The Bucks are struggling at many positions heading into Sunday’s Week 13 game against the Panthers, but they may have hope of acquiring one of their key players as of early Sunday morning. ESPN’s Adam Schefter Tweeted just after midnight Chris Godwin, who is suffering from a neck injury, is “likely to play” against Carolina.
Bucks WR Chris Godwin – Photo courtesy of USA Today
But Schefter said the Bucks need to see if Godwin is OK in warmups Sunday afternoon.
Godwin is Late addition to injury report He appeared for the first time this week as a limited participant at Thursday’s practice. She then did not play in Friday’s game and was tagged as questionable for Sunday’s game.
What’s the plan if Chris Godwin can’t play on Sunday?
If Chris Godwin does not feel well in Sunday’s pregame warmups and is placed on the suspended list, rookie Trey Palmer and second-year receiver Deven Tompkins will likely have larger roles. It also could mean increased reliance on Evans, as well as running back Rashard White and tight end Cade Otton.
Bucks WR David Moore – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
However, the Bucs promoted both David Moore and Ryan Miller from the practice squad on Saturday, so two more receivers could be added to the lineup if Godwin is unavailable. The uncertainty over Godwin’s status and rookie Rakim Jarrett being placed on injured reserve led to the two promotions.
Moore is an NFL veteran who has been in the league since 2017. Miller, on the other hand, was signed by the Bucks as an undrafted player earlier this year. The Furman product could make his NFL debut Sunday against the Panthers.
Can Chris Godwin rediscover his best in the final stages?
Bucks WR Chris Godwin – Photo courtesy of USA Today
If Chris Godwin is indeed able to play Sunday against the Panthers, it would be great to see the old Godwin back. While he didn’t have a particularly bad 2023 season, the 27-year-old receiver hasn’t reached the heights he once did from 1B to Mike Evans’ 1A. In fact, he was the true No. 2.
Through 11 games, Godwin had 53 catches for 606 yards and one touchdown, averaging 11.4 yards per game. His average yards per catch is up almost two yards from last year, but he’s currently on pace for 82 catches for 937 yards. This is his lowest total since 2020, when he caught 65 passes for 840 yards and seven touchdowns while being limited to 12 games.
So what happened to Godwin? There are several factors contributing to his slight drop in productivity. He suffered a serious knee injury in 2021, so that’s probably a factor. The quarterback change, the overall offensive scheme and what is being asked of him within that scheme are more immediate reasons.
The Bucks signed Godwin to a three-year, $60 million contract before the 2022 season. It may seem crazy, but he will soon be entering the final year of his contract. Tampa Bay has a decision on the horizon regarding Godwin’s future, and it could be a complicated decision considering the team also has to make a decision on Evans’ future.The top receiver in franchise history is currently under contract. And he’s still playing at a high level.
If Chris Godwin can go back to being the 2019-2022 Chris Godwin during this season, that would definitely help Bucs decision-makers going forward. And that will probably help the team win some games in the meantime.
