The Bucs are preparing for a Week 4 matchup against the Eagles, and it is all hands on deck. Facing the defending Super Bowl champions is lining up to be one of, if not the biggest, tests for the team this season. While injuries are a part of the game, Tampa Bay has seen several star players go down for extended periods of time.

Help is on the way, though.

Wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. and left tackle Tristan Wirfs have been full participants in at least one practice this week. Indications are that Godwin and Wirfs are on the mend and in play to play on Sunday afternoon. It would provide a jolt to an offense that will welcome them back with open arms.

Chris Godwin Jr.'s Potential Return Would Come At The Perfect Time

Since suffering a dislocated ankle injury last October, it has been a long road back for Chris Godwin Jr. He has bounced back before, returning from a torn ACL to post a 1,000-yard season in 2022. Another major injury has kept the 29-year-old out of action, but the Bucs have liked what they have seen from him practicing the past couple of weeks.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin and WRs coach Bryan McClendon – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

"He looks good," head coach Todd Bowles said earlier this week. "It's just a matter of getting tangled up and those types of things – guys cutting him or tackling his legs. You can't simulate those things, so those will be things we're looking at."

So much time away from the football field means shaking some rust off, as Tristan Wirfs admitted himself on Thursday. In Godwin's case, it means recovering enough to take the hits and run crisp routes for quarterback Baker Mayfield to get him touches.

"You know when he is in there, good things are going to happen," Mayfield said on Godwin's potential return. "He just gets everybody on the same page, whether he is really communicating it or not, he is going to correct someone if they mess up. He is always great to have in there — we will see — hopefully he can, that is what we are hoping for, but yeah, it would be great to have him out there."

"CG" is needed now more than ever, as wide receiver Mike Evans will miss multiple weeks with a hamstring injury and Jalen McMillan still on his own road to recovery after a scary neck injury in the preseason. With so many quality wideouts down, it has been the definition of "next man up" for Tampa Bay as they have found ways to win and need to continue doing so.

If Godwin does not go, it leaves rookie Emeka Egbuka at the top of the depth chart, with veteran Sterling Shepard the next top option followed by seventh-round pick Tez Johnson and reserve wideouts Kameron Johnson and Ryan Miller. That would make it likely another wide receiver would be elevated to the active roster, but it would also allow the Eagles' secondary to double team Egbuka and force the offense to rely on a questionable cast around him.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Should he suit up, even on a limited basis, Philadelphia would have to account and respect him, regardless of if he is at full strength or gets a ton of snaps. Godwin would elevate the offense and help open things up schematically, while also providing a boost in morale.

"He's one of our mentally toughest players," Bowles said. "When you see him out there doing all the little things – from blocking to route running, to catching and running with the football, his competitive level is so high and his mental intelligence is so high, it just keeps everybody up, even if other people are down. It's good to see him out there."

Josh Grizzard Excited To See What Chris Godwin Jr. Can Add To Bucs Offense

It remains to be seen just how close to 100% Chris Godwin Jr. is, with the first true look being when he takes the field in a live NFL game again. From there, offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard can tinker with how to utilize Godwin. If he plays this week, Grizzard will have two versatile top wideouts than can line up in various positions and help in ways beyond the box score.

Bucs OC Josh Grizzard and WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: USA Today

"It's tough because they're always compared to each other, and it's hard for me to actually compare them because they're their own man," Grizzard said when asked about how Godwin can complement Emeka Egbuka. "But, you do see some of the same attributes in the fact that they can both play multiple positions, they can move around the offense, they're selfless, they have a huge route tree, you can get the ball to them in multiple ways.

"So, by being able to get the ball to Chris in multiple ways, you can move him around, play all three positions; he can be singled up; he can be in a stack, whatever it might be – and he does the dirty work in the run game, which you guys have seen over the years. So he's just a great – not addition to the team – but it's just great to see him back out there at practice [on Wednesday]."

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/Pewter Report

It was a great sign to see Godwin out there moving around and looking more like his old self. The Bucs offense would surely take the wide receiver that was on a tear to begin last season with 50 receptions for 576 receiving yards and five touchdowns in just seven games. There was enough organizational belief to give him a three-year, $66 million deal.

Now, the excitement builds for Chris Godwin Jr.'s return. When he does, Josh Grizzard will be excited to welcome him into the fold and get the playmaking wide receiver involved.

"It's just fun to talk to him and have him out there just because of the presence he brings," Grizzard said. "Then, on the field, I think it goes without saying how good of a player he is and what he adds to the offense."