Chris Godwin injury: What status means for Week 4 vs. Eagles

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday as 3.5-point underdogs. This is a battle of unbeatens, as both teams are 3-0. The bad news for the Bucs coming into this matchup is that they lost wide receiver Mike Evans to a hamstring injury, but the good news is that they’ll get both Tristan Wirfs and Chris Godwin back this week. Of the two, Wirfs is the most important, as he protects Baker Mayfield’s blindside, is one of the best in the league, and they have a beat up offensive line. His presence will help everyone in the offense.

Godwin’s injury came back in Week 7 of last season. It was a gruesome ankle injury that nobody is surprised took so long to heal. That long time away from actual NFL games has to impact his play at least to some degree, but he also could be back the same week Evans is out. The Bucs need him, but how much can he give them in a tough matchup his first week back is hard to know.

Saturday update — ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Godwin will return to the field this week.

Godwin is listed as questionable to play against the Eagles as he recovers from ankle surgery.

It does look like Godwin will return this week, but nothing is set in stone. If he does, it would make sense to ease him back in, which means he will likely be on a snap count of some kind. No outlets are reporting he will be on a snap count, but it’s common sense. He would likely get out there in higher leverage spots, which is good for fantasy, but the Eagles pass defense has been strong so far this year. On the season they rank fifth-best in pass defense DVOA. They did give up 110 yards to CeeDee Lamb and 112 to Puka Nacua, but it took 13 and 15 targets to get them there and neither found the end zone in losses. I don’t expect Godwin to see anywhere near that kind of target percentage in his first game back.