The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offense still won't have running back Bucky Irving when the team takes on the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night, but it might have another key weapon back in the mix.
Wide receiver Chris Godwin, who has missed the last five games due to a fibula injury, practiced fully for the first time in six weeks on Thursday and has a good chance to return to action against the Rams at SoFi Stadium, according to Head Coach Todd Bowles.
"He's definitely trending towards playing," said Bowles after the team's final practice of the week on Friday.
Godwin has only played in two games this season, as he missed the first three games while finishing his rehab from a serious ankle injury suffered last November. Two games into his return, he suffered the leg injury in a Week Five game at Seattle and was back on the shelf after catching just six passes for 52 yards. With fellow wideout Mike Evans out until at least the very end of the regular season due to a broken collarbone, opposing defenses have been able to pay extra attention to standout rookie Emeka Egbuka. Even if Godwin is on something of a pitch count on Sunday, as Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard indicated could be the case on Thursday, his presence on the field should be a big boost to Baker Mayfield and company.
"He's extremely smart, number one," said Bowles of Godwin. "He's great in the run game and the pass game. He's a heck of a blocker and he's a heck of a receiver and has great hands and is reliable. He's one of those guys [who] once Baker starts to scramble that knows how to get open, and then he finds him and he trusts him. So he brings and added element for us."
Godwin was leading all NFL players in receptions at the time of his injury last season, and he had already scored five touchdowns in seven games. In his last full season in 2023, Godwin caught 83 passes for 1,024 yards and two touchdowns, and he has a career average of 64.8 receiving yards per game. Playing primarily out of the slot before his injury in 2024, Godwin was the team's best pass-catcher in terms of yards after reception and was one of Mayfield's favorite weapons on third downs. In his career, he has produced 378 first downs in 113 games played.
Egbuka is second among all NFL rookies with 717 yards on 45 receptions and has already scored six touchdowns, but since Godwin was sidelined in Week Five he has had only one game with more than 58 receiving yards and has scored just one touchdown. The Bucs' second-leading pass-catcher is tight end Cade Otton, with 37 grabs for 381 yards. The Buccaneers' offense is almost certain to be more productive when Godwin is back to full strength.
