Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles confirmed Tuesday that Godwin will undergo surgery on his dislocated left ankle and will "probably be out for the year," Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Bowles didn't completely close the door on Godwin playing again in 2024, but the wideout would likely need to make a swifter recovery than what is typically associated with a dislocated ankle, and the Buccaneers would also need to make a deep playoff run. After hurting his ankle with just over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter of Monday's 41-31 loss to the Ravens, Godwin will be embarking on rehab for the second major injury of his career, as he previously tore the ACL and MCL in his knee in Week 15 of the 2021 season. Before going down with the injury, Godwin was in the midst of a stellar season, having put together a 50-576-5 receiving line on 62 targets through seven games. Godwin is scheduled for free agency this offseason and will turn 29 years old in February.
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Buccaneers' Chris Godwin: Season-ending surgery on tap
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Godwin is scheduled to undergo surgery on his dislocated left ankle Tuesday and is expected to miss the rest of the season, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Godwin was carted off the field late in the fourth quarter of Monday's 41-31 loss to the Ravens with the left ankle injury, with Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles confirming in his postgame press conference that the "early indication" was that the wideout suffered a dislocation. The 28-year-old is slated to undergo an MRI on Tuesday to determine the extent of the damage, which will help doctors decide on what type of surgery he'll require. A timeline for his recovery should be provided once surgery is completed, but fantasy managers should prepare for Godwin's 2024 campaign to come to an end after just seven games. While moving back into the slot on a full-time basis this season under first-year offensive coordinator Liam Coen, Godwin was well on his way to a fourth consecutive 1,000-plus-yard receiving campaign, as he had amassed 50 receptions for 576 yards and five touchdowns. Godwin's expected absence should clear the way for Jalen McMillan, Trey Palmer and Sterling Shepard to take on more snaps behind No. 1 wideout Mike Evans, who exited Monday's game with a hamstring injury and appears uncertain to play in Week 8 versus the Falcons.
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Buccaneers' Chris Godwin: Likely suffered dislocated ankle
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Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said after Monday's 41-31 loss to the Ravens that Godwin is feared to have suffered a dislocated left ankle, Coral Smith NFL.com reports.
With about a minute left in the game, Godwin made a 21-yard reception but appeared to severely twist his left leg when he was tackled to the ground. He was later carted off the field with an air cast on his left leg. Godwin will undergo an MRI on Tuesday before the Buccaneers provide an updated diagnosis, but if the dislocated ankle is confirmed and surgery is deemed necessary, he would miss the rest of the season.
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Buccaneers' Chris Godwin: Carted off field
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Godwin was carted off the field Monday against the Ravens with his lower left leg in an air cast, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Godwin suffered the leg injury inside the final minute of Monday's contest. It appears to be a serious one. He had accumulated 65 yards on seven receptions prior to going down.
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Buccaneers' Chris Godwin: Season-best effort Sunday
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Godwin brought in 11 of 13 targets for 125 yards and two touchdowns in the Buccaneers' 51-27 win over the Saints on Sunday.
Godwin led the Buccaneers across the board in receptions, receiving yards and targets with totals that also all qualified as season highs. The veteran receiver has been an ideal fit in offensive coordinator Liam Coen's system thus far, recording no fewer than five catches in any game and already recording five touchdowns through six games after combining for only that many over the prior pair of campaigns. Following his first multi-score game of the season, Godwin will likely play another sizable role in a Week 7 interconference home showdown against the Ravens on Monday night, Oct. 21.
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Buccaneers' Chris Godwin: Modest numbers in OT loss
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Godwin secured five of six targets for 64 yards and committed a fumble recovered by Tampa Bay in the Buccaneers' 36-30 overtime loss to the Falcons on Thursday night.
Godwin co-led the Buccaneers in receptions while setting the pace in receiving yards on the night. However, his target total, which was second on the night to Mike Evans' seven, was Godwin's lowest of the season through five games. Nevertheless, the veteran Penn State product has a critical role in coordinator Liam Coen's offense and next takes aim at a talented Saints secondary in Week 6 road matchup on Sunday, Oct. 13.
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Buccaneers' Chris Godwin: Six catches in big win
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Godwin secured six of nine targets for 69 yards in the Buccaneers' 33-16 win over the Eagles on Sunday.
Godwin was either tied for second or the sole runner-up across the board to Mike Evans in terms of his receiving line. Godwin has no fewer than six receptions or eight targets in any of his first four games, although Sunday did see his season-opening three-game touchdown streak come to an end. The Penn State product heads into a Week 5 road divisional clash against the Falcons with a rock-solid fantasy floor and appears to be a seamless fit in new coordinator Liam Coen's offense.
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Buccaneers' Chris Godwin: Cleared to face Eagles
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Godwin (neck) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Eagles.
Neither does Mike Evans, whose absence from practice Friday was attributed to 'knee/rest'. Godwin was a limited participant throughout the week and should be ready for his usual workload come Sunday.
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Buccaneers' Chris Godwin: Another limited session
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Godwin (neck) was limited at practice Thursday.
The same can be said for position mate Mike Evans (knee), with both players having a cap on their practice reps so far during Week 4 prep. Friday's injury report thus will be key for both players' statuses entering the weekend as the Buccaneers gear up for Sunday's contest against the Eagles.
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Buccaneers' Chris Godwin: Tending to neck issue
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Godwin was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice due to a neck injury, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Both Godwin and Mike Evans (knee) are kicking off Week 4 prep with the same amount of on-field work, placing a cloud over the upcoming availability of Tampa Bay's top two wide receivers. The pair will have two opportunities to get back to full practice participation this week before the team potentially gives them designations ahead of Sunday's contest versus the Eagles.
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Buccaneers' Chris Godwin: Top DFS Play
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Godwin ranks third in the NFL in catches, seventh in receiving yards, and third in Fantasy points amongst receivers. This week, he's not even the most expensive wide receiver on his own team. He should be the chalkiest of wide receivers, but I do not want to be without him in cash games.
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Buccaneers' Chris Godwin: Another TD in Week 3 loss
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Godwin secured six of nine targets for 53 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 26-7 loss to the Broncos on Sunday.
Godwin was about the only highlight for the Buccaneers offense, which endured a surprisingly miserable afternoon at the hands of the Broncos defense. Baker Mayfield threw for only 163 yards while taking seven sacks, and Godwin accounted for team-high yardage and targets under those conditions. The veteran wideout's score, his third in as many games this season, further corroborates his outsized role in coordinator Liam Coen's scheme, and Godwin therefore will continue to enjoy a bright fantasy outlook heading into a Week 4 home matchup against the Eagles.
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Buccaneers' Chris Godwin: Shines early in Week 2 win
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Godwin caught seven of eight targets for 117 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Lions.
Godwin accounted for Baker Mayfield's first seven completions, including a 41-yard touchdown catch. Tampa Bay's passing game slowed down after that, as Mayfield finished with only 185 yards, but the Buccaneers hung on for the win. Godwin has already equaled last season's total of two touchdown catches while racking up exactly 200 receiving yards heading into Week 3 against the Broncos.
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Buccaneers' Chris Godwin: WRs to Start
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It was vintage Godwin in Week 1 against Washington with eight catches for 83 yards and a touchdown on eight targets, and he should have the chance for another big game in Week 2 at Detroit. Last year in Week 6 against the Lions, Godwin had six catches for 77 yards on seven targets, but I expect him to do even better in this matchup. Detroit just allowed Cooper Kupp and Tyler Johnson to score at least 12.9 PPR points in Week 1, and Godwin and Mike Evans should exploit the Lions defense in what should be a high-scoring affair.
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Buccaneers' Chris Godwin: WRs to Start
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We get to see Godwin back in the slot, and hopefully he can challenge Mike Evans to lead Tampa Bay in targets this year. Both receivers should go off in this matchup with the Commanders at home, and last year Washington was No. 2 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers. No team allowed more touchdowns to opposing receivers than the Commanders with 29, so hopefully Godwin and Evans can both find the end zone in Week 1.
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Buccaneers' Chris Godwin: One catch in preseason finale
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Godwin caught his only target for nine yards in Friday's 24-14 preseason win over the Dolphins.
Tampa Bay's starting offense (sans the resting Mike Evans) played the opening drive, and Godwin caught one of Baker Mayfield's three completions. Godwin has topped 1,000 receiving yards in four of the past five regular seasons, and the 28-year-old wide receiver is expected to play a key role in the passing attack once again when the games start to count Sept. 8 against the Commanders.
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Buccaneers' Chris Godwin: Not expected to play
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Godwin and most other starters aren't expected to play in Saturday's preseason game against Jacksonville, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Coach Todd Bowles didn't specifically name Godwin, but Bowles did say QB Baker Mayfield won't play and suggested the approach will be similar to that from Tampa's preseason opener (in which Mayfield, Godwin and many others were held out). Bowles told Stroud last week that he's leaning toward playing more starters in the third and final preseason game.
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Buccaneers' Chris Godwin: Standing out early in camp
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Godwin has impressed over the first few practices of training camp and has caught the eye of fellow star wideout Mike Evans, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports. "He's going to have a great year," said Evans of Godwin. "Y'all saw him today - he looks like he's in midseason form. He's making plays, going deep, looks like the 2019 Chris Godwin."
Godwin has battled injuries and underutilization in the red zone over the last few seasons, but he's still turned three consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns. However, the 2017 third-round pick has just 10 touchdowns on 285 receptions in that span, the fewest scoring grabs of any player with at least 200 catches during that period. Evans himself has called for the Buccaneers to give Godwin more red-zone and downfield opportunities, and with new offensive coordinator Liam Coen now at the helm, there may be a change in how the veteran wideout is deployed.
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Buccaneers' Chris Godwin: Bucs running it back on offense
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Godwin will benefit from offensive stability with Tampa Bay slated to re-sign quarterback Baker Mayfield to a three-year, $100 million contract and Mike Evans having returned via a two-year, $52 million contract, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Godwin at one point looked like he'd have to adapt to another change under center while potentially also having to line up with Evans elsewhere for the first time in his career, but the Buccaneers' early offseason moves instead have secured impressive offensive stability. The retention of both Mayfield and Evans should provide fantasy managers real confidence that Godwin's involvement on offense will remain effective and core to Tampa Bay's game plan, especially with new offensive coordinator Liam Coen having stated that he envisions the 28-year-old wideout moving back to the slot. Godwin has put together three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving campaigns, and it's possible the passing game could take a real step forward in 2024 with Mayfield more comfortable in Year 2.
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Buccaneers' Chris Godwin: Likely returning to slot
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New Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen said Tuesday that he anticipates moving Godwin back inside to the slot, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Godwin took 32 percent of his snaps from the slot in 2023, down from 60 percent the previous year and 53 percent in 2021. His volume didn't suffer too much (130 targets), but his catch rate plunged to 63.8 percent after four straight years above 71 percent, and he finished with his lowest per-game averages for receptions (4.9) and receiving yards (60.2) since 2018 -- which was also the last time his slot rate dipped below 49 percent. While perfectly capable on the perimeter, Godwin is probably at his best inside. The shift to more outside work last season apparently stemmed from the Bucs' belief that it might help keep him healthy, and while Godwin did in fact play every game for the first time since 2018, he's nonetheless expected to man the slot more often with the team shifting from Dave Canales to Coen as offensive coordinator. It sounds like a good thing for his fantasy value, especially given that Godwin also gets a lot of playing time in two-wideout formations, unlike many other slot guys.
