The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been ravaged by injuries early in the 2025 season. Starting right guard Cody Mauch is out for the year with a knee injury. Calijah Kancey is lost for the season with a torn pectoral muscle. Mike Evans will miss a few weeks with a tweaked hamstring. To say the team is banged up would be an understatement.
Luckily for Tampa Bay, with a litmus-test game looming against the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, two of its core offensive stars are expected to make their season debuts Sunday.
Tristan Wirfs and Chris Godwin expected to return for Buccaneers vs. Eagles
While neither player has been officially activated, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that left tackle Tristan Wirfs and wide receiver Chris Godwin are both expected to play, along with quarterback Baker Mayfield, who is managing a biceps injury to his throwing arm.
Wirfs all but confirmed his status on Instagram, posting a clip with the fitting soundtrack “Return of the Mack” by Mark Morrison.
If you had any doubts about Tristan Wirfs playing Sunday, this is from his Instagram story: pic.twitter.com/VI49bdnSZg
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) September 26, 2025
The importance of their returns can’t be overstated. Wirfs is Tampa Bay’s best player and the anchor of its offensive line, becoming the first player in NFL history to earn All-Pro honors at both right and left tackle. His presence against Philadelphia’s dominant defensive front is a massive boost for Mayfield and the offense.
Godwin is just as critical. Before a season-ending injury in Week 7 last year, he led the team in receiving and was on pace for the best season of his career with 50 catches for 576 yards and five touchdowns in less than half a season. With Evans sidelined and coverage expected to roll toward rookie sensation Emeka Egbuka, Godwin could be the X-factor in his return.
As Tampa Bay embarks on the toughest part of its 2025 schedule — a brutal four-game stretch against legitimate playoff contenders in the Eagles, Seahawks, 49ers and Lions — the return of these two core players provides a massive boost as the Buccaneers look to build on their first 3-0 start since 2005 and push for a deep playoff run.
The Bucs are still far from full strength, but getting Wirfs and Godwin back is a welcome bit of good news for a team that has seen key contributors drop like flies.