Josh Grizzard Addresses Chris Godwin Return
September 10th, 2025
Thought-provoking words from Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard.
Receiver Chris Godwin dislocated his ankle 11 months ago and the Bucs haven’t delivered a clear report on his return. It’s been a whole lot of maybes and windows of hope.
The only firm timeline was provided by Godwin himself in March, and it proved inaccurate.
Still, Godwin will be back soon(ish). Maybe next month. So what might that look like on the field?
That was addressed by Bucs offensive coordiantor Josh Grizzard on the Buccaneers Radio Network. (Joe listens by the SiriusXM app.)
“Yeah, we want to just see where Chris is at and not overload him because he’s one of those people where he’s just, once he’s there he’s gonna do everything,” Grizzard said. “And we know he’s just gonna grind it out, and we’re gonna have to save Chris from Chris because of how hard he works and how much he wants to help the team,” Grizzard said.
“He already knows the scheme. He knows how to run the routes. He knows how to run all, play all three positions. And so for him just to catch up schematically with what we’re doing, for him should be really easy. It’s just gonna be a matter of how much he can take early on — on how many plays per game or how many plays in a row and we’ll just go from there as he builds up that play strength in his play stamina.”
Grizzard’s comments perplexed Joe a bit. If Godwin is cleared to play and strong enough to play, then why would the Bucs have to limit his snaps and save him from himself?
Bucs officials already have made it clear Godwin will not be rushed back to the field and he’s a long-haul, foundational player, so he won’t be on the field until he’s ready.
Joe’s most interested to see how Godwin really looks on the field. Joe loves Godwin, but if he’s not his best self, then he might end up fighting for playing time.
September 10th, 2025 at 6:49 pm
Don’t bring him back too early…..
September 10th, 2025 at 6:51 pm
Same situation as Shaq Barrett sadly….
September 10th, 2025 at 6:52 pm
It’s a matter of conditioning. Godwin running on the sidelines in practice isn’t getting him into game shape. Nobody walks in the door after a year removed from contact immediately ready for a full load. Even in 2022 when he returned from his knee injury mid-season that involved ramping up. Takes time.
September 10th, 2025 at 6:58 pm
SB~LV Says:
Same situation as Shaq Barrett sadly….
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You might want to go back and look at what happened to Shaq’s family while he was dealing with an injury before comparing his situation to Chris Godwin’s. Shaq’s life was turned upside down during rehab.
September 10th, 2025 at 7:04 pm
relax……….eggggg – booooo – kaaaahh…..to da rescue
September 10th, 2025 at 7:08 pm
more sizzle to the grizzle needed on monday night yo !
September 10th, 2025 at 7:17 pm
Louis… I am only comparing the severity of the injury and the importance of the injury to athletic performance.
September 10th, 2025 at 7:35 pm
Adam
The G is silent
September 10th, 2025 at 7:36 pm
Grizz was just giving props the Chris for his mind set and desire, nothing more. Even though he did have 1k yards in his last injury return he was not the strong Godwin he was until the next year. This time it maybe a bit different but don’t think so, maybe even a little worse injury wise.
September 10th, 2025 at 7:41 pm
Joe doesn’t get why they’d limit his play after being off for +1 year?
Say you get your Porsche out of the shop. It was in the shop because you had to fix the steering. Do you immediately take it to the track and rip off 50 laps at top speed? Or do you test it out for a few competitive laps and have the mechanics examine steering and ensure its as fixed as they thought?
What kind of analogy is this? Godwin’s been in the shop for 11 months with access to the best mechanics around. He’ll be in practice. He can work 1-on-1 with a practice squad defensive back. He can stress the ankle outside of the game in many, many ways. –Joe
September 10th, 2025 at 7:42 pm
It’s called being in football shape. He might be a little gun shy. Everyone expects Chris to be Chris. I don’t hink he’ll be the same receiver. He has the rest of his life to think about. He’s got to be able to chase after his kids.
September 10th, 2025 at 7:59 pm
We’re going to be alright, relax. Godwin and the Brass have already demonstrated their commitment to each other and the Team is better for it. Give the Pro the time he needs, he’s a competitor and he sees his replacement on the field. Godwin will be back just as fast as he can. In the meantime, we have Shepard and others wanting to put their talent on tape to help themselves and our team.
How about that makeshift O-Line? No fals starts, holds and only 1 sack in a Division game inside a dome! Relax, we are only going to get better as we go further into the season!
Go Bucs!
September 10th, 2025 at 8:01 pm
I think we can ALL agree that nothing that has come out about CG14 has been positive. Yes they may say it with a positive tone and may put a positive spin on it, but none of the news itself has been positive. Chris is an all world worker and man, but I don’t see a scenario where he is ever the player he was again. His playing career may sadly end up being shorter than Mike’s.
September 10th, 2025 at 8:01 pm
You want to ease Chris back into the lineup, but it’s nice to hear Grizz fawn over who Godwin can be for us once he can return. I’d want to limit his snaps from the outset and just get him acclimated with taking contact again. We can turn him loose at any point, but we just don’t have to press the issue rushing him to be who we know he can be. A volume target/catches, chain moving, DB blocking and TD scoring machine.
September 10th, 2025 at 8:06 pm
SB~LV Says:
Louis… I am only comparing the severity of the injury and the importance of the injury to athletic performance.
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Gotcha now.
Godwin has proven an ability to come back from an injury that could end the effective career of other players. His ankle injury might’ve been worse overall than Shaq’s achilles tbh. However it’s tough to compare one player to another with different positions, injuries and body types. Shaq’s career ace-in-the-hole was burst off the snap, what his injury robbed him of. I’m not sure if Godwin will ever be the same, but then again I wasn’t sure after his first major injury. The Bucs sure seem positive about him though.
September 10th, 2025 at 8:42 pm
For those not understanding the need to wean him back into game condition I am SMH. The trauma his lower leg experienced is off the charts. When he came back from the knee injury he experienced a set back immediately. He wasn’t the CG14 we know until the next season. This rehab is much more involved not even close. To compete as an elite athlete like he is will take a lot of time and the cautious and measured approach is the correct way to do this. Grizz knows what he is talking about.
September 10th, 2025 at 8:42 pm
@Cardiac – didn’t Barton have a holding penalty? Thought he did but not sure.
September 10th, 2025 at 8:45 pm
Dak Prescott would probably be the closest comp as far as how long it takes to get back. Obviously he wouldn’t need the running ability that Chris will.
Receivers and cornerbacks have returned from this injury in less than 6 months. –Joe
September 10th, 2025 at 9:13 pm
Joe. Godwin isn’t a young spry chicken anymore. Even when fully healthy it’s going to take some time to get him back after being out for what a year. Doing to much to fast might injure him in another way. I think that’s all grizz is getting at just making sure he’s not going balls to the wall. Give him a pitch count for the 1st couple games he comes back. If we are sitting in a good position record wise then shoot play it safe and have him fully in football shape for that playoff run
September 10th, 2025 at 9:31 pm
Need him for January
September 10th, 2025 at 9:47 pm
“If Godwin is cleared to play and strong enough to play, then why would the Bucs have to limit his snaps and save him from himself?”
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It’s not all physical. He has mental hurdles to clear. Call it holistic acclimation.
September 10th, 2025 at 10:06 pm
protecting godwin from himself doesnt sound great . you dont make that comment if you are talking about football conditioning. its more to do with how bad the injury was
September 10th, 2025 at 10:31 pm
No mountains out of mole hills.
EE gives us the luxury of picking spots for Chris and maybe reducing his snap count to preserve his longevity.
Let’s be focused on the coaches fixing the run game.
September 10th, 2025 at 10:39 pm
I bet if they knew EE2 was going to score twice in his first pro game Godwin would have been put on IR for the first 4 games.
September 10th, 2025 at 10:47 pm
BigBoiBuc Says:
Didn’t Barton have a holding penalty? Thought he did but not sure.
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He did in the 2nd quarter on their first scoring drive. It didn’t cost them any points though.
September 10th, 2025 at 11:07 pm
We will be fine. ME and EE + SS will have us in good shape. Getting CG and JM back later in the season seems like a boon to me. My guess is they come back after the bye.
September 10th, 2025 at 11:40 pm
Best mechanics around Joe? How Wirfs diagnosis get botched then?
It is definitely gonna take Chris some time to get back to full speed. I assume he can otherwise the contract was a risk. If he can be full speed looking like his old self by after the bye week… terrific. Hopefully it’s a full health squad at that point and Bucs arrow pointing way up in December/January.
September 11th, 2025 at 12:58 am
Let me know when he suits up and goes live in practice.
Tired of all the speculation and coach speak. Keep working Chris.
Go Bucs!
September 11th, 2025 at 1:05 am
When I take away small that is optimism on my part because it tells me they are not rushing him back. There’s no reason to that said, I firmly believe he will be back sometime in October.
Right now, I’m more concerned about when Tristan Wirfs will be back. The line held up, but now they’re playing Houston, one of the top defensive lines. The quicker they can have their offensive line together as a unit, the better overall for the long run.