Team news: Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Page 6

The Bucs will be without Chris Godwin to start the season. I would be shocked if he doesn’t start the year on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list. Therefore, that opens up a roster spot at wide receiver. We know Mike Evans, Emeka Egbuka, and Jalen McMillan will be the top three receivers to start the season, but Tampa Bay will need two to three more receivers to start the season.

If Godwin does end up on PUP, that means he's out for at least the four games of the season, which would clearly impact his season-long fantasy propositions. Things are really lining up for Egbuka to find a role in the passing game from the jump (whether that's on the inside or the perimeter), and this would boost Evans' target share as well.

Buccaneers RB Rachaad White is dealing with a groin injury and will undergo further testing Sunday to determine the extent of the injury.

Bucky Irving was already a hot fantasy commodity this season and this only bolsters his outlook early on, if White does miss some time following his injury Saturday. This also opens the door for Sean Tucker, whom head coach Todd Bowles said he’d like to get the ball to more. We’ll find out more Sunday regarding how long White will be out.

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is officially a member of the Buccaneers.

Bridgewater visited with the team on Tuesday and took a physical that went well enough for the Bucs to announce his signing. Punter Jake Julien was waived to make space for Bridgewater on the roster.

Related players: Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask, Michael Pratt

Pratt is currently injured, according to the story, so Bridgewater will likely challenge Trask for the QB2 job behind Mayfield. The story mentions Bridgewater has a history with offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard. Both of them were with the Dolphins during the 2022 season, so Bridgewater may have an edge.

Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin is still rehabbing from the ankle injury he suffered in Week Seven of 2024, and it’s too soon to say whether he’ll be ready for Week One of 2025.

Tampa Bay G.M. Jason Licht was asked today if Godwin will be on the active roster when the season starts and answered, “That, we don’t know yet.”

Licht did indicate that the team is satisfied with the progress Godwin has made in recovering from the injury.

Licht said Godwin is, “doing very well. He’s advancing through his protocols, he’s exactly where they anticipated and hoped he would be at this point. We’ve still got a ways to go.” As the story added, the Bucs are confident enough that Godwin will recover fully that they signed him this offseason to a three-year, $66 million contract that has no language that protects the team in the event that Godwin’s ankle prevents him from playing.

[The Buccaneers] love [Bucky Irving], and while they also like Rachaad White and have a role planned for him, Irving is viewed by people in the building as special enough to warrant a high-volume RB1 role. That includes pass-catching work.

The blurb quoted QB Baker Mayfield talking about how Irving's vision makes him special. Mayfield added, "He's just tough to bring down. He's strong, he's got great vision, he understands it, and then also you add in the ability to catch too. He's well-rounded." Irving is our RB8 with an ADP of the late second or early third round.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield won’t practice today after suffering a contusion on his throwing hand Thursday, per source.

Mayfield underwent scans as a precaution and ruled out a more significant injury. He’s day to day.

Related Players: Kyle Trask

We don't want to see Mayfield miss anytime, but it's great news that it's not more significant. We don't expect this to linger into the regular season at this point, so we should continue to consider him a top-10 option at the position.

Bucs TE Cade Otton still not practicing tonight, same with WR Kam Johnson, S Marcus Banks. WR Trey Palmer and RB Josh Williams sidelined as well.

Related Players: Payne Durham, Ko Kieft

Auman cleared that it was a hamstring issue in a follow-up tweet. Durham is a fifth-round rookie, while Kieft has eight career receptions, so if Otton ends up missing any time, we'd expect his handful of targets to disperse to the WR room.

Multiple sources tell ESPN that Chris Godwin underwent a second procedure on his ankle this spring, shedding further light on his rehab from a dislocated ankle last season.

Related players: Mike Evans, Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Sterling Shepard

Laine reports the second procedure wasn't a surprise and was a clean-up procedure. It remains to be seen how much the second surgery - if at all - sets Godwin back. He wasn't expected to be a full-go in camp until closer to the season. There will likely be many updates on Godwin was we progress through camp. If he remains on PUP to start the season, he'll of course miss the first four games, which will open the door for either Egbuka or McMillan to carve out a role going forward.

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.

Godwin is recovering from a dislocated ankle suffered last season in Week 7, and the hope is he'll be ready to go closer to the start of the season. As the story points out, which we may have all forgotten, at the time of his injury, Godwin was leading the NFL in receptions (50), receiving first downs (33) and was second in receiving yards (576).

The Lions drafted quarterback Hendon Hooker in the third round in 2023, but through two NFL seasons Hooker has played only in garbage time, and late last season the Lions brought in veteran Teddy Bridgewater and put him ahead of Hooker on the depth chart to back up Jared Goff.

As the Lions open training camp this year, Bridgewater is no longer on the team and Hooker is competing with Kyle Allen to be the Lions’ No. 2 quarterback. Lions head coach Dan Campbell says it’s time for Hooker to take the next step in his career.

The story indicated the team could bring back Bridgewater, but that seems like it will only happen if Hooker doesn't take control of the QB2 job. There have been indications recently on X that Hooker has looked good, so if Goff owners are thinking about a handcuff, keep an eye on how Hooker progresses in camp.