Ahead of the 2025 season, several Buccaneers WRs are dealing with injuries. One of them is veteran WR Chris Godwin. In 2024, Godwin suffered a broken ankle and Baltimore Ravens.
The 29-year-old has undergone surgery and is working to return to his training field. On Thursday, August 21st, NFL Insider shared the latest injury update for Pro Bowl WR. Team Insider Rickstroud reported that Chris Godwin was activated from Tampa Bay’s PUP list. However, according to Stroud, Godwin is not expected to play until October.
Tampa Bay patiently waits for Chris Godwin’s return
Bucs can physically list WR Chris Godwin, according to Adam Schefter, and will activate to start the season by appearing on the roster of 53 people. He said Godwin “is unlikely to play until October as he continues to recover from the broken ankle he suffered in the week…
– Rick Stroud (@nflstroud) August 21, 2025
The Buccaneers, who won their third pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, chose Chris Godwin from Pennsylvania. He played all eight of his professional seasons at Tampa Bay. Despite a broken ankle last season, Bucs gave Godwin a three-year, $66 million contract and a $44 million Guarenteed. They have not given up on the veteran WR.
Chris Godwin has undergone surgery on her ankle and works to return to the Tampa Bay field. He still has some time before it happens. However, WR received a positive update on Thursday. Insider reported that BUC has activated Chris Godwin from the PUP list. He then begins the ramp-up process to return to practice.
Source: Buccaneers plans to activate WR Chris Godwin from a physically unfeasible list and start the season with a roster of 53 people, but they will only start the game’s ramp-up process and not play immediately. It’s still unlikely to play Godwin until October… pic.twitter.com/zgaavetryc
-Adam Scha After (@adamscha after) August 21, 2025
ESPN’s Adam Schefter pointed out that Godwin is not expected to start practicing until the second week. Plus, WR is unlikely to play until October. Luckily for the Buccaneers, they have a rookie WR who talked about training camp this offseason. Tampa Bay’s first round pick Emeka Egbuka is poised to make an impact from the first week.
Egbuka headed ahead of Tampa Bay’s 2025 season. He is expected to be WR2, who will start the season with the legendary Bucs WR Mike Evans. Emeka Egbuka is able to fill in the blanks of Chris Godwin while veteran WR works in a way back to the field. When Godwin returned, the Bucs were able to have a WR starter trio in 2025.
