Todd Bowles appeared with the well-known poker face and delivered news that gave a lot of hope to the Bucs fans out there. The Krewe of Tampa Bay has been piecing together a patchwork offense for weeks. And Friday provided the kind of respite you aspire before a key matchup.
Bowles started listing the walking wounded for Sunday’s game against the Rams. Ben Bredeson is out. Jamel Dean is out. Haason Reddick is out. The list grew longer. But then came the name and the status that changed everything.
Todd Bowles Hints at Breakthrough for Bucs Offense
Chris Godwin is trending towards playing. Bowles said it flat out. The veteran wide receiver practiced fully on Thursday for the first time since Week Five. That’s six weeks of watching, waiting, and rehabbing a fibula injury that has haunted the Bucs‘ season like a bad beat.
“He’s definitely trending towards playing,” Bowles announced. The quote landed like a touchdown in a silent stadium. Godwin has only suited up twice this year. He missed the first three games rehabbing a brutal ankle injury from last November. Then he caught six passes for 52 yards before the leg injury sidelined him again. But Godwin’s isn’t just another body returning.
Bowles expanded on what Godwin means to Tampa Bay’s attack. “He’s extremely smart, number one,” the coach explained. “He’s great in the run game and the pass game. He’s a heck of a blocker, and he’s a heck of a receiver and has great hands and is reliable.” Truth be told, the Bucs’ offense has been running on fumes without him.
Mike Evans is out with a broken collarbone. Rookie Emeka Egbuka has been solid with 717 yards and six touchdowns. But good form also comes with an expiry date. Egbuka has his own injury struggles. Besides, defenses have been treating him like the only shark in the water.
Godwin’s presence can change a lot of equations. Baker Mayfield is facing a familiar Rams team. And he trusts Godwin implicitly when plays break down. Bowles noted this specifically. “He’s one of them guys [who] once Baker starts to scramble, knows how to get open, and then he finds him and he trusts him,” he said. That chemistry doesn’t grow on trees. The news isn’t all sunshine though.
Bucs Backfield and Receiver Corps Face Crossroads
Bucky Irving remains sidelined with shoulder and foot issues. However, Bowles shut down the off-field speculation that had been swirling. “He’s not going through much off the field,” Bowles clarified. Irving will miss his sixth straight game on Sunday night. But Bowles offered a timeline.
The running back got a full practice this week. He will “definitely be trending up, playing next week” against the Cardinals, per Bowles. Hence, the Bucs’ offense could look radically different in December.
Imagine Godwin back at full strength. Picture Irving rejoining the backfield. Tampa Bay would finally field something close to the unit they drew up in training camp. Remember, those two combined for over 2,000 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. Meanwhile, Sunday night’s matchup matters more than just one game.
The Rams have allowed the fourth-most completions per game this season. Their secondary has been generous. A healthy Godwin could perhaps feast like a kid at a Thanksgiving table. Even on a pitch count, his presence demands attention.
Todd Bowles knows the stakes. The Bucs started 5-1. But lost 3 of 4 since. A win at SoFi Stadium changes the narrative. And it could provide the spark that culminates in a playoff push.
The puzzle pieces are slowly fitting together… Finally! Godwin almost appears ready to slide back into his slot. Irving’s return looms next week. Mayfield might finally have his full arsenal before the calendar flips to December. And in the NFL, December is when contenders separate from pretenders.
Main Image: Mark Konezny – Imagn Images
