One of the last things the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need is for yet another injury to gum up the works. That's exactly what's happening with star wide receiver Chris Godwin, and worse yet it's a brand new injury he's dealing with.
Godwin didn't practice all week, but it had nothing to do with the ankle injury he returned from earlier this year. Instead, it's a fibula injury that kept Godwin out of practice and will sideline him for Sunday's game against the 49ers.
The good news is that the Bucs aren't expected to place Godwin on injured reserve, but the bad news is that it was even on the table as a potential outcome.
Perhaps the worst news is that it's a brand new injury that Godwin is dealing with, which is yet another brutal blow to Tampa Bay's offense.
"Chris Godwin’s fibula injury is in a different area than the fracture he suffered when he dislocated his ankle," Bucs insider Rick Stroud reported on Friday. "Right now, he will be week-to-week depending on how he progresses. There are no plans to put him on injured reserve at this time, per sources."
FOX Sports insider Greg Auman provided some additional context on the injury to Godwin as well.
Bowles confirmed Chris Godwin is “week to week” and out Sunday, and the injury is to a different part of his fibula than where he broke it last year. Either a hit or twist in Sunday’s game cause the new injury.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) October 10, 2025
Chris Godwin's injury is a brand new one, and the latest bad break for the Bucs
It's unclear how long Godwin's new injury will keep him out, but it's likely to be more than a few games. While he could bounce back and play next week against Detroit -- especially since it's a long week thanks to the Bucs playing on Monday night in Week 7 -- rushing him back is the worst possible thing the team can do.
Tampa Bay is already missing Bucky Irving and Mike Evans, and the offensive line is in shambles with both Luke Goedeke and Cody Mauch out. Right now only one of those guys is out for the season and the last thing the Bucs need is to hit the home stretch of the season with key players out of action.
Even with all the injury adversity, the Bucs are still 4-1 and could take over the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a win on Sunday. That means there's margin for error since a trip to the playoffs is looking more and more likely as the season wears on.
If that happens, the Bucs will need to have guys like Godwin, Evans, and Bucky healthy when it matters most. Tampa Bay is down bad when it comes to top receiver depth but it's not like the offense isn't producing. Emeka Egbuka's emergence as the best rookie in the NFL has helped, and guys like Tez Johnson and Sterling Shepard are making the most of their opportunities.
A lineup without Godwin, Evans or Bucky can't win in the playoffs but Tampa Bay is proving it can tread water in the meantime. That's all the Bucs need to do, and while another injury to Godwin is certainly concerning it's not an end of the world scenario.
Not letting him rest and rushing him back could lead to one, though.