Some Clarity On Chris Godwin’s Injury
November 6th, 2025
Rough estimated return timetable surfaces.
We have some new and a little more specific information on Chris Godwin’s lingering injury, though the report only invites more questions.
Chris Godwin last year had his ankle destroyed against Baltimore. And he had surgery. Twice. And he came back to play 105 snaps this season against Philadelphia and Seattle before he went back on the shelf with what the Bucs will only refer to as “fibula,” which is his original injury suffered against Baltimore.
As one can expect, Bucs coach Todd Bowles has been vague about what’s going on with Godwin and the nature of his “fibula” injury that he put him back on the sidelines the past three games.
Again on Thursday, Godwin did not practice, which has been the norm for him the past month. As seen on ESPN, Jeremy Fowler had some information on Godwin’s injury and it doesn’t sound like he will play in the near future.
“He aggravated his fibula earlier in the year,” Fowlers said of Godwin. “[The Bucs just don’t want to press it with him.
“They are thinking late-November, December with Chris Godwin so they will take it week to week with him. They will see if he can practice on Friday but he was not out there today.”
Well, Fowler said Godwin “aggravated” his fibula injury. When? Earlier this year, Godwin went back for a second surgery on his fibula. The Bucs were adamant at the time it was just a routine cleanup.
Many doctors will suggest there is no such thing as a “routine” surgery.
Is this when Godwin “aggravated” his fibula, as Fowler suggested, causing Godwin to go under the knife a second time? Or is Fowler referring to Godwin aggravated his fibula during the Seahawks game? Fowler was not clear.
If the Bucs really are going to take it easy on Godwin and not rush him back, then Joe is going to guess that Fowler’s rough estimate of a December return is likely more accurate than a November return.
In the video you can see below, Fowler has little information on Bucky Irving, but WTSP-TV Channel 10 sports anchor Evan Closky typed that Fowler reported Irving’s shoulder is the biggest concern for the Bucs.
Jeremy Fowler talked about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers injury situation on Sportscenter today.
He mentioned the shoulder injury is more of a concern for Bucky Irving than his foot.
He also said Chris Godwin Jr. might not be back until "late November-December." pic.twitter.com/Xtjn1fYPlM
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) November 6, 2025
November 6th, 2025 at 11:14 pm
Bucs medical. Tallest midget.
November 6th, 2025 at 11:18 pm
God bless Chris Godwin!!!
November 6th, 2025 at 11:21 pm
Lol if he won’t come back until end of November early December why would he pratice Friday? Makes no sense
November 6th, 2025 at 11:22 pm
The concern with Bucky has to be that with a shoulder sublaxation injury a failure to heal is a step towards getting surgery. My guess is they’re trying to give him all the time they can before doing that and ending his season.
In other words they’re operating on hope – but so far it’s not looking good. My two cents.
November 6th, 2025 at 11:25 pm
About as clear as mud. I expect Evans and McMillan out for the season, we’ll be lucky to see Godwin again this year. Too many injuries to overcome. Offense looked horrendous last 2 games. Next 3 games 0-3. I had such high hopes heading into this season. Seattle is the only good team we beat, and maybe SF if you count them.
November 6th, 2025 at 11:36 pm
Is there an IR limit preventing that or him practicing behind the scenes (?) is more important than the roster spot?
Hopefully this is a situation where the Bucs weren’t rushing him but he wanted to get in so played a bit, reported some soreness and Bucs shut him down again, rehab and strengthen for a couple more months and get a couple tune ups before the playoffs, help us last 3 games kinda deal.
November 6th, 2025 at 11:52 pm
BPBucsfan Says:
Too many injuries to overcome. Offense looked horrendous last 2 games. Next 3 games 0-3. I had such high hopes heading into this season. Seattle is the only good team we beat, and maybe SF if you count them.
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Every team has vulnerabilities just like the Bucs do. Don’t write them off just because they’re facing adversity. They have an intact defense playing much better than given credit for. If the offense can be average they’ll win more than they’ll lose.
November 6th, 2025 at 11:54 pm
“..Bucs coach Todd Bowles has been vague about what’s going on with Godwin and the nature of his “fibula..””
———-
“It’s a mystery wrapped in a riddle inside an enigma.”
November 7th, 2025 at 12:07 am
Sounds like a career ending injury honestly, lets move on, if he ever comes back and makes a difference then good. Lets focus on who actually is playing football. This type of injury is often the last one they ever have.
November 7th, 2025 at 12:22 am
There is a cap but the Bucs am pretty sure are under that.
***Generally*** if the Bucs don’t think a guy can play for four games he goes on IR (Goedeke, Evans, Kancey, etc.). The only thing Joe can think of is that the Bucs believe Godwin and Bucky aren’t that far off.
November 7th, 2025 at 12:32 am
I would not count on Bucky or Chris until they actually line up on the field on a game day. They may not play another regular season game this year. We will see….
The Bucs have been very coy about the injuries to say the least, so until I see Bucky or Chris on the field, I do not care what is said by any Buc representative about any injuries.
November 7th, 2025 at 12:33 am
For whatever reason you local beat reporters get whipped by everybody else
Nothing but a group of podcasters acting like you know what is happening
Y’all suck. Never get the scoop.
November 7th, 2025 at 12:47 am
Shoulder subluxation in the majority of cases results in some degree of labrum tear.
While he may be able to eventually play thru it, this type of injury can take as much as 12 months to fully heal without surgery. The timeline with surgery can be shortened to 6 months.
Even if he comes back he will not be as effective and he will be prone to re-injury.
Hopefully Mayfield is advising him to not push it too hard….based on his own personal experience.
November 7th, 2025 at 1:24 am
So if your top 3 receivers are out until the end of the season, why did they not pull the trigger to get another receiver to help Egbuka?!?!?!?!?
I love LICHT but this is a massive failure
Shepherd, Otton, Tez, Kam, White out of the backfield, are all very good 5-7 options, but they just assured Egbuka will be double teamed and taken out of most games.
November 7th, 2025 at 1:38 am
Gotti-Dog-05-20-84 Says:
Shoulder subluxation in the majority of cases results in some degree of labrum tear.
While he may be able to eventually play thru it, this type of injury can take as much as 12 months to fully heal without surgery. The timeline with surgery can be shortened to 6 months.
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I’m of the same opinion. We’ve seen the last of Bucky for the year. Or at least the Bucky we *want* to see taking the field.
There seems to be a disconnect between the Bucs coaching/execs and the medical staff. Either there’s too much wishful thinking, incorrect prognosis or just plain mistakes with some injuries this year. Namely Godwin and Irving, but also Macmillan to a degree.
November 7th, 2025 at 1:56 am
Not surprised at all. They wouldn’t be so secretive if it wasn’t a big deal.
We might never see our pre-season fearsome foursome at WR ever actually all play a game together.
November 7th, 2025 at 2:46 am
Everyone says we good championsh def. Two rooks f it forget about getting the 1seed that’s in our grasp ok AC/DC 🤙🏾
November 7th, 2025 at 4:10 am
As the saying goes, the best ability is availability. For most WRs, 30 years is when you start to see big declines in performance, as great as Mike has been, the recurring hamstrings will only get worse, with the streak over, I figure he really may retire this year. Even if he doesn’t, it would be remiss of us to offer him similar money to now, would have to be a smaller number if we bring him back (factoring in his age, maximum games a season probably 10 – 12). Godwin also will be 30 years old, and his latest injuries seen pretty serious. Hindsight is 20-20, but we really should have let him walk to the patriots and seen what compensatory draft pick we might have gotten – especially if Licht knew we were going to draft Egbuka in the first round.
Again, Godwin has been great, but father time is undefeated, and with the injuries, we cannot afford to be sentimental. Similarly, LVD we gotta think about how we replace him, still doing enough, but he’s not going to be able to sustain this forever
November 7th, 2025 at 4:15 am
Thank you for the update, Joe.
Figuring that Todd has a plan. Also sounding like Chris did try to be back much earlier and pressed it too much. These guys want to be on the field so badly, but must heed good medical advice to be fully 100% for not only football for their own livelihood.
November 7th, 2025 at 4:17 am
I said this before and I;l say it again. Second surgery would be routine to take the screws out.
November 7th, 2025 at 4:23 am
CLARITY on Chris Godwin’s injury? What I just read from Fowler above doesn’t add a thing.
“Aggravated his fibula earlier in the year” … Nothing new there.
“The Bucs just don’t want to press it with him” … Heard that before.
“They are thinking late-November, December with Chris Godwin so they will take it week to week with him” … Kinda obvious that Chris has been ‘week-to-week’ for awhile. Nothing new there either.
Pretty much the same with Bucky. And Mike Evans too. Seems to me like guys who do make it back late in the season after an extended rehab aren’t really difference-makers in the playoffs. They usually come back at less than 100% it seems, and in the playoffs that rarely seems to lead to being a difference-maker.
Not adding any help prior to the trade deadline COULD hurt us, depending upon other injuries. And with 9 regular season & (theoretically) up to 4 playoff games to go, more guys will probably get hurt. It’s the nature of the beast. And our DEPTH is dwindling. BUT … at least some of those depth-players are getting some good experience. HOPEFULLY there’s a diamond or two in there (or 4 or 5).
November 7th, 2025 at 4:49 am
Players that didn’t have injuries to their legs are MUCH MORE LIKELY to have a big effect coming back. That includes all of Evans, McMillan, and Irving(as long as foot isn’t a concern). Might take Godwin a while to be able to cut at full speed. Then again it could be soon. But the rest can help us immensely down the stretch for sure if they make it back.