The Buccaneers selected Ohio State standout wide receiver Emeka Egbuka with their 19th overall pick during last week’s NFL Draft. General Manager Jason Licht spoke on the selection and how it relates to Chris Godwin’s recovery this past Tuesday.
This past season, Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin tore up the league for the first few weeks. Heading into their Week 7 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, Godwin was coming off an 11-reception, 125-yard, and two-touchdown game against the Saints. He was also top 5 in the league for both receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
During the fourth quarter of Tampa’s October matchup against the Ravens, disaster struck. Chris Godwin was tackled (illegally) by Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith, which resulted in Godwin dislocating his left ankle. Godwin was carted off, and the Bucs were handed a rough 41-31 loss.
Also during this matchup, Mike Evans re-aggravated a hamstring injury, which placed him on the injured reserve for the next four weeks. The Bucs were left with an inconsistent fluctuation of WRs for the rest of their season, which the Washington Commanders ended in the first round of the playoffs.
Now the question lingers: When will Chris Godwin be able to return? Historically, dislocated ankle rehab is a tedious process; typically, 12+ weeks are required for strength to return, which is usually accompanied by continued swelling. A larger question is if Godwin will ever return to play at the same speed. Given his impressive rebuttal this season after an ACL tear, there should be some sense of cautious optimism.
For now, Ohio State alum Emeka Egbuka allows the Buccaneers to take their time with his recovery.
GM Jason Licht explained on Tuesday to a Tampa Bay sports radio that the Buccaneers’ selection of Emeka Egbuka allows Godwin to feel no rush in returning.
“[Egbuka] does allow us to make sure that Chris does do his rehab correctly and we don’t rush him, and all those things. So that does give us a little comfort with the pick — that we can do that, to make sure that he’s not rushed back. But [Egbuka] had nothing to do with where Chris is currently in rehab. “
– Buccaneers GM Jason Licht
Jason Licht seems to remain adamant about Chris Godwin’s target to return by Week 1. Even though the outlook is a bit gloomy, the selection of Emeka Egbuka is a bit of a sigh of relief. Additionally, Jalen McMillan’s breakout during the second half of the season shows the depth that the Buccaneers have at the WR spot. 32-year-old Sterling Shepard also offered some meaningful snaps in Godwin’s absence, and let’s not forget about future Hall-of-Famer Mike Evans, as well.
Bucs’ fans should continue to cross their fingers for a speedy Godwin return; they are always going to be a better team with him on the field. Even if Godwin can’t suit up Week 1, though, the guys mentioned above and their shown ability to fill in when needed are reassuring for the Buccaneers.
The reality for the Buccaneers is that their roster in recent years has been somewhat fragile. The WR, defensive back, and offensive lineman positions have all been riddled with injuries, and their starters have fluctuated week-to-week for a few consecutive seasons now. Every good program in NFL history has had a sense of consistency. GM Jason Licht has been working overtime to continue retaining crucial free agents to establish this consistency.
The stipulation to that is remaining healthy. Chris Godwin was on pace for his finest year as a pro before the injury bug struck. Jamel Dean, Tampa’s starting DB, was sidelined for numerous games with a plethora of ailments. Mike Evans missed his fair share of time with his nagging hamstring injury.
This team has all the pieces to be a Super Bowl contender, but they have to be on the field together for that culture to culminate.
Tampa experienced an offensive explosion last season, and if they want to continue to succeed as a team, they’ll look to continue that trend. A large issue for the Buccaneers last season seemed to be injuries, so if they can remain healthy, they could make a deep playoff run that no one is expecting. If Godwin can return to boost the passing game, and Tampa remains dominant on the ground, this team should have no issues securing another playoff berth.
Godwin isn’t getting any younger, and with Mike Evans and Lavonte David beginning to ponder retirement, the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl window is beginning to close; now is their time to pounce.
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