Chris Godwin, Dak Prescott And Allen Hurns
March 11th, 2025
The Bucs are confident in Chris Godwin’s ability to return to full strength after an ugly dislocated ankle. That’s why they handed him a fat three-year contract yesterday.
But when will Godwin get back to 100 percent?
That’s unclear and likely still will be after Godwin meets with media late this afternoon.
At the NFL Scouting Combine two weeks ago, Joe learned Godwin’s status was very much day-by-day — very slow and steady improvement. Important benchmarks were still head. And as Joe noted prior to yesterday, there was no social media video of Godwin running to show the world he’s made great progress.
Joe is encouraged, though, by Dak Prescott, whose nasty dislocated ankle and broken leg years ago was chronicled by Dallas media and ESPN like Joe studies the perfect browning of a Hooters tater tot. He recovered well.
Prescott, however, doesn’t play receiver.
Joe read a lot about former NFL receiver Allen Hurns’ recover from a dislocated ankle and broken leg suffered in January of 2019 with the Cowboys. He was back on the Cowboys practice field in minicamp five months after the injury claiming he was 90 percent healthy.
A month later, the Cowboys asked him to take a pay cut. He wouldn’t and he was cut. Miami picked up Hurns within hours and he played 14 games that season with 32 catches. Miami even extended his contract.
So Joe feels great about that story in relation to Godwin, though it’s been almost five months since Godwin’s injury and little is known about his status.
Unfortunately, Joe can’t glean more from Hurns. In 2020, he opted out of playing all season because of The Sickness. A year later he injured his wrist and never played again.
March 11th, 2025 at 10:09 am
Trust in Jason!
March 11th, 2025 at 10:15 am
And in Godwin. A pro’s pro. He’ll be right as rain for opening day. Blocking for Bucky and picking up 80 receiving yards with 4+ first downs.
March 11th, 2025 at 10:16 am
Since we’re talking about injuries of other players, what’s going on with Cooper Kupp? From Triple crown to injury prone. He’s about to be cut supposedly. Dude is about to have a precipitous fall from the heights of glory.
March 11th, 2025 at 10:53 am
Kupp is just old and losing his ability to separate I think. I know Evans is pushing his age but Evans has been healthier and is an Adonis.
Not worried about Chris, he is probably almost fully recovered. A pros pro with 5 more months to work it and get right.
March 11th, 2025 at 11:11 am
Godwin should take his time and come back mid season. He’s needed in the playoffs, not in the summer.
March 11th, 2025 at 11:17 am
I assume he will take it slow out of the gate, but I’m hopeful he’ll be good by mid-season.
March 11th, 2025 at 11:30 am
Picking up some WR depth would be a good idea. I haven’t really looked, but if guys like Van Jefferson or Tyler Johnson were available, they’d be nice. Baker knows Van from the Rams, and I’ve always been possed we let Tyler go thinking that Palmer and Jarrett were better answers. Darden juniors. Nice evaluation, Todd.
March 11th, 2025 at 12:49 pm
The Bucs are going to find a Godwin clone. The kid from TCU in the second is one such player. I see the Bucs drafting a receiver no later then the 3rd round. As it stands we’re going into the season with the same players as last year. We saw how thin we were when Godwin went down, and now he’s recovering from injury. We need to draft at least one, and bring in another vet not named Sheppard.
March 11th, 2025 at 1:37 pm
I read Godwin turned down $20m more from the Patriots to come back – if so, wow, that’s amazing. Getting Godwin back at just $22m is quite the steal, sort of how Licht got Evans back on such a cheap deal. I think it’s part of the Tom Brady legacy, where guys are taking lesser deals to help keep the team together. It’s very impressive.
March 11th, 2025 at 2:24 pm
It’s bin 5 months and we still got a long way to TC. He will be good. Look at how he came back from his ACL. Did he light it up like he was before the ankle injury no not right away but he came back and he contributed in a good way. Not concerned and J-Mac was doing great towards the end of season so this can benefit if for some reason Godwin isn’t totally ready
March 11th, 2025 at 3:08 pm
I had the same ankle injury as CG when I was 26. I was not a very responsible rehabber, so he should do better, but I learned that it takes a year to fully recover from the injury, and from the collateral impacts of the surgery. So I think he may start slowly, and needs some back-up, but finish stronger in the 2d half of the schedule.
March 11th, 2025 at 4:25 pm
Aqualung Says:
March 11th, 2025 at 11:30 am
Picking up some WR depth would be a good idea. I haven’t really looked, but if guys like Van Jefferson or Tyler Johnson
———
Tyler was cut for a reason, the guy is slow-slow-slow. He had the nice game vs the Lions early in the year last year for the Rams, but only had 21 catches on the season, and an 11 yard average. He’s not a guy I’d bring in, I’d rather take a bet on someone with more physical skills.
Van Jefferson, meanwhile, the one thing he has is speed – but we already have Trey Palmer in that roll.
Hard pass from me on both of those guys.
Also the Bucs were very high on Kameron Johnson who will be back, and I’d personally take him over either of those two.
March 11th, 2025 at 5:03 pm
I’m in no rush to see Chris back out on the field pushing his ankle, and I hope he and the team aren’t either.
Thankfully, there’s still a couple of months for Chris to take it easy, and I hope he does.
I won’t get too bent out of shape if he misses OTAs and waits till training camp to really start testing it out.
The more time that injury has to really heal, the better he’ll be once he steps onto the field again.
Easy does it.