In 2021, Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin was enjoying the best season of his career. With 98 catches for 1,103 yards and five touchdowns by mid-December, the 2017 third-round pick was doing it all for a Tampa Bay offense seemingly primed for another Super Bowl run. And then, his season came to a sudden end.

During the Bucs’ Week 15 home loss to the Saints, Godwin suffered a torn ACL, ending his season and setting him on a long road back to the field. But now, with the 2022 season getting underway on Sunday, it’s not out of the realm of possibility for Godwin to play. He’s listed as questionable for the Bucs’ Sunday night game against the Cowboys in Dallas, with head coach Todd Bowles saying the decision will come all the way down to kickoff.

Whether or not Godwin plays against the Cowboys, he should be back very soon. That speaks to his extremely detailed recovery process, which he recently detailed in a behind-the-scenes video for the NFL’s YouTube channel.

(Due to the NFL’s copyright rules, you’ll need to view this video on YouTube here.)

It’s a really interesting look at Godwin’s rehab process, with plenty of details on the injury, his physical therapy process and the drills he ran through to rebuild strength in his knee. Plus, he spoke on the mental side of his recovery and the steps he had already taken in the past to invest in his mental health.

“I’ve never been through anything like this before, so I never knew what to expect,” Godwin said. “I never knew how I should really approach it.”

With his return to action imminent, it’s safe to say that Godwin and his support system have navigated the process just fine.

Bucs Training Staff Key In Godwin’s Recovery Process

Bucs director of rehabilitation and performance Maral Javadifar – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Of course, coming back from an injury as serious as a torn ACL isn’t something a player can do on his own. In the video, Godwin spoke about the help he’s received from the Bucs’ strength and conditioning staff, noting how they’ve pushed him throughout the whole journey.

“The people that I have around me to support me through this process have been crucial. Our strength coaches like MJ (Maral Javadifar) and AP (Anthony Piroli), they have been the ones that have been spearheading my rehab,” Godwin said. “And they’re not only giving me the support and the movements and make sure I’m doing it properly, but really pushing me. They know I’m going to put the work in. They know I want to be the best that I can be, so they’re just guiding. They’ve been really helpful.”

It’s clear that the appreciation between Godwin and his strength coaches is mutual, as Javadifar has high praise for the Bucs receiver and the way he attacked his rehab work.

“What’s been super cool watching you, you approached every day like it’s game time,” Javadifar tells Godwin in the video. “I think that’s why, I’ve told you this before, being able to work with someone who [has] your mindset is a gift.”

Godwin’s Approach To The Mental Side Of The Game Prepared Him

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

A large chunk of the video covering Godwin’s recovery is focused on his mental health. It’s something that Godwin began working on well before his injury, thanks to the help of Dr. Armando “Mondo” Gonzalez.

“Obviously, there’s a stigma around mental health, but it doesn’t have to be,” Godwin said. “You don’t have to be broken to want to better yourself, to better your mental. And that was kind of like the approach when I started working with Dr. Mondo.”

Godwin recalls his sessions with Gonzalez helping him deal with adversity he’s seen on the field, particularly early on in the Bucs’ playoff run two seasons ago that ultimately ended with a Super Bowl victory.

“It was about me trying to figure out how to be the best me, how to handle adversity better. The work that we had put in, I think ultimately ended up paying dividends well before my injury,” Godwin said. “For instance, our playoff run, my first playoff game, I had a couple of catches and a touchdown in the first half.

“Then, for whatever reason, it spiraled. I had a couple of drops, and then it turned into a confidence thing, like ‘Man, don’t drop the ball’ as opposed to the confidence that I normally carry. But the work that we had put in allowed me to respond, have 100 yards in the NFC Championship Game and the game-sealing play to send us to the Super Bowl.”

There’s bound to be a bit of hesitation when returning to the field from any surgery, and that’s especially the case when you’re a wide receiver coming off of a knee procedure. But it’s clear that Godwin is prepared to handle that mental hurdle, whenever the time comes for him to step on the field again.