Buccaneers Get Crushing Injury Update for 49ers Game
When it comes to injuries, it appears there is only bad news on the horizon for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The latest blow might be the most disheartening to date as news broke that NFL All-Pro wide receiver Chris Godwin reportedly won’t play against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 6.
“Bucs WR Chris Godwin (fibula) is not expected to play Sunday vs. 49ers, per source,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote on his official X account on Friday, October 10.
Godwin missed the last 10 games of the 2024 season and the first 3 games of the 2025 regular season as he recovered froma dislocated left ankle.
In the 2 games since his return, Godwin has just 6 receptions for 52 yards — 3 receptions and 26 yards in both a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4 and in a road win over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5.
“Chris Godwin is now NOT expected to play this week. Very interesting,” Dr. Jeff Mueller wrote on his official X account. “Hardware from his prior surgeries may be causing irritation because otherwise, fibula is a unique/specific injury designation.”
Bucs May Have Let Godwin Come Back Too Soon
Godwin was never placed on injury reserve this season due to the Buccaneers believing they would benefit more from having him practice the first 4 weeks and continue to recover from his injury with the thought he might play his first game in Week 5 against the Seahawks.
That’s why it was a surprise to see Godwin back against the Eagles — possibly giving in to the emotion of wanting to make his debut for a huge home game against the defending Super Bowl champions.
“Godwin hasn’t practiced this week and looked limited for much of the Seattle game,” NFL reporter Greg Auman wrote on his official X account on October 10. “More Shepard, more Tez vs. 49ers on Sunday.”
One thing the Buccaneers might have going for them is that the 49ers are just as badly hurt as them now, if not more so.
“Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr., Bucky Irving, Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison all in serious doubt for Sunday (against 49ers),” 10 Tampa Bay TV’s Evan Closky wrote on his official X account. “The Niners injury report is simply too long.”
Rookie Has Become WR1 for Buccaneers
Not having Godwin on the field against the 49ers would mean the Buccaneers will be without all 3 of their projected starting wide receivers for the first time this season.
NFL All-Pro wide receiver Mike Evans is expected to miss his second consecutive game with a hamstring injury. Second year wide receiver Jalen McMillan isn’t expected back until Week 10 and has yet to play this season with a severe neck sprain.
Fortunately for the Buccaneers, they’re off to a 4-1 start thanks to the brilliant play of 2025 first round pick and rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka.
Egbuka, the No. 19 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, is fourth in the NFL in receiving through 5 games — his first 5 NFL games — with 25 receptions for 445 yards and 5 touchdowns.
“Emeka Egbuka is the 3rd player since 1970 with 425+ receiving yards and 5+ rec TD through 5 career games along with Randy Moss and Ja’Marr Chase,” CBS Sports researcher Doug Clawson wrote on X on October 5.
Browns naming Shedeur Sanders QB2 unlikely to change playing situation
After it was announced that rookie third-round pick Dillon Gabriel had officially been named the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback, there were a lot of questions about why fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders wasn’t moving up the depth chart, as well.
With only two healthy quarterbacks on the roster, though, head coach Kevin Stefanski told the media that Sanders would be the primary backup.
Browns had good reason to keep Shedeur Sanders low on the depth chart
We covered the reason that Sanders hadn’t been named QB2 when team’s initial starter Joe Flacco was demoted. Essentially, Cleveland didn’t want Sanders’ introduction to the NFL to be him running an offensive game plan designed for a shorter, shiftier, left-handed quarterback in a desperation setting.
Not wanting to see Sanders struggle early, the Browns resolved to keep him off the field unless he was ready to run a game plan designed around his capabilities.
This thought process led the team to keep Flacco ahead of Sanders on the depth chart, thinking that Flacco’s leadership and experience would make him more well-suited to the uncomfortable situation of running an unfamiliar offensive game plan than Sanders. But then, a surprise trade removed Flacco as an option as he made his way southwest to Cincinnati.
Even with Flacco out of the picture, though, the Browns weren’t quite ready to commit to naming Sanders the primary backup behind Gabriel, likely for the same reason as previously mentioned. The primary Browns starter, Deshaun Watson, remains on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, where he’s likely to remain as he recovers from multiple tears to his Achilles tendon, but there was one other option.
Browns were considering another QB to be No. 2
Practice squad quarterback Bailey Zappe was the other name in consideration for the QB2 role. Zappe started eight games over his first two years in the league with the Patriots and even got a start in Cleveland last year. While he may not give the Browns a better chance at winning than Sanders, his use as a backup would protect Sanders from having to run Gabriel’s offense in his first NFL snaps.
Ultimately, Sanders got the job. It’s hard to say whether it was Sanders who advocated to play regardless of the offensive game plan or if the coaches resolved finally to just put their best arms on the field. Regardless, the first man off the bench behind Gabriel will be his draft classmate taken two rounds later.
Dillon Gabriel's starting job not in jeopardy
Gabriel shouldn’t have to worry about his own job, though. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Gabriel is expected to get a pretty “lengthy run” as the starter. Even with Sanders rising in the ranks behind him, Gabriel should have a fairly long lead with which he can find his sea legs. Sanders may get a run of his own down the line, but for now, he’ll be available off the sideline in case of injury.
