Rondé Barber: “I Can’t Get A Solid Answer” On What’s Wrong With Chris Godwin Or Bucky Irving
October 15th, 2025
Chris Godwin
This is disturbing but not surprising.
Like most NFL teams, the Bucs can be secretive when it comes to player injuries.
Todd Bowles doesn’t like to share injury details. Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht isn’t big on it, either. And both are known to clam up tight if it’s an important player or a significant injury. Team Glazer, obviously, doesn’t demand their football decision makers be candid with fans.
Perhaps Joe is misguided, but Joe thinks it’s a safe bet the Bucs wouldn’t lose a competitive edge by detailing publicly — via whatever media vehicle the team chooses — what is going on with Chris Godwin’s fibula or Bucky Irving’s bad shoulder and foot, for example.
The Bucs want fans to buy a player’s jersey, cheer their hearts out for the guy, pay to watch him play and learn his life story through team media. But the player gets hurt and, well, all of a sudden it’s not the fans’ business. Got it.
Via their WFLA-TV partner, the Bucs support The Rondé Barber Show. The Tampa Bay legend talks all things Bucs each week and injuries were a topic on today’s episode.
Barber, who works for the Bucs, sort of touched on what he’s learned about key injured players on the roster and speculated on return timelines.
And then he got to Godwin and Irving.
“The ones that worry you are Bucky and Godwin; I can’t get a solid answer what’s wrong with either of them,” Barber said.
Joe is worried, too, Rondé.
Barber did not bring up right tackle Luke Goedeke, who has an undisclosed foot injury. Adam Schefter and Booger McFarland at ESPN seem to say Goedeke is done for the season, and Joe is unaware of any correction or clarification being issued by either.
October 15th, 2025 at 7:19 pm
Honestly, the details of anyone else’s medical problems quite frankly are not any of our business.
The NFL world is not the real world. Injuries are declared. It’s in the players’ labor agreement. The NFL also is in bed with a multi-billion dollar sports gambling industry.–Joe
A timetable for return would be nice, but they don’t have to share it. Is what it is.
October 15th, 2025 at 7:27 pm
I hope it doesn’t end up as a big mistake resigning Chris for 20Mil/Yr. Everybody loves him including me but right now it looks like a lousy investment.
October 15th, 2025 at 7:30 pm
not sure about you guys but i’m checking all media outlets from Wednesday afternoon on trying to find out when our beloved team will be whole again and mostly full strength, these guys health is extremely important to us, thanks Joe for the update…. we are all counting the minutes to get some of our amazing receivers back.
last week was a fairy tale with the johnson’s scoring but i don’t think you can get that every week, 49ers defense was depleted bad and disorganized for those guys to be so wide open
October 15th, 2025 at 7:33 pm
One thing that can’t be denied about JBF. Loves playing the injury card on this site. Oh the drama! And this year there’s plenty of material to work with. Has JBF or anyone asked Bowles or Licht about Luke?JBF reported what came from their media brethren but haven’t heard if Joe asked anyone down at OBP for comment. Seems like the logical thing to do. Maybe I missed it. What up?
October 15th, 2025 at 7:37 pm
I have to agree with Joe on this one, think based on the way it’s set up by the NFL and Players Association with the gambling industry there needs to be more transparent disclosure. I understand HIPAA, but this is an entirely different situation. Plus as a fan it sucks not knowing what is going on with players.
October 15th, 2025 at 7:37 pm
We’re fine.
My Take on NEED …
Godwin – none – Looked bad. Other WR are playing better.
Cancey – none – CK was invisible. Rookie is playing better.
Bucky – low – White looks great. Tucker was solid.
Evans – mid – Great on 3rd and Red Zone.
Goe – mid/high – Major upgrade.
Zyon – high – #1 DB
Embuka – super ultra high – #1 WR
October 15th, 2025 at 7:40 pm
Argh. How’s Mec?
October 15th, 2025 at 7:40 pm
Remember Bucky Irving’s ridiculously mellow dramatic post on IG or whatever it was? That’s we all laughed at, or atleast I did. Like take it easy pal you aren’t dying and you’re only gone for a few games. “Maybe” there was something more to it. Bucs are a top 5 organization at this point, envy of most in the league – but their lack of transparency with this stuff can be absolutely maddening. And no, not every team is like this across the board. It’s just how they do things.
October 15th, 2025 at 7:42 pm
nobody knows nothing
October 15th, 2025 at 8:02 pm
Every other publication except this one has reported that Embuka will miss Monday night’s game. Scheffler said it’s not as bad as Evans injury but he’ll miss at least a week. I’m guessing they keep him out of the Saints game and bring him back after the bye.
October 15th, 2025 at 8:04 pm
This sucks especially the Luke situation.
October 15th, 2025 at 8:04 pm
Ronde not your business part of not giving other teams info
October 15th, 2025 at 8:08 pm
This is a little disconcerting.
If anybody with a media platform would know about Chris or Bucky, it would be Ronde.
The only reason for him to misdirect or spin would be if the Bucs had said something specific, or another media outlet was reporting something specific.
October 15th, 2025 at 8:13 pm
We’re sitting at an unexpected 5-1 record atop the NFC. With that fact, there’s no need to rush any of the star players back. Take the opportunity to gain experience for the depth chart guys. It’s worked for 3 games so far. Hate to say it, but we can afford to loose a few games and prioritize maintaining the Division lead/returning stud players when it counts. Win the Division and we’re in the dance. We’ll need those guys for the long road.
October 15th, 2025 at 8:13 pm
“Zyon – high – #1 DB”
Tell that #1 DB comment to the reigning Defensive Player of the Week and Bucs Int leader as well as the former 1st team all pro at safety.
October 15th, 2025 at 8:13 pm
The NFL is the entertainment business.
There is zero ‘sports’ benefit from hiding injuries, in particular when you have injuries report which completely eliminates doing something like hiding a player and surprise playing them out of the blue.
Release the info, the public wants to know.
October 15th, 2025 at 8:17 pm
BTW, if the Bucs were to reach out to trade for Maxx Crosby, they need to make them include Devin White in any deal. The guy is playing fantastic, again lead the Raiders in tackles, and had a sack with a forced fumble, and added an INT. Just think if we had him out at LB right now, and could use Dennis as a depth player.
October 15th, 2025 at 8:18 pm
This is the Ol’ Jon Gruden smoke where ya put half the team on the injury list to force the opponent to gameplan for any and everything.
Atta boy Bucs
October 15th, 2025 at 8:22 pm
Keeping it all a secret doesn’t make any sense at this point. Other teams have access to the internet too. I’m sure they all know we won’t see our WR2 or LT1 for several games if not the whole year.
October 15th, 2025 at 8:31 pm
JTHV Says:
October 15th, 2025 at 8:18 pm
This is the Ol’ Jon Gruden smoke where ya put half the team on the injury list to force the opponent to gameplan for any and everything.
———-
Yeah, that’s not what is happening as the NFL will fine you and take away draft picks if you do that now.
No, it’s as simple as the Bucs are missing half their team due to injury – all because the NFLPA doesn’t want to let guys practice, which is leading to many more injuries, and many more players giving the NFLPA a cut of their check (in addition to all the injured players also giving a cut).
October 15th, 2025 at 8:34 pm
Any information, however fickle, gives one an edge. Moreso, HIPA. Peoples medical issues are private no matter how much a joe may think the purchase of a jursy or game ticket automatically abolishes a sports figure privacy rights. Jaw dropping position – tolterian?
October 15th, 2025 at 8:36 pm
The Godwin injury scares me. I can not remember hearing about a fibula injury before unless it was broken. I am worried it could be a Ryan Jensen type situation. We will not hear much for about a year then he has to retire with a massive cap hit
October 15th, 2025 at 8:57 pm
Even if he never comes back I won’t consider it a mistake. The players support other players getting their bag. It’s enormous for the locker room culture that performance is rewarded and that the team “keeps their own”. CG14 is one of those guys you want on your team no matter what.
And, if the worst happens and he really does never play again, I’m sure the cap charge wouldn’t destroy us.
October 15th, 2025 at 8:58 pm
Too much. I respect Ronde (HOF), but he’s also in the sports entertainment biz. He knows he says something like this, it’s going to garner a lot of local sports attention. CG14 will come back when he is fully healed. If he was going to retire, he wouldn’t have signed the new contract. Bucky will return as will several others we all have been wondering about. Right now, Joe, please do more focus on Detroit. How is the team preparing? When do they leave for Motown? What kind of field does that indoor stadium have? How do you deal with Hutchinson? When the teams played last year, he made a major impression on me. He was constantly in the backfield. Both teams were fully healthy. The Bucs beat them. What do they have to do to repeat it, walking wounded and all? That’s what a lot of us fans are wondering about.
October 15th, 2025 at 9:02 pm
For those complaining about Godwin and how he hurt this years cap… if the Bucs had let him walk, it was a $15M cap hit due to void years, to keep him, it was a $13M cap hit. The Bucs actually saved money on the cap this year by keeping him.
Also, if you think $22M for a WR is expensive, you clearly haven’t followed NFL salaries for the last 5 years or so. $22M is extremely cheap for a guy that was leading the NFL in receiving last year when he was hurt, and is a bonified #1 in the NFL.
October 15th, 2025 at 9:03 pm
John ocala Says:
October 15th, 2025 at 8:34 pm
Any information, however fickle, gives one an edge. Moreso, HIPA.
===============
OMG, there is zero benefit that the team gets from hiding injury info. And HIPA has literally zero baring on the NFL injury report. Give me a break.
October 15th, 2025 at 9:08 pm
@RM,defnitely miss that horse riding version of that LB inside of Ray Jay back in the day. Thought then that he would be a Buc for life. Sure went south fast. I’d open the gates and let him ride back in. Haven’t seen much of anything out of the weakest link on this team. Still don’t get what they see in Dennis
October 15th, 2025 at 9:15 pm
Teams put players on the jury list to throw their opponents a curve ball or keep their opponents guessing strategy. overblown. Means very little to the another team’s preparation. Rare exceptions One of those over-hyped things that quite frankly is mostly only believed by the viewing public. People that have little direct contact with competitive team sports. Form over function. Sounds good to maybe build some drama but rarely matters in between the lines. As far as HIPPA is concerned people might be surprised by how few people are actually bound by HIPPA. Clinical staff for example would almost certainly be bound. Beyond that, not so much.
October 15th, 2025 at 9:16 pm
Ha! Didn’t see Rod Munch’s post before typing.
October 15th, 2025 at 10:11 pm
I think Jordan Travis had same injury as Godwin and well we know how that turned out, I am not optimistic for Godwin’s return and if he does is he going to need weeks of practice to get in game shape?
October 15th, 2025 at 10:57 pm
Last season thru the first few games…that was peak Chris Godwin. Not only great catches but the runs after catch were dynamic.
He looks rusty and hobbled. He either came back too soon or may never regain top form after the borderline criminal hip drop, leg twisting/snapping tackle by R. Smith.
Patriots offered his a pile and the draft hadn’t occurred yet…so no EE. He took what was considered a team friendly deal for that caliber of WR.
October 15th, 2025 at 11:00 pm
Thought it was early for Chris to come back. It was. This is a lost season for him, and the Bucs should have had the best information available to any team. So, Get well soon, Chris, we need you next year.
Was not a fan of Tez. But seeing him operate has opened my eyes. It’s not like the 9ers were laying off him; he has legitimate skills. And it looks like the stopwatches were inaccurate for some reason. Let’s see if he can get open against a Lions defense.
Shepherd will be there. Tez will likely step up. Who’s the third (or fourth) wr option now — Johnson? Someone more needs to step up.
October 15th, 2025 at 11:05 pm
“Ha! Didn’t see Rod Munch’s post before typing.”
It doesn’t matter what either you or Rod type or even Joe types. The idea that the bucs are just keeping the fans in the dark to keep the fans in the dark or out lack of respect makes even less sense competitively. Fans don’t play games or affect outcomes.
It might not actually effectively work but its at least possible there someone that thinks – lets keep teams we play against in the dark but there is sure no one at one buc that think it affects any game played to keep fans in the dark.
October 15th, 2025 at 11:08 pm
I agree Lou.. I think Chris was so eager to get back that he came back too soon. Especially in full force. In hindsight, they maybe should’ve shelved him until next year but the optics of signing him ( although to a contract that is NOT exorbitant) were pretty clearly the driving factor.
I would never bet against CG14, but whatever happens, he’s an all time GREAT Buccaneer, and I’ve witnessed all 50 years.
October 15th, 2025 at 11:34 pm
I mean Chris or Bucky are on IR but this will be Bucky’s 3rd game he will be out I really think that the Bucs are just being over cautions with all there guys an letting them take extra time to get healthy since Bucs are sitting 5-1 no need to rush guys back White an Tucker can hold it down till Bucky is good an Mike should be back this week would be nice to have Emeka or Godwin for this Lions game but what’s more important is having guys fully healthy when they come back for a serious post season run don’t rush guys back that’s how they reinjure themselves we have 2 weeks then a Bye week I suspect we see Alot of Guys come back after that bye week Luke Hopefully Godwin an Bucky if not sooner
October 16th, 2025 at 12:11 am
I have no reason to doubt Ronde. That said? This worries me because it is Ronde saying it. Ouch… If our very own Ronde Barber can’t get some sort of answer? That does not bode well.
Go Bucs!
October 16th, 2025 at 12:14 am
I echo some sentiments above- them being mum on Godwin is really bad news. I have a feeling we might be witnessing the end of a career. He looked pretty bad out there the few games he played and if he reaggravated the ankle I think it might be curtains for him
October 16th, 2025 at 12:16 am
Bucky definitely worries me. White can block and catch and run but he just doesn’t have the explosiveness and twitchy elusiveness that Bucky does. If White gets you 40 Bucky probably gets 65 on the same carries.
As much as we want to see Godwin back on the field, getting Mike and Emeka back to go with Kam, Shepherd, Tez, who is good for now
Here’s praying they’re all back and healthy after the bye
October 16th, 2025 at 2:56 am
I don’t believe ANY media outlet will ever respect player privacy. And I know there are fans who don’t.
I for one do. It doesn’t matter if there’s an edge or not. It doesn’t matter if Hippa laws prevent it or not (they actually do, Rod. Contracts cannot violate actual laws).
I respect a person’s right to decide for themselves whether to reveal personal information like that. Clearly, the team feels this way too.
That said, ever since Godwin was injured, I’ve pointed to Paris Warren as a Bucs example. Warren was never as good as Godwin, but he showed potential to be good. He had the same injury, and was never the same again.
Now, times have changed. Treatments have improved. So I think Godwin has a better chance to return to form, but I will never forget the Paris Warren injury.
I hope for the best, but things seem to not be pointing that way.
As to Bucky Irving, I think the fears are overblown.
October 16th, 2025 at 3:01 am
It is possible the team is playing it extra safe. As long as the backups are doing well enough to win, there’s no rush. We can even afford to lose one more game heading into the bye.
After the bye week we’ll need to make a big push, so I get it.
At least the offensive line is getting back to normal.
October 16th, 2025 at 3:33 am
I believe that Godwin is likely done for the year. Put him on IR and give him time to properly heal, if that’s even possible.