Todd Bowles: You Don’t Replace Mike Evans And Chris Godwin
October 11th, 2025
Will be missed tomorrow.
Last year the Bucs’ passing game went into the toilet without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in the lineup. So it is not surprising the Bucs were 0-3 with both star receivers in street clothes.
One team the Bucs lost to last year without their one-two punch at receiver was the 49ers. San Francisco kicked a field goal as time ran out to win. The Bucs will face San Francisco tomorrow.
Without Evans and Godwin, then-Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen went small-ball. It wasn’t like his offense was Don Coryell to begin with. But without Evans and Godwin against the 49ers, Coen really dialed the playbook back.
The Bucs’ leading receivers that day were running backs Rachaad White (6 catches for 39 yards and a touchdown) and Bucky Irving (3 catches for 14 yards). Unfortunately, Irving also is unavailable tomorrow.
Among non-running backs, Baker Mayfield targeted tight end Cade Otton 8 times for 5 catches and 35 yards.
The receiver with the most catches that day was Rakim Jarrett, who is no longer with the team. He had two catches for 10 yards.
So basically, the forward pass became little more than a forward pitch to running backs. Talk about taking the air out of the ball!
“I do not think you can ever fill a void [left] by Mike and Chris,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said yesterday.
So what will the Bucs do? Bowles said they actually have other receivers. Time for them to produce and time for the Bucs to find out how to best use them.
“Other guys have things they do well to make this team,” Bowles said. “We [have] to make sure when they are out there that we really try to enhance those abilities that we know what they can do and call the right plays from that aspect of it.”
Unlike last year, the Bucs now have a rookie receiver tearing up the league, Emeka Egbuka.
But yeah, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht pulled a Matt Millen stunt by drafting a wide receiver at No. 19.
Right.
October 11th, 2025 at 10:13 am
Joe is all over the “Matt Millen” bit like a hungry dog on a steak!!!!!!!!
LOL
Give em all the smoke Joe!!!!!!!!!!
Were it not for that pick we might be 1 and 4.
October 11th, 2025 at 10:13 am
Hopefully Bucs will activate Garret Greene from the practice squad. Greene can contribute well if given the opportunity.
October 11th, 2025 at 10:20 am
EE, Shep, Tez, Otton, Miller, White, Tucker. The Bucs will be fine tomorrow. Something I don’t think has been talked about enough is Kittle being out. Can you imagine what he would do to Voss Dennis? Yikes!
October 11th, 2025 at 10:26 am
kittle always killed us purdy too… please beat the 49ers!!! this game is so hype!!!
October 11th, 2025 at 10:28 am
Loved using tez in motion. Very well might be shaving off the start up time that made him look slower at the combine and potentially give the defense fits figuring out where he is going to cross the line. Chris is good but will disagree – think he is replaceable . Mike is the truly unique receiver
October 11th, 2025 at 10:35 am
Shep can do it. He can have a monster game. But, being down to only 2RBs is a concern. Especially since Tucker seems to be regressing, this after Bowels said he needs more touches and then benched him.
If the Bucs had a defense, leaning on them would be the way. Leaning on this defense results in opposing points. So there’s that.
October 11th, 2025 at 10:42 am
BSPN is stirring up Maxx Crosby to Bucs trade… that would be epic.
October 11th, 2025 at 10:50 am
Emeka Egbuka/Sterling Shepard/Tez Johnson is a better wide receiver group than what we had last year for the game – Ryan Miller/Sterling Shepard/Rakim Jarrett.
We should also take note that the Bucs came out of the gate this year looking like a far hungrier and driven team in one score games than they were last year.
Time will tell, as always. We didn’t win a single game last year in which both Evans and Godwin were missing. Frankly, I am far more worried about the loss of McCollum and Morrison for the game than I am the two missing receivers.
October 11th, 2025 at 10:57 am
Im not trying to down play the significance of Evans and Godwin being out, but it seemed to me last week in Seattle the offense looked faster and quicker with the different wideout groups. We are obviously witnessing somewhat of the changing of the guard at the wideout position in Tampa.
October 11th, 2025 at 11:01 am
Lt. Dan – yes, Kittle would’ve been a matchup nightmare, but I think the 49ers will compensate for that by getting CMC in space. Often. I bet he gets 12 carries max, and they will line him up wide early and often to exploit. I’m seeing like 9 catches for 80yards type of game. But hey as long as the Bucs find a way to win then that’s all that matters
October 11th, 2025 at 11:24 am
Well I expect kam johnson and Tez johnson and Miller and shepherd , Egbuka and the tight ends (all of them) will get some play. We have to keep Mccaffrey bottled up. Just cannot stomach seeeing him have a career day.
October 11th, 2025 at 11:38 am
The additions of Egbuka and Johnson will enable this offense to be more potent than last year’s game, when we had 3 decent to good receivers playing. This year we have a OROY candidate leading the wideouts and Johnson is starting to come on, making joystick Madden worth plays out there leaving guys grasping at air. I expect to see Johnson a lot more in this game. Plus the 49ers are missing some studs on defense. Should be able to win this if we don’t do stupid stuff.
October 11th, 2025 at 11:49 am
After this season, Godwin might be done. Licht is looking like a genius with his 1st rd pick of a receiver.
October 11th, 2025 at 12:48 pm
View——
Who wouldn’t love the Maxx Crosby trade for a 2nd and a 4th? But I fear it’s not Licht’s style to trade away picks. Several other teams are in the hunt as well, including this week’s opponent. Could be wrong, but I see Lynch more open to such a thing.
Perhaps Brady, although a limited meddling owner, might put in a loyalty good word for Licht, but doubt that too.
Brady comes across as only being loyal to Tom Brady. Sometimes wonder if he was more thrilled for himself than Tampa for bringing home the Lombardi.
Come on Jason, shock me! Reddick has done nothing to date and Morrison can’t find the field. Do it!
October 11th, 2025 at 1:04 pm
After this season not just Godwin, but Evans may also be done. Neither guy can stay on the field and Godwin’s injury may be too much to come back from….
October 11th, 2025 at 1:44 pm
@mikejohnson – genius – he gave Godwin $60+ mill – how is that genius?
October 11th, 2025 at 1:52 pm
Godwin is not playmaker in his condition, he won’t be missed. But getting Big Mike back will be huge. Godwin is probably done and was a huge mistake with the big contract. Especially with glaring holes at other positions. Mcmillan is more important on the field than Godwin.
October 11th, 2025 at 2:00 pm
Let’s face, been no Godwin for almost a yr. As much as we hate to think it, but with the emergence of our WRs is it time to think of CG as trade deadline bait? NE was interested and they have some interesting LBs on their roster (eg Landry & Chaisson for sacks, Spillane for pd). Which begs the question, why didn’t JL look Landry’s way when the Titans let him walk? Back to the point….CG’s “team friendly” contract should get some looks and we already paid the no return portion of it (injury time). I know we all love Chris, but he’s been no help for a yr and we need help on the edge and the middle of our D
October 11th, 2025 at 2:13 pm
Tez needs to continue to be part of our game plans in spite of the nimrods who called him a bust before the season started!
Tez will get his 1st TD against San Fran
October 11th, 2025 at 2:27 pm
There is nothing wrong with Tucker as somebody suggested here. He just needs 15 touches tomorrow and he will prove my point. Great speed and strength. Syracuse doesn’t produce soft running backs.
October 11th, 2025 at 2:31 pm
Hey JA, can we can the Brady crap? He’s history. As far as ME13 and CG14 missing tomorrow, the Bucs, Bake and Grizzard will have replacements in position. Only thing I’m worried about is the refs. 49ers are one of their darlings. I’ve listened to enough ref BS against Tampa Bay to make a whale vomit. Go Bucs and beat the crappy refs and their darlings, 5-1!!
October 11th, 2025 at 2:32 pm
Jesus. you all should be ashamed. evans/godwin, will retire here. Mayfield would throw a fit. We have enough depth at wr, to make it through the bye. little bit of otton, we are great. ol is starting to gel. defense is the worry. probally top 7, if all healthy. lol. about 20 something, right now. ill throw the score. 35-24, bucs. remember, 1st 5 games, was mainly special teams that killed us, they are getting better. check out mahommes mountain. lol. Baker reigns supreme
October 11th, 2025 at 2:50 pm
The FRAGILE TWINS
October 11th, 2025 at 2:59 pm
Definitely no replacing Mike and Chris. They are legends now and always there to help the rookies. Even not playing, they are on the sidelines motivating them.
October 11th, 2025 at 7:55 pm
Just more foolish football talk. Evans and Godwin are great players but everyone is replaceable. Does anyone doubt that Justin Jefferson could replace either? Pua Nacua might also look good as a Buc as wood Jeremiah Smith. Just a matter of making a deal or two.
October 11th, 2025 at 9:46 pm
Maxx Crosby would lead all pass rushers in passes defensed with 1. He would end up with 2 sacks. Jason knows his defensive oriented HC doesn’t know how to run a defense in 2025. The biggest move off-season will be to force Todd to hire a full time DC, or go teach at Temple.
October 12th, 2025 at 12:26 am
Evans will be back soon enough. Either next week or the following.
Godwin has a minor-ish injury that has nothing to do with his surgically repaired injury from last year. He also will likely be back either next week or the following…. and I must say to those who are dissing on Chris and on Licht for re-signing him – saying Godwin is done and whatnot….. Fools… Maroons… IDIOTS! LOL