Chris Godwin Timeline Reportedly Revealed as Bucs 'Don't Want to Press' Injury

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are coming off their bye week, but it doesn't seem like they will have wide receiver Chris Godwin available for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots.

"Dealing with a fibula issue," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported on SportsCenter. "With him coming back with the injury last year as well, and then he aggravated his fibula earlier in the year. They just don't want to press it with him. They're thinking late-November, December with Chris Godwin. They'll take it week-to-week with him."

Godwin was limited to seven games last season because of an ankle injury and has appeared in just two contests this year.

He is one of a number of skill-position players dealing with injuries for Tampa Bay, as fellow wide receivers Mike Evans (collarbone) and Jalen McMillan (neck) are also sidelined. Running back Bucky Irving also missed practice Wednesday and Thursday with foot and shoulder injuries.

When healthy, Godwin is a key playmaker in the offense.

He surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in four different seasons, including three years in a row from 2021 through 2023. However, injuries have prevented him from building on those numbers of late.

The various setbacks at wide receiver this season have made Tampa Bay's decision to draft Emeka Egbuka in the first round all the more important. The Ohio State product leads the team in receptions (34), receiving yards (562) and touchdown catches (five).

He will continue to be Baker Mayfield's No. 1 target with Godwin still working his way back from injury.

It is a testament to Mayfield as well that the Buccaneers are an impressive 6-2 despite so many injuries. In a perfect world for the NFC South team, he will continue to develop chemistry with Egbuka in the immediate future and then have no shortage of weapons come playoff time with everyone back in the lineup.

For now, though, the Buccaneers are taking a cautious approach with Godwin.