Packers 17 - Buccaneers 7 | Third Quarter Updates
The Packers struck early in the third frame with a two-yard touchdown by Tucker Kraft. The play was initially ruled an incomplete pass on the field but after Green Bay challenged the ruling, it was reversed, giving the visiting team a 17-7 advantage.
Packers 10 - Buccaneers 7 | Second Quarter Updates
The Bucs scored as Sean Tucker quickly bounced to the outside and found an open lane for a two-yard touchdown, tying the game at seven. The play before, Daniels faked the ball to Bucky Irving and took off with the football for a nine-yard gain on the keeper. The Bucs next offensive drive, featuring a gain of 15 yards by Tez Johnson on a sensational contorted grab and a critical third down conversion to Ted Hurst III, was cut short. Daniels was intercepted by Edgerrin Cooper ay the Green Bay 38 and it was returned 18 yards to the 44. The Packers capitalized with a 58-yard field goal by Trey Smack just before the half.
Buccaneers 0 - Packers 0 | First Quarter Updates
Both teams remained scoreless at the end of the first period. Jalon Daniels was intercepted at the Green Bay 32 by Evan Williams and the Packers are in the red area.
October 2 Updates
Linebacker Josiah Trotter's first two NFL games were eye-opening, as he racked up 21 tackes, two tackles for loss, one sack and one pick-six in the Buccaneers' losses to the Bengals and Browns in Weeks One and Two. Unfortunately, he also collected a shoulder injury late in the Cleveland game and was unable to suit up in Week Three of his rookie season.
The good news for the Buccaneers is that absence will not continue into Week Four. After the team's final practice on Friday in preparation for a visit from the Packers, Head Coach Todd Bowles said that Trotter is "good" for the critical Week Four contest.
Outside linebacker Yaya Diaby also showed up on the injury report this week with calf and shoulder issues but he is also ready to play on Sunday after being limited earlier in the week.
"He's fine," said Bowles. "He'll be good."
Bowles did note four players who will be ruled out for the game on Friday's injury report later in the afternoon: outside linebacker Rueben Bain Jr. (groin/shoulder), tight end Ko Kieft (elbow), quarterback Baker Mayfield (right thumb) and cornerback Benjamin Morrison (quad). Morrison was not injured to start the week but developed a quad ailment on Thursday.
"It happened at practice yesterday, the end of pratice," said Bowles, who couldn't say if the injury would cause Morrison to miss more than one game. "He was tight. I'm not sure yet [on future games]. I just know he's out this week."
CLICK HERE for more prominent storylines from the upcoming Bucs-Packers tilt.
October 1 Updates
In 2024, the last time that Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin started a season fully healthy, he had eight targets in a season-opening win over Washington and caught all of them for 82 yards and a touchdown. He had another eight targets the next week against Detroit and caught seven for 117 yards and another score. Week Three brought nine targets, as did Week Four.
In the Buccaneers' seventh game of the season, against Baltimore, Godwin had nine targets, seven catches and 65 yards, but on the last one he suffered a devastating ankle injury and was lost for the season. As of the end of that week of NFL football, he was tied for third in the league with 62 targets, atop the leaderboard with 50 receptions, second with 576 receiving yards and tied for third with five touchdown receptions.
Godwin's rehabilitation from that injury and subsequent surgery stretched long enough to keep him out of the first three games last season and he later missed five more games with a different injury. However, by his own assessment, he was back to full health this summer and ready to once again be a very friendly target for Baker Mayfield. It has thus been notable, particularly with Mike Evans no longer on the team to be that 1A option, that Godwin has not been thrown the football at anything like his pace from 2024.
Through the first three games, Godwin has been targeted 11 times, which has produced 10 catches for 111 yards. He ranks just fifth on the Bucs' offense in targets, behind wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (20), tight end Cade Otton (17), running back Bucky Irving (15) and rookie wideout Ted Hurst (13). It is not likely that Godwin will continue to have that spot in the Bucs' passing hierarchy as the season progresses, and Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson said the team is definitely trying to get him the ball more.
"There's times when, shoot, maybe he is the primary in the route and, again, all 11 [players], for football plays to work and for the execution to be at a high level, all things have to click at the right time," said Robinson. "I think that's been kind of the story with some of those. Could he have had two or three more catches in a game? Probably so when you watch the tape and you take a look at how things are playing out from an all-22 perspective. But CG's a stud. He'll continue to do his thing, and if the ball finds him, which it will, naturally. Just with his savvy and all the things that he presents, the ball will find him eventually. We've got to get him rolling, for sure."
Maybe a visit by the Green Bay Packers to Raymond James Stadium is just what the doctor ordered for Godwin. In four career games against Green Bay, including the playoffs, Godwin has averaged almost exactly eight targets per game and has racked up a total of 22 catches for 337 yards.
CLICK HERE to hear more from Zac Robinson on a variety of topics regarding the Bucs' offense.
