Bucs' Chris Godwin Reportedly Had 2nd Ankle Surgery During Offseason amid Injury Rehab

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin is still working his way back from the dislocated ankle he suffered during Week 7 of the 2024 season in October, and he reportedly underwent a second surgery this spring.

ESPN's Jenna Laine reported Tuesday that the second surgery happened during the ongoing offseason after he required an initial surgery following the injury.

Tampa Bay placed him on the active/physically unable to perform list Tuesday, although Laine cited sources who said the second surgery was more to have the ankle "cleaned out" and that he is "doing well."

Players who are on the active/PUP list can be activated for training camp or the preseason at any time. While they are on it, they can participate in meetings and work out at the facility, although they are not allowed to practice.

Godwin will also count against Tampa Bay's 90-man training camp roster limit while he is on the list.

However, he will be forced to miss at least the first four weeks of the season if he is placed on the reserve/PUP list during the preseason or roster cutdown period.

Laine noted Godwin was told at the time of the injury returning for the playoffs last season was a "best-case scenario." Yet that never happened, and he also missed OTAs and the Buccaneers' three-day mandatory minicamp this offseason.

It perhaps sheds some light on Tampa Bay's decision to select Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka with a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft despite having Mike Evans, Godwin and Jalen McMillan on the roster.

Egbuka finished his collegiate career with the Buckeyes as a national champion and the program's all-time leader in receiving yards and is accustomed to taking advantage of space as a secondary option after playing alongside the likes of Jeremiah Smith, Marvin Harrison Jr., Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson.

He could fill in for Godwin if needed and play a similar role while running routes alongside Evans.

Still, Tampa Bay surely wants its veteran back and healthy, seeing how he surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in three straight seasons from 2021 to 2023 before the injury. And it will be all the more explosive if Evans, Egbuka and Godwin are all available and testing opposing secondaries together.

All eyes will surely be on Godwin as training camp progresses, as his health could go a long way toward determining the Buccaneers' overall offensive ceiling in 2025.