Bucs Still Uncertain Of Chris Godwin For Week 1
April 30th, 2025
More official chatter.
The Bucs sure don’t sound confident Chris Godwin will be on the field in Week 1.
How else can Joe interpret the way team officials phrase a Chris Godwin comeback timeline from a dislocated ankle more than six months ago?
A month ago, head Todd Bowles punted on Joe’s question regarding whether the team expects Godwin playing on opening day. Bowles said he had to see more of his star receiver’s rehab work to have an opinion or expectation.
Yesterday on WDAE radio, fielding a question about whether Tampa Bay’s first-round pick of Emeka Egbuka had anything to do with Godwin’s recovery, Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht repeated what he said Thursday after Egbuka was selected: Picking Egbuka had nothing to do with Godwin’s recovery timeline.
However, Licht revealed to Pat & Aaron that the team has at least considered life without Godwin in Week 1.
“[Drafting Egbuka] does allow us to make sure that Chris does do his rehab correctly and we don’t rush him, and all those things,” Licht said. “So that does give us a little comfort with the pick — that we can do that, to make sure that’s he’s not rushed back. But [Egbuka] had nothing to do with where Chris is currently in the rehab.
“We’re still crossing our fingers that he’s ready to go for Week 1 but, you know, if it takes a little bit longer, then that’s fine, too. We signed Chris to a three-year deal; actually, three years in the NFL is long-term. So we’re looking long-term with Chris, as well.”
Some of this chatter from One Buc Palace is confusing. If the team has some confidence Godwin will be back for Week 1, then just stick with that publicly. Chris is looking good for a Week 1 return. Can’t wait to see him this summer.
As for “comfort” in a potential Godwin absence, Joe’s greatest comfort rests in that the offense was good without Godwin last season and the team was 6-4 during that time in the regular season.
Joe sleeps at night focused on Godwin’s words, the ones that said in March he’ll be on the training camp practice fields.
April 30th, 2025 at 11:40 am
I think it’s admirable that they are doing what’s best for Godwin. A lot of other teams would have drafted a stud edge rusher or linebacker, then pressured their receiver to get back as fast as possible. Godwin is too valuable for that kind of treatment.
April 30th, 2025 at 11:46 am
I don’t see a contradiction at all. Everything Licht and Bowles said could be true–their statements aren’t mutually exclusive.
April 30th, 2025 at 11:55 am
He’ll probably be back halfway thru the season. Considering his age and injury history he should take his time.
April 30th, 2025 at 12:10 pm
THE ANSWER TO ALL MEDICAL QUESTIONS FOREVER …
He’s injured. He’s healing. He’ll be back when he’s healthy.
April 30th, 2025 at 12:10 pm
I am old school. I certainly would prefer transparency and honesty and I feel we as fans deserve that. Just tell it like it is!
April 30th, 2025 at 12:14 pm
As long as its not rushed. He just got paid and we’ll need him playing back to 100% as much as possible. I think that combined with maybe Evans might retire after this year, (hopefully not, and hopefully we bring him back), that had a lot to do with taking WR so high. Its great for now AND future planning.
April 30th, 2025 at 12:30 pm
Doing the right thing for Chris for sure. Would be great to get him back healthy for the 2, 3, and 4th quarters of the season.
April 30th, 2025 at 12:33 pm
I’ve never seen a team with so many slot receivers. Another real outside guy would be nice. But anyway, agree with buc fan in phoenix. Transparency would be ideal, although to be fair no one “in the know” including Godwin technically has to disclose anything, and people should be able to pick up what Ronde is putting down as far as some doubt with one of the guys. I’m inclined to think the doubt is with Godwin. If leadership says they strongly believe Godwin will be ready by week 1 then silly me, that is kind of what I expect. If theyre now kind of walking that back, then yes that is highly annoying. Giving a large contract to someone what may not even be his normal peak form until NEXT season is not something im a fan of. Leaning TOO MUCH in to culture, and resigning someone because hes a good guy and saves puppies isnt my thing. When I negotiate deals in the business world, I want a return on my investment throughout the entirety of the agreement. Lets say Godwin starts on IR, Mike Evans pulls up lame AGAIN with a hamstring issue then do we feel super great with Emeka and Jalen? Emeka is going to be REALLY good, but he isnt Malik Nabers WR 1 talent. How bout this, I would really appreciate it if both Evans and Godwin played all 17 games. Is that too much to ask
April 30th, 2025 at 12:51 pm
Still drinking the koolaid that E² was the BAP? Amazing how readily some of y’all eat up the BS and readily regurgitate it.
April 30th, 2025 at 12:52 pm
Godwin got his money and will be back asap just be patient the guy is a savage with this rehab thing he was back asap from his last injury i i’m glad the team already paid him because he deserves the money if anybody’s mad that he got paid and he still hurt you guys have no loyalty to people that put in their heart and soul into the team says a lot about management and a big reason good players stay
April 30th, 2025 at 12:54 pm
There’s nothing new here. Licht is stating what we all know. Godwin may or may not be ready for week one. That doesn’t mean his rehab isn’t going well. I don’t see how this is a topic for an article. There is nothing new.
This is typical attempt to draw inferences from general statements even though the statements really haven’t changed in months.
April 30th, 2025 at 12:55 pm
I have a image saved of his injury…. It’s a gruesome contortion
For most people his recovery would be a modern miracle of medical science, for an elite professional athlete…. Only time will tell if he can compete again at the level he was last playing at.
🙏💪❤️
April 30th, 2025 at 12:56 pm
Hence, Egbuka in Rd 1.
ChiBuc, keep that BS perspective in Chicago like all the gangs, crime, & murders.
We don’t want any that down here in beautiful Tampa Bay.
April 30th, 2025 at 12:57 pm
Doing the right thing for Chris for sure. Would be great to get him back healthy for the 2, 3, and 4th quarters of the season.
April 30th, 2025 at 12:59 pm
ChiBuc Says:
April 30th, 2025 at 12:51 pm
Well this sounds like a wannabe NFL GM making up conspiracies about intentions. (a) There is nothing new about this info, and (b) Licht isn’t really known for subterfuge. I don’t think there’s any reason not to believe his sincerity when describing how much he liked the player.
April 30th, 2025 at 1:07 pm
Just sub out Godwin’s name for Ryan Jensen’s name, and the statements are indistinguishable from before. So who f’ing knows what we’ll get. Some clandestine video of Chris running or jogging would be reassuring.
April 30th, 2025 at 1:13 pm
At least Joe has seen Godwin walking without a cane or a walker. But yeah, given Ronde’s statements and hearing Licht being wishy-washy about Godwin’s return and then drafting a Godwin clone in the first round when the defense had holes, it all points to bad news about Godwin.
April 30th, 2025 at 1:15 pm
gofortheface30 Says:
April 30th, 2025 at 12:33 pm
“Emeka is going to be REALLY good, but he isnt Malik Nabers WR 1 talent.”
———————–
How do you know? Why aren’t you pulling down the big $$ and working on a pro team? I’m ecstatic CG14 did not retire, and the Glazers opened their wallets (so did the Pats, but that’s whatever). Joe, seriously, I know this is a commercial$$ sports blog. You gotta stir the waters, etc. But this is shooting a dead horse. Bucs did right by CG14. If he doesn’t start until storm season ends, so be it!! Let him get back to 100%! Sheesh!!
April 30th, 2025 at 1:15 pm
what does godwin say?
April 30th, 2025 at 1:23 pm
ChiBuc Says:
April 30th, 2025 at 12:51 pm
Still drinking the koolaid that E² was the BAP? Amazing how readily some of y’all eat up the BS and readily regurgitate it.
————————————————————
In Jason Licht’s mind – Egbuka was absolutely the Best Player Available at #19 – For THIS team at least. And Licht wasn’t alone in thinking that….
3 different teams were trying to trade up into either 18 or 19th spot. Nobody was able to work out a deal at 18 and Licht turned away trade offers for 19 to turn in the card for Egbuka…
As soon as the selection of EE was announced – ALL calls for trading up ceased.
Teams were not trying to trade up for Barron or Golden – they wanted Egbuka. Which is basically proof that EE WAS the BPA at 18/19 – in the minds of at least 4 NFL GMs…..
April 30th, 2025 at 1:25 pm
I am ok with Chili Buc having an opinion that E² was not the best player available.
But he is a troll when he does not even offer who was the guy that should have been drafted.
At least swisscheesedefense was clear that he felt it was Jahdae Barron.
April 30th, 2025 at 2:15 pm
what was that talk that godwin may come back in playoffs now week 1 is uncertain? wonder why the dramatic change in timeline
April 30th, 2025 at 2:21 pm
This is what I have been thinking as well, don’t rush him back, especially after two major injuries in the span of 3 years. You don’t sign him to a 3-year contract to rush him back and potentially make matters worse.
April 30th, 2025 at 3:10 pm
I don’t see how this is some big mystery or even confusing. Godwin needs to be 100% for the latter half of the season and we don’t want to rush him back so that he’s 80-90% all year. We want CG14 balling out in the playoffs, who gives a damn if he’s not starting on week one, and how the hell can they make a definitive statement on his week 1 presence at this time anyhow? This IS why Egbuka was drafted, this IS why it was a great pick and it IS why we are going to win 10 or more games this season.
April 30th, 2025 at 3:24 pm
!st off, Chris will play, when he feels that he can play. 100%. Draftwise, addressed every issue. Even with udfa. With who, and what we got, #1 offense upcoming season, top 15 defense. Haddick, is gonna be a miles garrett this season. more takeaways. and, Bowles, will turn again, into blitz king. 1 more thing, draft picks, ever notice, same demeanor? Character 1st. Baker for mvp
April 30th, 2025 at 3:27 pm
I can’t wait for the season to start—Barron at corner? Let’s be real: he’s a safety or a nickel. The guy plays off coverage *every single time.* He’s not a lockdown, press-man corner. If you think otherwise, you’re showing a lack of understanding of the game—scheme and fit concepts matter.
We’ve got Morrison—and I’m not even gonna talk about him. I’ll bring up Parrish instead: same athletic profile, drafted in the third—and I’ll put $100 on it right now that our third-round pick will have a longer, more successful career at corner than Jahdae Barron.
I’m not saying Barron won’t stick around in the league for 10 years, but it’ll be as a safety. He’s an off-ball, reactive DB who reads the quarterback’s eyes—not someone you trust to shut down a wide receiver in press coverage. Off-man? Sure. Press-man? Absolutely not.
He allowed a 53% completion rate, but if you actually watch the tape, it’s mostly short throws underneath until they hit the red zone—just like with Dean. Why? Because he’s terrified of getting beat deep which makes no sense guy can fly. He lines up 10 yards off the ball and almost never presses. Honestly, I can’t recall a single time he played true press-man. Every time he lined up close, it looked like he was blitzing. I could be wrong, but that’s how I remember it—and I watched every Texas game. Big fan of the Mannings.
Knowing he was coming off the edge was easier than, “Watch his knuckles. If they go white, do a fade to Sandman.” Anyone remember that reference?
April 30th, 2025 at 3:49 pm
Joe Says:
April 30th, 2025 at 1:13 pm
…which were speculative, just like all the others.
He wasn’t wishy-washy. He was stating facts, which haven’t changed. He doesn’t know if CG will be ready for week 1. That’s not a newsflash. That does not mean his recovery isn’t progressing. They’ve always said there was not a timetable, and they did not intend to force a timeline and press him into action before rehab was complete. Absolutely nothing new here.
Not really. These are inferences. We still don’t know. They still don’t know.
They drafted EE because they love the player, and CG’s full recovery isn’t guaranteed… but it never was. Most people who follow this team closely completely understood that WR was a need because of uncertainty at the position…
April 30th, 2025 at 3:52 pm
Four plus months till the start of the season, Godwin had surgery 6 months ago. Bucs can’t stick to when he’ll be ready, because they just don’t know. See how he looks end of July. Makes the Egbuka pick that much better.
April 30th, 2025 at 4:00 pm
See ya in 2026! His career is over. Light’s folly.
April 30th, 2025 at 5:18 pm
@Erik, you’re an idiot. Does the ring in your nose rub you wrong? I was raised and lived the vast majority of my life in Tampa. Some adults have careers and gotta move. Check yourself and try exploring the world instead of slinging your pathetic cowardly rhetoric. Just because you hear something stupid, you don’t have to repeat it
April 30th, 2025 at 5:26 pm
@Pickgrin, are you truly going to testify to the operation of another man’s mind? What’s your proof? That you read it on the internet. That GMs are always forthcoming about who and why they pick? Maybe you are JL. There is as much validity that tails is opposite heads on a coin. Stop lapping up every morsal of propaganda you read and exposing it as truth. Your words have as much value as any opposing opinion
April 30th, 2025 at 5:40 pm
I disagree and agree. There are 2 mutually exclusive statements in that comment. I think Licht is very capable of “subterfuge” (good word, btw). In fact, I would venture that it is a necessary characteristic for a GM. The 2nd part, I absolutely agree with you. What’s not to like about E²? I like the guy, but don’t see him as a WR1. My beef is that JL did not swing for the fences. Instead, playing safe. Safe doesn’t say we’re all in for a SB. It says, we’re content leading a weak division and losing to the Commwnders in the most frustratingly defensive way possible. Sorry, but I feel differently than a lot of you and I’m ok with that. I will likely Wear an E² jersey into the mouth of a lion or bear in the near future. I just don’t like safe; it shows a lack of confidence in coaches and our 2 big WR investment which many teams will translate as weakness