Chris

Godwin

Godwin has not yet returned to practice, so missing Week 10 against the Patriots makes sense. Fowler adds that RB Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) could sit out in Week 10 as well. The Buccaneers face the Saints on December 7th, at which point, Godwin should apparently be back. Unfortunately, that is five games away, which could prove costly for fantasy managers who continue to stash him. He does not need to be rostered at this time.

It looks like Godwin will miss another week while dealing with the fibula issue. At this point, it’s unclear when he will return to action. With Mike Evans also sidelined, Emeka Egbuka will continue to go unchallenged as the Bucs’ WR1. Sterlin Shepard and Tez Johnson will round out the team’s starting wide receiver trio.

Godwin continues to sit with a lingering fibula injury, even coming out of Tampa’s Week 9 bye. He would appear to be a long shot to suit up for Week 10 against New England unless he can practice tomorrow or Friday. Godwin hasn’t played since early October. Returning from a major 2024 ankle injury, he has six catches on 14 targets this season. Sterling Shepard and Tez Johnson could continue as Tampa starters this week if Godwin remains sidelined.

The Buccaneers are without three of their top players this week. While Irving and Godwin continue to miss games, long-time No. 1 WR Mike Evans (collarbone/concussion) was recently placed on injured reserve. Rookie WR Emeka Egbuka will continue to operate as a fantasy WR1, while fellow rookie WR Tez Johnson can be started as a high-upside WR3/FLEX. Reddick’s absence is a plus for the Saints’ offense. His 27 quarterback pressures lead all Buccaneers defenders by three. Fortunately, DT Vita Vea (foot) is active.

Godwin will miss yet another game with his fibula injury. The veteran, coming off a season-ending 2024 ankle injury, has suited up for just two games this season. The hope is that Godwin is able to return to action after Tampa’s Week 9 bye, though that’s far from certain. For now. Emeka Egbuka is the team’s clear-cut WR1, with Tez Johnson and Sterling Shepard mixing in as well. Cade Otton has seen a target bump with Godwin sidelined.

It’s only an initial lean after a Monday night game, but we’d be surprised to see Irving or Godwin suit up on a short week. It’s not quite the auto rule-out that we saw last Monday night for Irving, so that’s a small trend in a positive direction. Irving has not played since Week 4.

Godwin will miss a second-straight game after being classified with a week-to-week injury late last week. The injury to Godwin’s fibula is reportedly in a different location from the fractured fibula Godwin suffered last season, and recently returned from in Week 5, but regardless of specifics, there’s little reason to set an expectation for when we could see Godwin again. The team doesn’t appear interested in placing him on injured reserve at this time, so it’s possible he returns inside of four weeks, which is the mandatory number of missed games for an player on IR, but anything feels possible at this point. With Godwin already ruled out for Week 7, we’ll now hope that Week 8 comes with better news.

Godwin missed the first three weeks of the 2025 season after dislocating his ankle and fracturing his fibula in Week 7, 2024. This week, he appeared on Wednesday’s injury report with a fibula injury, prompting speculation that he had suffered a re-injury. However, per the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud, Godwin has injured his fibula in an entirely different location, though it may be on the same, previously injured lower leg. Stroud notes that “there are no plans for him to go on injured reserve at this time,” but his use of “expected” and “plans” is hardly reassuring. The Buccaneers are on bye in Week 9, so an injured reserve placement would render him ineligible to return until Week 11. One can only guess as to when Godwin will return, but allowing him to rest and rehab the injury through the Week 9 bye seems reasonable.

Godwin is just one of a laundry list of players who will not be active for the Buccaneers’ Week 6 game against the Niners. Godwin’s fibula injury is likely due to a reaggravation of the fractured fibula that ended his 2024 campaign, although the team has yet to confirm this. His absence on Sunday could open the door for Sterling Shepard to serve as the Buccaneers’ no. 2 target in the passing game opposite Emeka Egbuka, which could be of use to fantasy managers in deeper leagues. In addition to Godwin, the Buccaneers also ruled out CBs Zyon McCollum (thumb) and Benjamin Morrison (hamstring),

Godwin has been a DNP all week with a fibula inury that comes a week after he returned from the fractured fibula he suffered in 2024. Back-to-back DNPs to open the week served as the early sign that he would miss Week 6’s game against the Niners, but Fowler’s report suggests the veteran receiver will officially be ruled out before the weekend. We’ll check back in once the Buccaneers give word on Godwin’s availability, but his absence would give a slight boost to Sterling Shepard’s fantasy stock for those in deep leagues in need of a dart throw.