Todd Bowles Knows Why Chris Godwin Has Had A Strong Camp
August 10th, 2026
Return of old Chris Godwin.
Fans at One Buc Palace for Bucs training camp practice, has Chris Godwin looked smooth to you?
Joe sees a very smooth Godwin. Sharp. Godwin may not be as fast as he used to be, but boy does he look smooth.
It’s been a while since Joe has seen Godwin look like this in camp. And Bucs coach Todd Bowles has the answer for why Godwin has had his best camp in some time.
“I think he’s healthier right now,” Bowles said. “I mean, years past he’s been hurt the last two [training camps], but he’s a lot healthier right now.”
And yeah, Godwin’s camp has reminded Bowles of the Godwin in his prime.
“He’s into it mentally,” Bowles said. “He’s sharp. He’s tough. He understands it. He’s a great mentor to the guys. He’s still a playmaker for us.
“He makes big plays for us in the passing and blocking game. I think right now he’s peaking at the right time.”
Joe noticed a practice last week when Godwin laid out a defender with a vicious block.
Joe thinks Bowles nailed it: Godwin looks damn good because he’s healthy.
August 10th, 2026 at 7:35 am
Chris is ready for the season to start, and surprisingly, he’s one of the healthier WRs at the moment. I’m not sure I want Chris practicing against some crazy rookie at the Jets scrimmages.
August 10th, 2026 at 7:39 am
You know what I’ve been thinking lately. Suppose Zac Robinson uses Chris Godwin in this offense the way that the falcons used Kyle Pitts? Pitts was essentially a WR and was never asked to block much. I imagine that CG would thrive doing much what was required in that role.
August 10th, 2026 at 7:40 am
Hey Joe. How has that rookie receiver out of GA State looking?
August 10th, 2026 at 7:43 am
Just a thought that crossed my mind when trying to imagine how this offense will look and how Robinson with spread the all amongst the WRs. Emeka in the Drake London role (they used him much more in the slot last year) and CG in the Pitts role (he was essentially a slot WR himself).
August 10th, 2026 at 8:02 am
“Joe thinks Bowles nailed it: Godwin looks damn good because he’s healthy.” Lt. Dan would also add that the absence of ME13 may have something to do with Godwin’s fine training camp. He is the undisputed WR1a now. EE is more like WR1b right now.
August 10th, 2026 at 8:26 am
Very nice to see him back
August 10th, 2026 at 8:42 am
Sounds like EE is becoming the WR #3. Watch out below!
Reputation is built on performance. It’s no substitute for performance.
August 10th, 2026 at 9:01 am
Glad to hear CG is back! Also glad to hear that Todd knows something.
August 10th, 2026 at 9:42 am
Well, he’s got to be at a Top-5 (Top-10 minimum) in the league WR-level, to worth the kind of money LICKT handed him… $66-MILLION ($44-MIL FULLY GUARANTEED). After last season’s wash-out. And, think about all the Dead Cap, if they decide to move off him after the season. It’s NOT looking so good. Then, you go and draft his replacement in the same draft AND lose Mike Evans the next off-season. He’s NOT going to be a Top-5/10 WR in the league this season, so you can go ahead and just completely dismiss THAT right off the bat. But, he’s got to AT LEAST BE a major major contributor or BIG reason for why they make a Conference Championship Game. When I look at the LIONS and some of the other team’s ROSTERS, and what THEY are paying for THEIR talent, how ‘high-level’ THEIR talent is, and with how THEY always, constantly seen to find the ELITE-level MONEY to pay ELITE-level TALENT… My question to myself is WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL OF OUR MONEY!? Especially, when we DON’T have any $30-MILLION WR’s, and we are NOT paying ‘top-of-the-market’ $$$$ for a QB. Like, WHERE IS IT!? It’s really dumbfounding good me. Now, I’m not even saying that WE HAVE Detroit-level, or any of these other team’s talent, either. Which is what makes it EVEN MORE dumbfounding, that we don’t seem to have ANY MONEY. JL and this FO has obviously done a HORRENDOUSLY BADDDD JOB.
August 10th, 2026 at 9:48 am
The reason I bring up Detroit, is because I saw where they just signed a few more of ‘their guys’ to big-money deals… Like, they always seem to do without batting any eye. Just like a few other teams do. THEN, I start thinking about OUR ROSTER.
August 10th, 2026 at 10:30 am
So far so good.
Stay healthy dude…
August 10th, 2026 at 10:32 am
Nice Buc trivia:
Who was the best 3rd round pick in Tampa Buc history?
1) Ronde Barder
2) John Lynch
3) Chris Godwin Jr.
4) Other
August 10th, 2026 at 10:43 am
I can’t remember a time when Godwin was healthy that he didn’t play great. When you add in the blocking, he’s like a mixture of Fitzgerald and Hines Ward. But the question remains, who’s our number one. The clear choice right now is Hurst. Mek, Mac and Tez aren’t fast enough to be ones. They get the job done for sure but I’m not sure they’re true number ones. Even though he should be our starting X, I’m sure the season isn’t going to start with Hurst on the field.
August 10th, 2026 at 11:01 am
@ ATL
“he’s like a mixture of Fitzgerald and Hines Ward.”
I agree.
Nice comps…
August 10th, 2026 at 11:24 am
No doubt LT.Dan ! Im guessing since he’s doing well Mayfield must be also?? Go Bucs!
August 10th, 2026 at 11:37 am
Mayfield and Egbuka are the biggest winners of Chris returning to form.
A fully healed and healthy Godwin takes so much pressure off Egbuka, who won’t have WR1 expectations this season. Godwin should have coverage sliding to him once the season starts and that gives Egbuka more opportunities to do what he did at the beginning of last season. It puts JMac as a natural WR3 with a possible time share with Hurst later on in the season.
If all goes well Hurst takes on the WR2 role if Chris leaves in 2027, but he can learn and develop without the Bucs being forced to give him too much this season.
Stay healthy Chris, the young guys are going to learn a lot from you this year.
August 10th, 2026 at 11:42 am
Melvin JR: $22 million a year is nothing now a days for receiver. He’s tied for 25th this year. Chris isn’t a top 25 guy when healthy?
August 10th, 2026 at 11:42 am
Number 1 WR doesn’t mean X Wide Receiver.
A “#1 WR” (or WR1) means a team’s top-performing pass-catcher or primary target, whereas an “X receiver” is a specific tactical alignment position on the line of scrimmage (the split end).
We will see who there #1 as the season progresses. My money would be on CG. As far as Hurst being the X and developing into their #1. That’s the hope. He has the tools, size, contest well at the high point & speed. His ceiling is really high. Coming out of Ga St. I would think it would take a year or two for him to develop. 5 TDs and 400 yards his rookie year would be a huge. Hopefully he gets his red zone route running and Baker’s trust enough to put him in down there.
Last year the best player in camp aside from ME was EE. Where is he this camp? Egbuka has just disappeared. I get the rookie wall hamstring issue the 2nd half of last year but what’s going on now? Has he lost his confidence? Reporters need to dig into this!
August 10th, 2026 at 11:57 am
@Marine – gotta go Barber. HOF career but even more importantly..the interception that got the Bucs past the Philly curse and shut down the Vet with a wimper. Best moment of my Bucs life.