The Bucs may be paying Chris Godwin like a true No. 1 receiver, but the production has not matched the paycheck.
With Emeka Egbuka in concussion protocol and dealing with a foot injury, this was supposed to be the stretch where Godwin took on a bigger slice of the offense. Instead, he has gone seven straight games, dating back to last season, with 50 or fewer receiving yards - the longest such run of his career since his rookie year in 2017.
That downturn has come even as Tampa Bay’s passing game keeps shrinking, especially over the past three games with undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels at quarterback. Godwin said Wednesday he is still trying to stay ready and trust the process.
“For me, it’s just trying to make sure I’m on my P’s and Q’s and making sure I’m available for my quarterback,” Godwin said Wednesday. “I feel like sometimes plays will be designed for me and whether it’s the defense or whatever the defensive call will prevent that from happening.
“It’s definitely been interesting. It’s different than anything I’ve gone through in my career. I’m trying to stick to the process and make sure I’m where I need to be.”
Even when asked why he seems to have vanished from the offense, Godwin didn’t have much of an answer.
“I mean, that’s a great question,” he said. “I wish I knew.”
The Bucs’ quarterback situation has clearly played a part. Daniels has averaged just 167 passing yards in his three starts, and Tampa Bay has only five completions of 20 yards or longer in that span.
Baker Mayfield returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since dislocating the thumb on his right throwing hand Sept. 27, but Godwin’s role had not exactly exploded before the injury. In every game this season with Mayfield under center, Godwin never had more than four targets or 46 yards.
The bigger picture around Godwin has been shaped by injuries that have altered his career path. From 2019 through 2023, he produced four straight 1,000-yard seasons.
Then came the torn ACL and MCL in his right knee in Week 15 of the 2021 season against the Saints. Last October, he dislocated his ankle against the Ravens while leading the NFL with 50 receptions through seven games.
Last season, he was limited to nine games and finished with 33 catches for 360 yards and two touchdowns. This offseason, though, he was able to train instead of rehab, and he reported to camp in his best shape in years.
There has been efficiency in his current workload, just not much volume or explosive production. Godwin has 23 receptions on 29 targets, has dropped only one pass and is averaging 9.4 yards per catch, the lowest mark of his career.
Todd Bowles said the Bucs are trying to find ways to free him up.
“He’s being used OK,” Bowles said. “You’ve always got to try to game plan around your best players and we can get them open a little bit more and we can do some things that way. They’re focusing their coverage as well with him and (Egbuka) that way, but we’ve still got to get them open.”
A lot of that responsibility falls on offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, especially with Mayfield sidelined. The Bucs have leaned more on the run game, and that approach worked Thursday night in Dallas when Bucky Irving rushed for 165 yards and a touchdown.
Still, Godwin hasn’t hidden his frustration with how the offense has played out.
“It’s a multitude of things and when you have a young quarterback, the playbook shrinks,” he said. “Again, there will be plays that are designed for me and the defense may negate that.
Sometimes, it doesn’t work out. It’s definitely frustrating at times.
I kind of feel because of the territory, we play the most dependent position in sports.”
At 1-5, Tampa Bay needs results now, starting Sunday at Carolina and then at home against Atlanta the following week. Godwin said the fix is simple, even if the execution hasn’t been.
“We’ve just got to be more consistent. It comes down to that,” Godwin said. “Whatever the call is, we’ve got to make sure we execute it at a high level and that we’re on the same page.
“We’ve got to keep rowing, pulling in the same direction. We’re not far off from where we want to be. It’s like we’re close in every game.”
Maybe Mayfield’s return changes the equation. For now, the Bucs are running out of options - and Godwin is still there, waiting for the ball.
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