Buccaneers’ Chris Godwin sees ‘night and day difference’ in his knee between last year and this year
Buzz News
Last offseason, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin was working to come back from an ACL tear late in the 2021 campaign. This year, he is participating in the team’s offseason program. According to Godwin, he is getting closer to being back as the player he was before the injury.
“I feel like I’m very close to it. I feel like a lot of my burst is coming back,” Godwin said. According to PewterReport.com, “I feel very comfortable with the things I’ve been working on. It feels really good to be able to get the opportunity to work on my skill development this season as opposed to just rehabbing an injury. opposed to working.”
Godwin returned in time for week 1 last year, but was injured early in the game and missed the next two weeks. At the beginning of week 4, he looked a lot like himself for the rest of the year. In 14 games, Godwin caught 101 of 139 passes thrown for 988 yards and three touchdowns. That’s a full-season pace of 123 catches for 1,200 yards—right in line with the kinds of numbers Godwin produced pre-injury, if not better. (More receptions, but fewer yards per reception.)
The six-year veteran wideout credited his quick knee recovery for realizing the difference of night and day between last year and this year.
“It was a night and day difference between last year and this year,” Godwin said. “All this time last year, I was in rehab on my own. Those were very long days, and you look out the window. It’s like you’re a kid who got into trouble, and you see everything you do.” Been out there friends, playing and having fun. To be out here now, it’s a blessing. It was a lot of hard work.
It will also likely be a night and day difference between last year’s offense and this year’s, what with Tom Brady moving forward and Baker Mayfield moving under center. Godwin’s role in the slot made him a clear top target for Brady, but Mayfield’s size and skill set mean he doesn’t throw to the middle as often as his predecessor. It will be interesting to see if the Bucs change how Godwin is used under new offensive coordinator Dave Canals, as the team’s most reliable target you want him to be involved in the passing game as much as possible — even if it means Ho placing him in some unfamiliar alignment.