It’s been quite a year for Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin as he’s made a triumphant return from a torn ACL injury he suffered on Dec. 19, 2021 in a 9-0 loss to the Saints. Godwin worked diligently on his rehab to return to action by the season opener at Dallas, where he caught three passes for 35 yards before suffering a hamstring injury that would keep him out of the next two games.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: USA Today

Godwin returned to action in Week 4 in a 41-31 loss to Kansas City and restarted his road to recovery. Three months later, Godwin is miraculously closing in on 1,000 yards and the Bucs’ single-season record for receptions.

Heading into the season finale at Atlanta in Week 18, Godwin has 98 catches for 968 yards and three touchdowns thanks to a nine-catch day against the Panthers. Godwin atoned for an early fumble in the game with a season-high 120 receiving yards and caught a two-point conversion pass in the 30-24 victory that clinched the NFC South title for the Bucs for a second straight year.

“It felt good to make a lot of the plays that we know we can make,” Godwin said. “I still don’t think we’ve met our expectations yet, so I think it’s scary whenever we actually do. Again, this is a great step in the right direction. It’s something that we’ve been missing, and we really have to lean on this and build on this to make a nice playoff run.”

Godwin Closing In On A Bucs Single-Season Record

Godwin is just 32 yards away from his third career 1,000-yard season. He had 98 catches for 1,138 yards last year before tearing his ACL, and produced a career-best 1,333 yards and nine touchdowns on 86 catches during his lone season as a Pro Bowler in 2019.

Godwin is also nine catches away from setting a new Bucs single-season receptions record. Former Tampa Bay receiver Keyshawn Johnson caught 106 passes in 2001.

Earlier this year in Tampa Bay’s 16-13 win over the Rams in Week 9, Godwin passed Mark Carrier for the second-most receiving yards in franchise history. At 5,611 yards, Godwin now sits behind only Mike Evans (10,425 yards) in Bucs history. Godwin also recently become the second-leading receiver in Bucs history with 440 receptions, surpassing James Wilder’s mark of 430 catches. Evans leads the franchise with 683 catches.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: USA Today

Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich has marveled at Godwin’s successful comeback this season.

“I don’t know how he [does] it – I really don’t,” Leftwich said. “The best feeling I had all year was the first play in Dallas – that’s why that play was called – to see him in that game. I wanted to get it out of the way and it went for [24 yards] just to show who he is as a player. I’ll remember that the rest of my life, really. Going into Dallas, him being in the starting lineup – that was unreal.

“That goes to show you the work that he puts in – I wanted to reward him for that. It was good for us as a team to see him get that, because what it did for us … once he got up, the season could start. Like I say, this guy is like our bloodline. He does a lot for us and we love his approach on football, also.”

While Godwin still lacks the explosiveness he had prior to his knee injury, evidenced by his career-low 9.9-yard average, that is expected to return next year after an offseason of rest. Godwin will just be thankful to not have to spend the upcoming offseason rehabbing an injury.

Instead he will be celebrating the Bucs’ NFC South championship, a return to the playoffs for a third straight season and perhaps winning the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. He would certainly get Leftwich’s vote.

“I don’t know if we’ve ever seen someone do it so quick and be a part of all the games and still getting better every day,” Leftwich said.