By Derek Fleming
You won’t find many slot receivers better than Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout Chris Godwin.
This past season, Godwin finished with 98 catches, the 11th most in the NFL. Yet, he played three fewer games than everyone else on the list due to an ACL tear that occurred in week 15 against the New Orleans Saints.
That ACL tear cut Godwin’s season short, and seems it’ll keep him sidelined for the first few weeks of this upcoming season.
“When he’s ready to go, he’s ready to go,” said Bucs’ new head coach Todd Bowles. “We don’t put a timetable on it. He’s coming along. Obviously, he’s better than where he was. But, he’s not where he needs to be. He’s coming along.”
In the five games the Buccaneers played without Godwin last season, quarterback Tom Brady unsurprisingly kept the boat afloat.
We’re talking about the greatest player of all time here; if he survived his final year up in New England with zero weapons at his disposal, him making it work with wide receivers Mike Evans, Antonio Brown, and tight end Rob Gronkowski was a guarantee.
Tom Brady’s new toys
Only issue is now, all signs point to Gronk retiring again, and Brown isn’t on the team anymore. Brady’s down two weapons and has no clue when he’s getting Godwin back.
The Bucs did add former Falcons wide receiver Russell Gage in the offseason. While Gage had the best stretch of his career to finish the 2021 season, he’s no Godwin.
To go along with Gage, Mr. Underrated, Mike Evans is still there, same with running back Leonard Fournette. Some weapons from Tampa’s Super Bowl winning roster remain on the team, but are they enough?
Who do the Buccaneers start the season against?
Tampa’s first four games are as tough as they come. Their season kicks off against the Cowboys in Dallas. Followed by another road game against their division rivals, New Orleans Saints.
Then Tampa heads home for the next two, but it doesn’t get easier as they take on the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs.
The season opener against Dallas is the easiest of the four games, but that’s not saying much. The Cowboys were the best offense in the league at home last season, and a Godwin-less Bucs may have trouble keeping pace.
Since arriving in Tampa, Tom’s seemed to beat everyone besides the Saints. He’s 0-4 in regular season games against them, and they’re not even close contests.
Brady’s thrown 8 interceptions in the four games; he’s been shut out once and held to three points another time. Without Godwin, it’ll spell the same result.
As for the matchups against the Packers and Chiefs, they’re two of the best teams in the NFL with potent offenses. Taking them on at full strength would be ideal for Tampa Bay.
The Buccaneers are currently favorites in all four matchups, with the lowest odds being against the Saints at -190.
This past January, Godwin had successful surgery to repair his torn ACL and MCL. Although the recovery time varies for each individual, some can recover in six to eight months, while for others, it takes the whole year.
An eight-month recovery would slot Godwin to return during August, but considering Bowles was noncommittal on a timetable, don’t expect to see Godwin at training camp.