ESPN: Chris Godwin “Will” Be Back
October 23rd, 2025
Shelved. But for how long?
Joe talked to a hardcore Bucs fan yesterday at his place of work. The guy was so frustrated Joe thought he was going to call security and have Joe kicked out.
No, the Bucs fan was not angry at Joe. But he is angry and frustrated that Bucs players are injured and the Bucs refuse to give specific information about injuries or a realistic return date.
Joe tried to calm the fan down, letting him know NFL teams rarely are eager to broadcast injury information and that it is not just the Bucs. And Joe also told him that if these injuries really were serious, Chris Godwin and Bucky Irving would be on the injured reserve list.
Neither Bucky nor Godwin is.
Over at ESPN, NFL insider Jeremy Fowler — and Joe knows who he talks to at One Buc Palace — typed up an item about Bucs injuries and how no team needs to get to the bye week without any additional injuries more than Tampa Bay.
And Fowler added, Godwin “will” return.
No team has been more knocked by injury than the Buccaneers, who have a Week 9 bye. Many with the Bucs have a simple goal in mind: Take care of business vs. the Saints, then get right coming out of the bye for the stretch run. Losing Mike Evans (collarbone) is brutal, but the Bucs don’t have to overreact with a splash trade at the position. Emeka Egbuka is a starter, Tez Johnson is emerging and Chris Godwin Jr. will be back. Also trending positively for the second half of the season: right tackle Luke Goedeke.
It would sure help if Goedeke is back, but dang this team needs Bucky and Godwin right now in the worst way.
At worst, with Bucky back, he will take some heat off of Emeka Egbuka and Godwin, just because defenses will have to account for Bucky in the passing game as well.
October 23rd, 2025 at 5:31 am
If it’s a bone bruise on the fibula then Chris will most likely be back after the bye. Painful injury and you have to wait for the swelling to go down. Once that happens, you can wrap that sucker up and move on. Hopefully, that’s all that this injury is.
October 23rd, 2025 at 6:10 am
McMillan?
October 23rd, 2025 at 6:14 am
I guess opposing defenses aren’t that concerned about Rashaad White out of the backfield. He was very reliable at one point, unless the play calling is concentrated on going downfield.
October 23rd, 2025 at 6:23 am
What’s going on with jmac
October 23rd, 2025 at 6:31 am
BACK, back? Or the Seattle Godwin back. We need a threat, not a body. Can we make teams pay when they decide to quadruple cover Ebuka? Frankly not having Godwin wouldn’t bother me too much if Mike Evans was healthy, because he’s the one that adjusts the opponents game plan. Having that big body that can high point balls, grab back shoulder fades sure helps. Emeka can get deep but Baker is going to need to be a bit (a lot) more accurate than he was in Detroit. There is of course a difference between hitting a guy in stride when he gets behind a defender instead of just letting mike go up and get it – which has been an underrated luxury
October 23rd, 2025 at 6:43 am
What she said
October 23rd, 2025 at 7:06 am
Bowles said that JMac was still in a brace…..is that 9 weeks? Quite serious.
We need him because he gets open.
October 23rd, 2025 at 8:10 am
we really need luke and bucky….
starting to get concerned about jmac…
GO BUCS!!!!
October 23rd, 2025 at 8:20 am
Would love to see Bucky and Chris come back together. That would drive the opposing team insane.
October 23rd, 2025 at 8:20 am
Any updates on McMillan? I know original estimates were Thanksgiving but there hasn’t been any news since. I hope he’s ok and it’s not just a one season injury type deal but if he is ok and coming back this year that would be a huge boost!
October 23rd, 2025 at 8:34 am
They’re going to have to draft another WR in the first if Jmacs injury is career threatening
Anyone know Chris Godwin’s cap hit of he’s cut? Need money for front 7
October 23rd, 2025 at 8:57 am
I think the Bucs should have signed Ray Ray to the practice squad. Would have been an ok insurance policy. I don’t see Evans coming back nor Godwin at this point. Even if Godwin comes back he will probably re-injure his ankle. The Bucs are not saying but it appears the injury is pretty bad. Bucky, who knows?
October 23rd, 2025 at 9:10 am
Duh ESPN! CG14 will be back of course!! The question is when? The same goes for Goedeke, McMillan, and Bucky? Is the plan in place to travel to New Orleans without all of them and go into the bye then coming back with all or 2 out of 3?
I’m not a very patient fan of course someone once said “Good things come to those who wait” I sure hope the football gods make this come true! Next up New Orleans! Get it done!
October 23rd, 2025 at 9:11 am
Maybe we can trade Jerry for Cee dee!!
October 23rd, 2025 at 10:40 am
A Bye Week never looked so good. I’m glad it’s almost here. With all the walking wounded, it’s almost miraculous that the Bucs are 5-2. Go Bucs!!
October 23rd, 2025 at 11:56 am
The Godwin we knew is gone, Licht whiffed on relying on an injured player to come back AGAIN
October 23rd, 2025 at 12:27 pm
tucker hasn’t looked too good either…maybe a little more burst this week vs the saints, as he gets flashbacks of last year’s big game
October 23rd, 2025 at 12:28 pm
Smarter than Joe…he’s not on IR.
October 23rd, 2025 at 12:46 pm
White is much more effective as a 3rd or 4th progression. Making him the prime target (because of past success) hasn’t worked.
October 23rd, 2025 at 12:56 pm
I just read a report last week that said JMac is expected back week 14
October 23rd, 2025 at 1:15 pm
Hopefully we get jmac back soon cuz if we get seahawk Godwin back that isn’t much help.
October 23rd, 2025 at 3:37 pm
Still in a neck brace. That tells Joe he’s not close to returning.
Bucs are being *very* cautious with him. So, don’t get your hopes up for a quick recovery.