What happened to Chris Godwin?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are making their fifth consecutive appearance in the playoffs, but this year they’ll be without one of their key offensive players.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield will be missing wide receiver Chris Godwin for the team’s wild-card game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday night. Godwin, one of Mayfield’s top targets, has been sidelined since Week 7 after suffering a dislocated ankle in a game against the Baltimore Ravens.

 

What Happened to Chris Godwin?

In Week 7, with just over a minute remaining in the game and the Buccaneers trailing the Ravens 41-31, head coach Todd Bowles chose to keep his starters on the field. His plan was to try to score quickly and then recover an onside kick, hoping to make a last-ditch effort to win. Unfortunately, that decision ended up backfiring when Godwin suffered a serious leg injury.

Godwin had to be carted off the field, and after X-rays, it was confirmed that he had dislocated his ankle, ending his season. Bowles faced criticism from the media for keeping his starters in the game when the team was down by 10 with so little time left, but he defended his decision. He said, “He’s a player. We’re trying to win the ball game. We were still down 10. We’re trying to get extra points and kick another onside kick. [The injury] just happened.”

Bowles also pushed back against the media’s criticism, explaining, “You can say that because he got hurt. We don’t second-guess. We’ve got our guys. We’re playing everybody we’ve got. It’s unfortunate he got hurt, but he’s a football player and he wants to be in the game, just like Baker [Mayfield] and everybody else wanted to be in the game.”

When Will Chris Godwin Be Back? According to reports, including one from Greg Auman of Fox Sports, Coach Bowles confirmed that Godwin will not be back for the playoffs, even if the Buccaneers make a deep run. Before the injury, Godwin was having one of the best seasons of his career, with 50 receptions, 576 yards, and five touchdowns through just seven games.

This injury might mark the end of Godwin’s time with the Buccaneers. He is set to become a free agent this offseason, and despite his injury, he’s expected to be one of the top targets on the open market. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the fourth-best free agent for 2025. Several teams in need of a strong wide receiver, including the Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina Panthers, and Pittsburgh Steelers, could be interested in signing him.

With the rise of 2024 third-round draft pick Jalen McMillan, the Buccaneers might be hesitant to offer Godwin the kind of contract other teams are likely to propose.

The Buccaneers will face the Washington Commanders in the wild card round on Sunday at 8:00 p.m. ET, which will be broadcast on NBC.

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