HEADLINES

Chris Godwin

Buccaneers Expected To Be Without Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin, Bucky Irving In Week 7; Latest On Jalen McMillan

October 18th, 2025 at 12:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

OCTOBER 18: As expected, the Buccaneers have ruled out Godwin and Irving for Monday night’s game (via Auman), but head coach Todd Bowles said that Egbuka is a game-time after returning to practice on Saturday. Evans, however, is expected to play, per Auman, giving Mayfield at least one of his best weapons back for a crucial matchup at the top of the NFC that could play a factor in postseason seeding.

OCTOBER 15: Without injuries factored in, Monday night’s Buccaneers-Lions matchup would reside as one of the league’s top games during the first half the season. Tampa Bay is 5-1 despite a slew of maladies on offense, while Detroit is 4-2 amid more injury trouble on the defensive side.

One positional duel Monday presents a fascinating setup, however. The Bucs are heading into Week 7 decimated at wide receiver, while the Lions just faced the Chiefs without five of their top six cornerbacks. Although Tampa Bay held on against a San Francisco team that lost Fred Warner midgame, Detroit’s depleted secondary could not contain Kansas City’s depleted passing attack.

Some advanced looks at the Bucs and Lions’ rosters will be required ahead of this game, as a wave of backups will be involved when Baker Mayfield looks to pass. The team’s receiver situation absorbed two more blows over the past several days. Chris Godwin‘s fibula injury will almost definitely keep him out of Week 7, with Todd Bowles indicating (h/t WTSP’s Evan Closky) neither Godwin nor Bucky Irving is expected to be ready for the Lions tilt. Emeka Egbuka‘s explosive start has also hit a roadblock.

The hamstring injury the first-round pick suffered in Week 6 is likely to keep him out for Week 7, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport said during a Rich Eisen Show appearance. Though, some good news has come out of the Egbuka storyline. The Bucs do not view this hamstring issue as one that will sideline the rookie for as long as Mike Evans has been shelved by his. Evans has missed the past three games. Egbuka has proven a quick study, hauling in 27 passes for 469 yards and five touchdowns.

Evans has not been ruled out yet; his status could determine how deep Bucs and Lions fans’ research efforts will need to be. The Bucs finished Sunday’s 49ers matchup with Sterling Shepard — who has stabilized his career after years of injury-plagued Giants seasons — to go with seventh-round rookie Tez Johnson and second-year UDFA Kameron Johnson. This trio will be needed again, perhaps even if Evans is deemed ready to return. They will face a Lions team that has D.J. Reed and backups Khalil Dorsey and Ennis Rakestraw on IR, with Terrion Arnold and Avonte Maddox having missed the Chiefs game.

Tampa Bay’s receiver stable stood as one of the NFL’s deepest position groups entering OTAs, as it was not known Godwin would need to miss games after his 2024 ankle dislocation. During preseason play, however, Jalen McMillan suffered a neck injury and landed on IR. The 2024 third-round pick remains in a brace, according to Fox Sports’ Greg Auman, but has not experienced a setback. A December return remains the target, Auman adds.

Subbing for Godwin last season, McMillan finished the year on a tear by catching seven touchdown passes over the Bucs’ final five regular-season games. McMillan still has a ways to go on his recovery path, but the Bucs will likely hold one of their injury activations for him. The second-year player represents a wild card of sorts, especially with Shepard still in the mix as an auxiliary piece accompanying Evans, Egbuka and Godwin (presuming he returns from this fibula issue).

Irving remains out with a foot sprain and a shoulder injury later revealed to be a subluxation. The Bucs have not used IR for Irving, Evans, Egbuka or Godwin. This will mark back-to-back absences for Godwin, who needed nearly a year to recover from his ankle injury before sustaining this fibula setback, and three straight for Irving. Rachaad White has made this a notable part of his contract year, while third-year UDFA Sean Tucker sits as the current backup.

Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin Ruled Out With New Leg Injury

October 10th, 2025 at 2:57pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin gave fans (and fantasy owners) a scare when he popped up on the injury report this week with a fibula injury.

Godwin’s season-ending ankle injury in 2024 also included a fibula fracture, so there was some concern that the veteran wideout had suffered a setback after returning to the field in Weeks 4 and 5. However, Godwin’s injury in a different area of the fibula than last year’s fracture, per FOX Sports’ Rick Stroud. He is considered week-to-week and is not expected to land on injured reserve, which would mandate a four-game absence.

The Buccaneers did rule out Godwin for Week 6 (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter) along with Mike Evans. The two have not shared the field this season, with Godwin missing the first three games and Evans missing the last two. They will both be sidelined, which will likely elevate Sterling Shepard into a starting role and increase opportunities for Ryan Miller and Tez Johnson. The absence of running back Bucky Irving, the team’s second-leading pass-catcher, will also have an impact, but backup Rachaad White has been an excellent receiving back in his career.

Of course, Tampa Bay’s passing game will still be heavily reliant on rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka, who has racked up 445 receiving yards in his first five games, more than one-third of the team’s total for the season. The Buccaneers hoped that he could combine with their Pro Bowl veterans to form one of the league’s best receiver trios, but they will have to wait at least one more week to see all three on the field together.

Bucs’ Tristan Wirfs, Chris Godwin Expected To Return In Week 4

September 27th, 2025 at 8:45am CST by Nikhil Mehta

SEPTEMBER 27: Wirfs hinted that he would take the field in Week 4 with a social media post, per ESPN’s Jenna Laine, while her colleague Adam Schefter confirms that Wirfs, Godwin, and Baker Mayfield should all play. Mayfield has been dealing with a biceps injury,, but participated in practice every day this week.

SEPTEMBER 26: The Buccaneers offense is expected to get a major boost in Week 4 with both left tackle Tristan Wirfs and wide receiver Chris Godwin on track to make their 2025 debuts.

Godwin practiced in full on Wednesday, had a planned rest day on Thursday, and returned to the field on Friday, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Wirfs had been limited for the last few weeks before an upgrade to full participation on Thursday. Both are officially listed as questionable for Sunday’s matchup with the Eagles.

Godwin is coming off a season-ending ankle injury in 2024, while Wirfs underwent knee surgery in July. Tampa Bay opted not to place either on the physically unable to perform list to start the season, allowing them to ramp up over the first three weeks. Had they been on the PUP list, they would have been ineligible to practice until after Week 4 and would likely need a few more weeks to be game-ready.

Both returns couldn’t come at a better time for a Buccaneers offense that is dealing with injuries at wide receiver and along their offensive line. Mike Evans went down with a hamstring injury in Week 3 and will miss multiple games, while Tampa Bay has already started eight different offensive linemen this season. RG Cody Mauch and RT Luke Goedeke are on injured reserve, which has brought Luke Haggard and Charlie Heck into the starting lineup.

Godwin may still be on a snap count when he returns, but this is Wirfs’ third week of practice, which could position him to assume a full-time role right away. The Buccaneers could then move Graham Barton to center and Ben Bredeson to left guard, per Stroud, getting multiple players back to their natural positions.

Week 4 Return ‘A Real Possibility’ For Chris Godwin

September 20th, 2025 at 1:46pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

A Week 4 return from Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin “feels like a real possibility,” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Godwin returned to practice last week but has yet to be upgraded from limited participation. The same is true of left tackle Tristan Wirfs, though both were ruled out for Week 3. Wirfs’ timeline is still unknown, but Godwin seems to be trending in the right direction.

Godwin’s return would be a major boost to a Buccaneers passing game that seems to have taken a step back from last season. Tampa Bay currently ranks 26th in yards and 31st in yards per attempt, though they have been effective enough on the ground and defense to win their first two games.

The Buccaneers’ only other injury designation is rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (hip/groin), who is tied for the league lead with three receiving touchdowns through two games. The first-round pick missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday but returned in a limited capacity on Friday. Egbuka is listed as questionable for Sunday’s matchup with the Jets; even if he misses the game, he should have a strong chance at playing in Week 4.

Once Godwin and Egbuka are back on the field with Mike Evans, they will form arguably the best wide receiver trio in the league. Godwin and Evans combined to average more than 150 yards per game in 2024, while Egbuka has looked the part of a first-round receiver thus far.

Buccaneers’ Chris Godwin, Tristan Wirfs Return To Practice

September 11th, 2025 at 11:57am CST by Adam La Rose

During cutdowns at the end of training camp, the Buccaneers elected to keep both Chris Godwin and Tristan Wirfs on the active roster. That decision was made despite the fact both are expected to miss multiple games in September.

Moving either or both players to the reserve/PUP list would have ensured a four-game absence but also prevented them from being able to practice. Instead, remaining on the 53-man roster has opened the door for Godwin and Wirfs to take part in practice in September while rehabbing their respective injuries. That process has taken a notable step forward beginning today.

Godwin is taking part in Thursday’s practice on a limited basis, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. That has since been confirmed by Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, who adds Wirfs is participating as well. In both cases, practicing twice this week is the team’s goal as the next stage of a lengthy recovery path.

A fractured ankle ended Godwin’s 2024 season and ensured he would miss time early this year. Week 2 had been targeted as the point at which he would return to practice, though, so today’s update comes as little surprise. The 29-year-old turned down more lucrative offers to remain in Tampa Bay this offseason. Godwin will take on a key role in the passing game upon return, joining a group led by Mike Evans and first-round rookie Emeka Egbuka.

Wirfs is believed to have a strong chance of returning to game action earlier than Godwin, and suiting up at some point in September is a possibility following his offseason meniscus surgery. That would be a welcomed development for the Bucs’ offensive line, a unit which underwent a number of changes ahead of Week 1 to compensate for Wirfs’ absence. The four-time Pro Bowler is under contract through 2029, so a cautious approach will of course be taken with his recovery process.

Tampa Bay will look for a 2-0 start to the season on Monday against Houston. That effort will not include Godwin or Wirfs, but their respective rehab processes have reached an important final phase.

Buccaneers’ Chris Godwin Likely To Miss First Month Of Season; Tristan Wirfs Could Return In September

August 28th, 2025 at 6:38pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Buccaneers will be without wideout Chris Godwin and left tackle Tristan Wirfs to start the season. Both were moved to the active roster on Tuesday, though, meaning a return prior to Week 5 is a possibility in each case.

Shifting to the reserve/PUP list would have ensured either player missed the first four weeks of the season. That could still prove to be the case, but Tampa’s decision means Godwin and Wirfs could at least resume practicing in September. General manager Jason Licht provided an update on both players Thursday.

Appearing on 95.3 WDAE radio (audio link), Licht said Godwin may not be back until October. The Pro Bowler continues to rehab the fractured ankle which ended his 2024 season, and Week 2 was named earlier this month as the point at which he could return to practice. A cautious approach should be expected, of course, but missing Godwin for all of September would deal a blow to Tampa Bay’s passing game. Jalen McMillan is set to miss considerable time this year as well, so Mike Evans and first-round rookie Emeka Egbuka will be leaned on early in 2025.

Licht noted Wirfs is more of a candidate to see game action in September. The All-Pro underwent arthroscopic knee surgery early last month, setting up a rehab timeline including missed games in the regular season. The Bucs’ offensive line will receive a major boost whenever Wifrs is back in the fold, something which could take place relatively soon if his recovery does not encounter any setbacks.

Licht praised both players for their work so far in the rehab process, noting Godwin and Wirfs are considered week-to-week at this point. The status of each will be worth monitoring, but at least a few missed games are in store even if things go according to plan.

NFL Minor Transactions: 8/26/25

August 26th, 2025 at 10:36pm CST by Ely Allen

Amongst a busy day of roster moves, here are some minor transactions outside of final roster cuts:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Green Bay Packers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Arizona, Buffalo, and Tampa Bay all made decisions to pull players off the active/physically unable to perform list in order to avoid them missing the first four games of the season. They may not be quite ready to start in Week 1, but their teams at least have confidence that they won’t be out for a month.

Franklin wasn’t a free agent for long. The former Panthers safety just finished out camp in Denver and was told that he didn’t make the Broncos’ initial 53-man roster. Hours later, he apparently came to an agreement with Buffalo and will head there to start his 2025 campaign.

Orzech has been the Packers long snapper for the past two years after similarly short stints with the Rams and Jaguars. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Green Bay gave him his first long-term deal. The 30-year-old will be under a three-year, $4.8MM deal that will make him the third highest-paid long snapper in the league.

Buccaneers Make Roster Cuts

August 26th, 2025 at 10:27pm CST by Rory Parks

Here is how the Buccaneers trimmed their roster to the 53-man limit Tuesday:

Released:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Waived/Non-Football Illness:

Sanders, the son of NFL legend and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, signed with Tampa Bay in May after he went undrafted. Shilo, who had been competing for a spot at the back of the Bucs’ safety depth chart, was ejected from the club’s preseason finale on Saturday for throwing a punch following heavy pushing and shoving with Bills TE Zach Davidson. He was also flagged for pass interference in the game.

Agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Sanders was headed to the waiver wire, and they hope their client will get claimed on waivers. A fresh start would likely be welcomed by all parties, although it will be interesting to see if any outside suitors put in a claim given the manner in which his Tampa tenure came to an end.

Jarrett, who joined the Bucs as an undrafted free agent in 2023, has recorded 13 catches for 184 yards in his brief time with the team. He will now hit the waiver wire. Provided no claim is made, a spot on the practice squad could be in store given Jarrett’s familiarity with the organization. The Bucs will hold P-squad spots for Jackson and Bazelak, per ESPN’s Jenna Laine and Fox Sports’ Greg Auman. Bazelak staying on would provide finality for Kyle Trask, whom the Bucs released earlier this week. Teddy Bridgewater will be Tampa Bay’s backup, and it looks like Bazelak — a rookie UDFA from Bowling Green — will be the third-stringer.

Weight issues stalled Watson’s practice work, and the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud indicates he ballooned to 470 pounds entering the offseason program. Weight trouble hindered Watson, who did not see any preseason action due to the issue. The Bucs opted to cut Watson, who would have been the heaviest player in NFL history had he played in a regular-season game, rather than stash him on the reserve/Non-Football Illness list. They will not hold a practice squad spot for him, Stroud adds.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

WR Chris Godwin To Begin Season On Buccaneers’ Active Roster

August 21st, 2025 at 8:38am CST by Adam La Rose

With Chris Godwin continuing in his recovery process, it remains to be seen when he will be able to suit up for the Buccaneers. The Pro Bowl wideout’s Week 1 availability is still in serious doubt, but he could be on the field within the first month of the campaign.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Tampa Bay plans to activate Godwin from the active/PUP list before roster cutdowns. That means the 29-year-old will begin the season on the Bucs’ active roster. Reverting to the reserve/PUP list would have saved a roster spot during cutdowns but ensured at least a four-week absence. Instead of taking that route, the team will leave the door open to Godwin playing at some point in September.

On that note, Schefter adds the current plan is for Godwin is to begin practicing in Week 2 as the next phase of his ramp-up process. A cautious approach would come as no surprise given his importance to Tampa Bay’s offense, and taking things slowly could leave him unavailable until October. Nevertheless, Godwin is still on schedule with respect to rehabbing his fractured ankle, per Schefter.

That injury – suffered in Week 7 last year – brought an abrupt end to what had been a very strong campaign in Godwin’s case. The former third-rounder was averaging 82.3 receiving yards per game at the time of the injury, the second-highest total of his career. Godwin could have parlayed that production into a lucrative pact on the open market this spring, but he turned down better offers to remain in Tampa Bay on a three-year deal.

Returning to full health will thus be key in 2025 and beyond in this case. For the Buccaneers, getting Godwin back on the field will be particularly important considering the lengthy absence which is expected for fellow wideout Jalen McMillan. Tampa Bay has Mike Evans along with first-round rookie Emeka Egbuka in place for the time being, and that duo will be leaned on to carry the load on offense early. A rough timeline is in place for Godwin, though, and it will be interesting to see when he manages to get back to full strength.

Bucs’ Chris Godwin Uncertain For Week 1

August 5th, 2025 at 5:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Buccaneers did not outbid the Patriots for Chris Godwin, but they won the free agency derby to complete yet another high-profile retention. Godwin returned on a three-year, $66MM deal, marking the second time the Bucs paid their longtime No. 2 wide receiver coming off a major injury.

Godwin sustained a dislocated ankle in Week 7 of last season, stopping a big season. When Godwin went down, he was the NFL’s second-leading receiver. That created momentum, but he passed on Steelers interest and what he said was a $30MM-AAV Pats offer to stay in Tampa once again. The third-contract player, though, is not certain to start the season on time.

Placed on the active/PUP list after undergoing a second ankle procedure, Godwin is hitting checkpoints during his rehab. Jason Licht said (via Fox Sports’ Greg Auman) the ninth-year veteran is not considered certain to be ready by Week 1. More notably, Licht did not rule out the reserve/PUP list for the standout receiver. That outcome would sideline Godwin for at least four games. Godwin, 29, went down Oct. 21, 2024.

Tampa Bay saw Godwin make it back from late-December ACL and MCL tears in time for the 2022 season, debuting in Week 1 of that year. This came months after the Bucs extended him on a three-year, $60MM deal. Godwin returned but did not match his best form over the next two seasons, even though he tacked his third and fourth 1,000-yard years onto his resume. Last season brought 82.3 yards per game, which reminded of his 2019 breakout (95.2; 1,333 in total). It is possible the Bucs will need to wait longer for that form to resurface.

The team is rather deep at receiver, however. The Bucs rebuffed trade interest for their No. 19 overall pick, staying and making a somewhat surprising move — considering the Godwin re-signing and 2024 third-rounder Jalen McMillan‘s presence — to select Emeka Egbuka. The Texans, Broncos and Rams were eyeing the Ohio State talent, who will assuredly play a big Bucs role early. But the team still has McMillan (eight rookie-year TDs) and, of course, Mike Evans. The latter is again in a contract year, however, and Egbuka provides some insurance in case no fourth contract keeps Evans in Tampa beyond 2025.

The Bucs will hope this Godwin story is in the past early in the season, as he and Evans continue to move up the ranks in terms of all-time WR duos. For now, though, the team may need to again lean on McMillan while preparing Egbuka for a slot role Godwin has also played. Once Godwin returns, an interesting quartet would be available to Baker Mayfield.

Load More Posts