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Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Godwin backs teammates to step up in his absence

The wide receiver hopes to return for the postseason

Chris Godwin

Chris Godwin is confident the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can still challenge for a playoff spot even though he won’t be able to help their push.

Godwin will miss the rest of the regular season, at least, after suffering a dislocated left ankle in the Week 7 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens. His fellow wide receiver Mike Evans is also sidelined although he is expected to return after Tampa’s Week 11 bye.

The Bucs currently sit at 4-4 with their season on the edge of imploding due to the loss of their two main offensive weapons but Godwin believes the team will find a way.

He said: “There’s no doubt in my mind. There’s a bunch of great guys there. They’re smart, they’re capable. It’s like adjustments have to be made, but we got guys that can really step into those roles.

“I mean it. I believe it. I see the way that the guys work. I know the intentions of the team. I know the attitude. The grit. We know how the season goes. It can turn around, just like that.”

Hoping to return for the postseason

Godwin led the NFL with 50 receptions prior to his injury and is optimistic he will be fit for the postseason if Tampa make it.

He added: ”I mean, I think that’s best-case scenario, right? Like absolute best case. For all involved. Everything lines up. That’s what you kind of aim for.

“It’s a very different injury, and obviously I’ve never been through this before, but I trust the people that I’m going to be working with to help give me back.

“And the biggest thing for me is make sure that it’s secure, make sure that it’s strong and stable, and I’m not at risk of reinjury. But there’s a lot of stuff in the beginning that you can do to prepare yourself to make an acceleration later in the rehab process, just by doing some of the little things or little extra little things.”

I’m doing well – Godwin

Godwin hosted a gala for his foundation on Monday night to raise funds for animals affected by Hurricane Milton and appeared in good spirits.

He said: “I’m doing well. I think the biggest thing – my spirits are high. Like that’s the hardest thing, during periods like this, whenever you’re injured, because you can’t move, you can’t do what you love, you’re in pain often, a lot of the time, and you have to rebuild yourself. 

“So I think that obviously this is the side most people outside of athletes really don’t get to see. And it’s a tough part of it. So trying to keep my spirits high is the biggest thing. And then as the pain goes out and rehab starts, and then the time of really lock in, get back to playing.”

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Jon Fisher

Jon has over 20 years' experience in sports journalism having worked at the Press Association, Goal and Stats Perform, covering three World Cups, an Olympics and numerous other major sporting events.

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