It’s been a few years since Penn State has produced a promising NFL wide receiver, and during the entire James Franklin era, the Nittany Lions haven’t had any player at the position match Chris Godwin’s success in the league.
Godwin has been so productive for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that despite a season-ending injury last season, he earned a three-year contract extension to remain with the franchise this offseason. Now, head coach Todd Bowles is saying that he expects the ninth-year pro to be back early in the 2025 season, and maybe sooner than anyone expected.
Chris Godwin could return as soon as Week 2
Tuesday was roster cutdown day across the NFL, and while Godwin’s spot in Tampa Bay was never at risk after last season’s ankle dislocation that cost him the final 10 games of the season, he got good news. Tampa opted to keep Godwin on the 53-man roster, instead of placing him on the physically unable to perform list or the injured reserve.
That move indicates that the Buccaneers expect him to take the field early in the season, and Bowles confirmed that expectation on WDAE, Tampa’s sports radio station. “There’s some light at the end of the tunnel. I can’t say exactly when, but hopefully sooner than later. I think he’s closer to sooner than he is later.”
Bowles clarified further that he, “would say anywhere from Week 2 to Week 5.”
That’s great news about Godwin’s recovery, especially considering that the Buccaneers don’t need to rush him back onto the field. Though they had a top 10 offense led by Baker Mayfield last season, the Bucs spent their 2025 first-round pick on a Penn State nemesis, Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, who can fill a similar role to Godwin as a physical slot receiver who can also play on the outside.
Egbuka’s presence will allow Godwin to ease back from his injury in his age-29 season, and once he’s healthy, it could make the Buccaneers one of the most feared passing attacks in the NFL. That will be fun for any Penn State fan to watch on a Sunday and remember how dominant Godwin was in his final year with the Nittany Lions, catching passes from another undersized QB, Trace McSorley.
Godwin finished his Penn State career as the fourth-leading receiver in program history and has since been bumped to No. 6 by DaeSean Hamilton and Jahan Dotson. Godwin is less than 500 yards from passing fellow Penn State legend Bobby Engram for the most NFL receiving yards by a former Nittany Lion, a mark he should surpass this season.