Buccaneers Share Worrying Chris Godwin Admission at Training Camp

   

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed a total of seven players on the PUP list to start training camp, including star wide receiver Chris Godwin.

“As expected, wide receiver Chris Godwin and tackle Tristan Wirfs were placed on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list on Tuesday, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ training camp set to begin on Wednesday morning,” Bucs team reporter Scott Smith wrote on July 22.

Buccaneers share worrying Chris Godwin injury update at training camp.

He then added: “The Buccaneers also placed tackle Silas Dzansi, guard Sua Opeta and quarterback Michael Pratt on the active/PUP list. In addition, linebacker Anthony Walker landed on the active/non-football injury list (NFI) and rookie defensive lineman Desmond Watson was placed on the active/non-football illness list.”

On July 23, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles fielded questions about the long list of injuries to start training camp, and what he admitted about Godwin was a little worrying.

“Don’t know for sure. I’m hopeful,” Bowles told reporters on Wednesday morning, when asked if Godwin would be ready for Week 1. That means Tampa Bay could be without both their starting left tackle and one of their top three offensive weapons to start the season.

 

Earlier in the press conference, Bowles did state that Godwin is “coming along great” and is “on track” with his recovery, but added that the team will “continue to listen to the doctors and the trainers.”

So, it doesn’t seem as if there has been a setback for the star wide receiver. Rather, he could just need more time to fully work his way back before taking the football field again.

Still, it’s somewhat concerning that the Buccaneers cannot definitively say that Godwin will be ready for Week 1.

Todd Bowles Shuts Down Tristan Wirfs Question at Start of Buccaneers Training Camp

As Bowles addressed the media for the first time in weeks on July 23, there was also a question about Wirfs and why the Buccaneers waited so long to operate on his knee. The Tampa Bay HC was quick to shut down the question, however.

“Well, it didn’t heal. It had to be done. This is not a murder mystery where we need to find out what happened; it’s about him getting better, and he’s in great spirits. I’ve kind of spoke on it already, and that’s where I’m at,” Bowles responded bluntly. And that was the end of the discussion.

As for a couple of the other injury designations, Bowles noted that Walker is considered “week-to-week,” and Watson is considered “day-to-day” at this time.


Why Buccaneers Placed Chris Godwin, Other Injured Players on PUP/NFI Lists to Start Training Camp

As a reminder, injured players like Godwin on the PUP or NFI lists continue to count against the team’s 91-man training camp roster limit (which includes one international player).

Smith provided more information on why the Buccaneers would choose to place players on these lists within his article, considering this designation does not free up a roster spot.

“[PUP and NFI list players] cannot practice until they are activated, but they can attend team meetings,” he explained. “By placing these players on those three lists before camp begins, the Buccaneers retain the option to later put them on reserve/PUP or NFI before the start of the regular season.”

Continuing: “Thus, Tuesday’s moves do not necessarily mean that any of these players will miss any regular-season time. However, if they are later placed on a reserve list, they will have to be out for a minimum of four games.”

As of now, Wirfs and Godwin appear to be the two Bucs players who are most in danger of starting the regular season on the PUP list.