Copyright Heavy.
It appears as if we might still have to wait a little longer to see anything close to the full offensive arsenal for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Neither wide receiver Chris Godwin or running back Bucky Irving appears as if they’ll be available for a big time home game against the New England Patriots in Week 10. There’s also a chance edge rusher Haason Reddick might be out again with an ankle issue after missing the Buccaneers’ Week 8 win over the New Orleans Saints. Tampa Bay had its bye in Week 10. “Did not spot Chris Godwin, Bucky Irving, nor Haason Reddick practicing this morning for the Bucs,” Bucs Gameday’s Logan Robinson wrote on his official X account on Wednesday, Novembe 5. “Luke Goedeke is practicing and was moving around well.” Godwin has missed the last 3 games with irritation in his ankle — fallout from the same injury that required multiple surgeries and cost him the final 10 games of the 2024 regular season. Irving has missed the last 4 games with a shoulder injury. “Neither Godwin nor Irving has practiced — or been seen — in a month,” Fox Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman wrote on his official X account. “There will be some physical ramp-up to any return, and they’re not even working on the side with trainers during practice, so it’s hard to talk seriously about either playing Sunday.” While Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles later gave an update on Godwin Irving that both were “running” he also said Irving was still not able to take contact to his injured shoulder. The Buccaneers are 6-2 and in first place in the NFC South. Buccaneers Paying Big Money for Injured WRs While Irving, who ran for over 1,000 yards as a rookie in 2024, isn’t much of a financial liability on a 4-year, $4.751 million rookie contract, the Buccaneers are getting taken to the cleaners when it comes to what they’re paying Mike Evans and Godwin. Godwin reportedly turned down a free agent contract worth between $90 million to $100 million from the Patriots to come back to the Buccaneers on a 3-year, $66 million contract he signed in March. In 3 games, he has 6 receptions for 52 yards and no touchdowns. Evans, who is in the second season of a 2-year, $52 million contract, missed 3 games earlier this season with a hamstring injury and broke his collarbone in his return in a Week 7 loss to the Detroit Lions. Evans, who will be out for an indeterminate amount of time, has 14 receptions for 140 yards and 1 touchdown in 4 games. Stepping Up in Absence of Stars While the Buccaneers knew what they had at backup running back in Rachaad White, the team’s starter in 2022 and 2023, what they had at wide receiver behind Evans and Godwin was a little more unknown. The biggest contributor with those 2 out has been wide receiver and 2025 first round pick Emeka Egbuka, who leads the Buccaneers with 34 receptions for 562 yards and 5 touchdowns and is one of the leading candidates for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. The last player for the Buccaneers to win NFL Offensive ROY was running back Cadillac Williams in 2005.
