Buccaneers Make Final Decisions on Chris Godwin and Bucky Irving
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans.
If the reality of how bad the injuries suffered by Tampa Bay Buccaneers stars Bucky Irving and Chris Godwin were, this might be the week that finally seals the deal.
Irving and Godwin were ruled out for a massive Week 11 road game against the Buffalo Bills on Friday, marking Tampa Bay’s eighth game without Godwin this season due to a fibula injury and their sixth game without Irving due to a shoulder injury.
“Bucs coach Todd Bowles told reporters that RB Bucky Irving and WR Chris Godwin are both out for Sunday,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account on Friday, November 14. “But progress this week … “
The Buccaneers are 6-3 and still in first place in the NFC South Division but staring down a killer string of road games against Super Bowl contenders, and doing so right after a disappointing, 28-23 home loss to the New England Patriots in Week 10.
After facing the Bills, the Buccaneers head to the West Coast to face the Los Angeles Rams — arguably the NFC favorite at this point in the season
“Despite logging three straight days of practice, Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving (shoulder) has been ruled OUT and won’t play Sunday vs the Bills,” NFL reporter Arye Pulli wrote on his official X account. “Chris Godwin has also been ruled out once again.”
Questions To Be Answered About Godwin’s Injury
Anyone unlucky enough to see Godwin’s gruesome injury on Monday Night Football against the Baltimore Ravens 13 months ago probably knew right then it was going to be awhile before he saw a football field again.
Godwin underwent surgery on his dislocated left ankle and things checked out afterward to the point that not only did the Buccaneers sign him to a new, 3-year, $66 million contract in March but the Patriots went so far as to try and sign Godwin for a deal worth a reported $90 million.
Problems started to arise when news broke Godwin needed a second surgery to fix the ankle — further extending the amount of time he needed to recover. Still, the Buccaneers brought him back for a Week 4 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and a Week 5 win over the Seattle Seahawks before putting him back on the shelf after “irritation” with that same injury.
Godwin’s injury has now cost him 19 combined regular season and playoff games — 2 more than a whole regular season.
The big questions that remain are what went wrong with the surgeries, why the Buccaneers still signed Godwin to such a large contract if there were problems and why did they bring him back so early instead of just putting him on injured reserve?
Irving’s Biggest Concern: No Contact on Shoulder
Irving’s injury recovery process got off to a weird start, which included him not coming clean that he was hurt when he should have.
“Turns out that Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving’s shoulder injury, which he did not report to the team until Tuesday last week, is more of an issue than his sprained foot, per sources,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on October 5. “Irving is dealing with a shoulder subluxation that is expected to sideline him at least two weeks. Irving will not play today vs. the Seahawks and he’s not expected back for next week’s game vs. the 49ers, either.”
Packers Mystery Playmaker Makes Quiet Return to Practice
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
ASHWAUBENON, WISCONSIN - JUNE 10: MarShawn Lloyd #32 of the Green Bay Packers participates in drills during the Green Bay Packers mandatory minicamp at Ray Nitschke Field on June 10, 2025 in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
In the days after the Packers brought in running back MarShawn Lloyd from USC, using the No. 88 pick (a third-rounder) in the 2024 draft to add him to a revamped running back room that had just seen star Josh Jacobs brought into the mix, he spoke about his strengths as a player.
One of those strengths was his versatility, coming off a season in which he tallied 1,052 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns for the Trojans.
Talking to Green Bay reporters for the first time, Lloyd explained what separated him from other running back draftees: “Honestly, I feel like, being able to be used in any way possible. I can be used on special teams. I can be used on third down. I can be used on kickoff returns. I feel like being able to have that quickness and have that shiftiness, and that explosion, I feel like that’s something I can bring.”
Packers Got Little From MarShawn Lloyd So Far
Unfortunately for the Packers, there is almost no evidence to support that claim, despite Lloyd having kicked around the team for the past two seasons. He has played just one game, back in Week 2 of the 2024 season, in which he carried the ball six times for 15 yards, then went out with a hamstring injury that snowballed into a series of injuries–to his hip and ankle and, eventually, to an appendectomy.
Here in 2025, things have not been much better. We’re approaching Week 11, and Lloyd has yet to play because of an apparently very persistent hamstring injury.
Put this week, there was a ray of hope when it comes to Lloyd and his mysterious tenure with the Packers: He was at practice, working out at a brisk pace.
As ESPN reporter Rob Demovsky wrote on Twitter/X: “MarShawn Lloyd and Jayden Reed appear to have ramped up their rehab. Both still on IR so no photo or video allowed but they were working up a sweat off to the side.”
MarShawn Lloyd Not Being Counted On in Green Bay
This comes just two weeks after it appeared that coach Matt LaFleur was writing off the possibility of a Lloyd return. LaFleur was vague in saying that Lloyd was sent to California to “get his body right,” and when asked about the possibility of Lloyd playing again, LaFleur said flatly, “I wouldn’t count on that anytime soon.”
Lloyd is still on the injured reserve, but could have his practice window opened at any time the Packers wanted to do so. he would then have three weeks to be activated or else he’d be sent back to IR. Strange to say, but given the point in the schedule, if Lloyd is to play in 2025, it’s likely he will have to show the Packers he is ready for a role sooner rather than later.
