in 11-of-13 targets for 125 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Godwin has been a consistent option all season long with five receptions or more in every game. He has also posted 53 receiving yards or more in all six games. The move back to the slot as done a tremendous amount of good to Godwin's game. He'll be a WR1 for next week's game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Oct 13, 2024 6:04 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin has slowed down a bit since his impressive start to the season. However, Godwin has still be one of the better fantasy options at wideout this season. Last week, Godwin hauled in five of his six targets for 64 yards in the overtime loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Godwin now has 60 yards or more in four of his first five games this season. He has also seen eight or more targets in every game, but last week's loss. The assumption is that Godwin will continue getting consistent usage especially with Mike Evans likely drawing star defensive back Marshon Lattimore. Fantasy managers should keep Godwin on the WR1 radar in PPR formats for Week 6.
Oct 11, 2024 6:15 PM EST