Jason Licht Suggests Chris Godwin Could Be Seen Working At Training Camp
August 3rd, 2025
Chris Godwin’s typical look at 2025 Bucs training camp.
All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs shed his crutches for the first time at Bucs training camp yesterday, though he was still in street clothes at practice.
Chris Godwin is in the same boat. That’s a lot of Team Glazer loot chilling in sneakers.
Both guys are healing from surgery. Godwin had two ankle surgeries following his gruesome dislocated ankle 9 1/2 months ago. Wirfs had a mysterious knee surgery about four weeks ago.
So who will get back on the field first? Joe heard Wirfs has just about zero shot to play in Weeks 1 and 2, but the Bucs are hopeful he could be very soon after that. Wirfs will not be rushed, nor should he be, and it could be October before Wirfs suits up.
Godwin is more of a mystery, but there may have been good news shared by Todd Bowles and Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht.
Speaking Friday on NFL Network, Bowles said Godwin, “obviously,” is ahead of Wirfs in his rehab. (Sorry, Coach, that wasn’t obvious.) However, Bowles cited Wirfs being in crutches as a reason. As Joe wrote, those crutches disappeared yesterday.
Bowles’ comments seemed to buttress what Licht told Loose Cannons last week: Godwin could be seen on the field in training camp.
“We’re going to be careful with Chris,” Licht said. “You know, we didn’t draft Emeka [Egbuka] because of Chris’ injury. I just kind of want to make that clear. And now, though, that we do have Emeka, we can make sure we do it the right way with Chris. We can take our time. We’re thinking long-term with him; we signed him to a three-year deal.
“I don’t know if we’ll see him working out there in training camp or not. You’ll probably see him working on the side. We’ll see. It’s kind of too early to tell. He’s progressing well. And, you know, he’s a warrior.”
Licht referencing “on the side” means Godwin being on a training camp practice field but working on a side field with a trainer outside of simultaneous team drills, scrimmages, etc. Regardless, that’s a major step toward a return.
Joe had an extensive discussion with Bucs cornerback Bryce Hall about recovery from a dislocated ankle. Hall fully recovered from the injury twice in his career, including in Week 1 last season. (Hall was cleared to practice five months ago).
The way Hall explained the recovery to Joe, there’s not much time between first running and cutting on grass and being ready to play.
August 3rd, 2025 at 7:42 pm
Be curious if Wirfs is using crutches at all in the next two weeks or so. If grade 3 MCL tear — like he will be using crutches on and off for up to 6 weeks and that aligns with him not being able to play the first 2,3, or 4 games in the season.
August 3rd, 2025 at 8:41 pm
Yeah this article contained a lot of injury info that was previously unknown, at least to me. Godwin before Wirfs wasn’t obvious.
I had more hope for Wirfs. Thought week 2 he would be back.
August 3rd, 2025 at 8:41 pm
Very bullish on Bryce Hall. He learned from an excellent DC, Robert Saleh.
August 3rd, 2025 at 9:41 pm
CG14 will be back. CG14 will take his time and make sure he is 100% ready both mentally and Physically. He will enjoy this extra time to get back to where he was last year. When we see CG14 on the field, he will be in Dawg mode. CG14 and Mrs. CG14 know what time it is. When you calculate the time missed in practice and games, CG14 pay is right up there with the top WR’s. So, you better believe that CG14 will be back and will be right where he was before the ambush. I can not wait for this year version of the Bucs to get rolling. I recall 2002/2003 season.
That Defense was the best. I have a feeling we are just about ready to walk in step with them. Let’s get to the regular season already. Let Go Bucs, Let Go.
August 3rd, 2025 at 9:42 pm
Let Godwin fly solo. Zero need for him to practice with the team. Maybe Joe can convince the coaches to have Evans do the same thing. Keep those two healthy for Bake.
August 4th, 2025 at 12:30 am
Didn’t Godwin take a long time to get back on the field after the ACL?
August 4th, 2025 at 7:09 am
Curious but Hall had the same injury but is back quicker? How can that be? Strange to this fan.
Go Bucs!
August 4th, 2025 at 7:59 am
It worries me what the issue with Tristan’s knee is! If its a cartilage issue and they went in to remove a loose piece it will not regenerate and will be an issue in the future.
August 4th, 2025 at 9:05 am
He had surgery dude. Whatever it us its fixed now.
August 4th, 2025 at 10:54 am
Godwin tore his ACL late one season but was back Week 1 the next season, if I recall correctly. He had some good stats that year but he didn’t seem fully back until this past year, when he was tearing it up like an All-Pro. I expect he’ll be back in the first half and get better as the year goes on and hopefully make a couple big catches in the playoffs.
I wouldn’t separate Godwin and Evans from the team practices. Beyond them, it’s a very young receiver group and the more exposure the youngsters get to the two best receivers in team history the better.
August 4th, 2025 at 2:43 pm
Hi Joes,
Who told you no Wirfs in games 1 or 2? They both should be back for game 1 or extremely close to it I would think- unless Wirfs’s injury was more than a knee clean-up? They never did say specifically what was wrong, did they?