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Buccaneers' Chris Godwin Projected For Down 2025 Season After Injury

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 11:52 PM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin saw his season end early last year due to a nasty ankle injury, and he's on the comeback trail.

Granted, it will be a slow and steady approach with the Buccaneers drafting Emeka Egbuka as potential cover to allow Chris to go about his rehab.

But when Godwin does get on the field, how he looks will be an interesting watch, and he will be a key cog of Josh Grizzard's defense. Luckily, he won't have to be "the" guy, though.

Mike Evans, Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, and Cade Otton can all pick up the slack if Chris gets off to a slow start, which could be a possibility given how players have struggled to return to their previous form after major injuries.

But for ESPN's Mike Clay, in his 2025 projections, Godwin doesn't get near his usual standards.

Chris Godwin 2025 projection: 74 receptions, 842 yards, six touchdowns.

So let's go through that stat line.

If this does come to fruition, it would be his lowest reception and yards total since 2020 (not counting last year's numbers). Would that be such a bad thing? We don't think so.

Clay's projections also have Evans topping 1,000 yards and Egbuka (618 yards, five touchdowns) and McMillan (420 yards, four touchdowns), Otton (563 yards, five touchdowns) also chipping in, along with running back Bucky Irving (53 rec, 409 yards and three touchdowns).

So there is cover if Godwin doesn't bounce back straight away.

Still, over 800 yards and six scores are nothing to sneeze at, but it isn't the high standard we expect from Chris. But we will give a grace period, and if Godwin can't get back to being the star we know him to be in 2025, then Tampa Bay will feel vindicated in its decision to draft Egbuka.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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