Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (14) Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Buccaneers HC shares worrisome update on Pro Bowl WR

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 12/4/23

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles spoke with reporters on Monday and explained why star wide receiver Chris Godwin logged zero receptions during Sunday's 21-18 victory over the Carolina Panthers.

"We were subbing him out a lot," Bowles said about Godwin, per the Buccaneers' website. "Obviously, he's a little nicked up, so he's not totally 100%. Nobody is, but he is probably banged up more than most."

As noted by the JoeBucsFan website, Bowles did not reveal why Godwin is "probably banged up more than most" in early December. The 27-year-old was questionable to play against the Panthers due to a neck injury, but he ultimately took the field and recorded a clutch 19-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter of the contest to put the Buccaneers up 21-10 (after the extra point):

Chris Godwin takes the carry and extends the lead ‼️

: #CARvsTB on CBS
: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/xvCjbLUIcN pic.twitter.com/Q6lyGlk5gv
— NFL (@NFL) December 3, 2023

"For him to get the run for us was huge for him," Bowles added about Godwin. "I think it helped him out a lot, it helped us out a lot, so it was good to see him get in the end zone."

Per ESPN stats, Godwin ended Week 13 second on the Buccaneers with 53 receptions, 85 targets and 606 receiving yards for the season. However, he's only notched a single receiving touchdown to go along with the rushing score he tallied versus Carolina.

Following Sunday's action, the Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints, both 5-7, trail the first-place Atlanta Falcons (6-6) by a single game in the NFC South standings. Bowles and company will hope that Godwin is closer to 100% when Tampa Bay plays at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium this coming Sunday.

As of Monday afternoon, oddschecker listed the Buccaneers as two-point underdogs against the Falcons. At that same time, the ESPN Football Power Index gave Tampa Bay a 25.4% chance to qualify for the playoffs.

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