Chris Godwin Jr. knows all too well the process of recovering from injury. Having spent the 2021 and 2024 offseasons rehabbing major injuries, Godwin understands the level of work that is required to be put in. It was after a torn ACL he suffered late in the 2021 season that he worked tirelessly to get himself ready to play in Week 1 of the 2022 season. Even lacking his true explosiveness the first year after that injury, he still set a career-high with 104 catches and had a 1,000-yard season.

Godwin was well on his way to a career season in a contract year no less when he suffered a dislocated ankle injury last October. That recovery timeline saw the 29-year-old miss the start of the 2025 season, with a return in Week 4 being short-lived as a separate fibula injury popped up. That required even more rehabilitation, as it would not be until Week 12 that he would return to the starting lineup.

Dealing with all of that and remaining productive, as he was last week, is beyond telling of how hungry and resilient Godwin is. Speaking with the media on Wednesday afternoon, the Bucs wide receiver opened up about his journey to catching passes once again.

Chris Godwin Jr. Won’t Put A Percentage On His Health, But He Is Closer To Himself

The first three games Chris Godwin Jr. played in this season were concerning, to say the least. Godwin had just eight catches for 61 yards, equating to just 7.6 yards per reception. He did not look like the former Pro Bowl Bucs wide receiver everyone has come to expect him to be, and understandably, one could see him not returning to his previous form after the injuries he has dealt with in his professional career.

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

Whoa, whoa, whoa – not so fast.

Godwin looked as explosive as ever during the Bucs Week 13 win against the Cardinals, catching three passes for 78 yards. That 26 yards per catch average is owed to 25-yard, 31-yard, and 22-yard receptions that showcased he can still make big plays and stretch the field. It is more representative of the player Tampa Bay gave a three-year, $66 million deal to this offseason, despite knowing the risks of whether or not he could bounce back.

While “CG” would not put a percentage on how he is feeling health-wise after a season-best performance, he is closer to being at the level he wants to be. Someone who can fill the role of a high-volume weapon for quarterback Baker Mayfield as a trusted source of offense.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin Jr. and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

“I don’t know if I would necessarily be able to put a percentage on it, but I’m definitely getting a lot closer to what I normally expect from myself,” Godwin said. “Turns out, it’s really tough to play at a high level in the NFL, right? I think that can go past people sometimes because they see everyone out there doing it. We’re all the best in the world at what we do.

“To play at an elite level, it takes a ton of time, a ton of work, and that type of focus. Rebuilding yourself and bringing yourself back toward that level. I just have to be patient with myself. I’ve learned that multiple times now, there are always new lessons to be learned. For me, it’s just understanding where I’m at and continuing to work toward where I want to be at.”

Chris Godwin Jr. Shares Why Rehab Is Not Easy For Any Player To Go Through

As Chris Godwin Jr. said, NFL players are the best of the best. Being at that level requires an extreme amount of discipline and consistency. The work that is put in molds players to being in peak physical condition from a strength and stamina standpoint.

One cannot underscore the mental part of it, either, especially when watching from the sideline injured and working throughout the week to return game ready. In Godwin’s case, the road has been long, and it is a path not well-traveled and filled with isolation away from teammates and coaches.

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

“There are very low points,” Godwin said. “You are very, very alone during rehab. I think the reality of it is nobody can do the rehab for you. People can encourage you; they can support you as much as they want to, but at the end of the day, it has to be you who puts the work in. It directly translates to how fast you come back and how well you recover, also the mental space that you’re in. If you don’t have the right people around you to support you to help you in your mental space, it can be even tougher.”

Thankfully for Godwin, he has had the support of his wife, Mariah, through the difficult times. While she has remained his rock through the lowest and highest points of his Bucs career, it still comes down to the work put in behind the scenes. Sundays are filled with seeing people at their best, playing the game of football at the highest level. That is the result of so many days working when no one is watching. Having the success he has had, and the opportunity of a lifetime, makes Godwin nothing short of grateful.

Bucs GM Jason Licht and WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“You [have] to take it one day at a time, and fortunately or unfortunately, I’ve been through this a couple of times, so I kind of understood what I was getting into even though each rehab was very different,” Godwin added. “I think the biggest thing I’ve taken from it is my overall sense of gratitude — every time, it goes up. This is an incredible privilege to play in the NFL.

“It’s something I worked my entire life to be able to get to this point. I’m fortunate that I’ve gotten to do it at a high level and that’s all I’m focused on is getting back to that high level. Being able to be around the guys, being able to impact my team in a positive way, this is what I want to do the most.”

After looking more like himself last week, Chris Godwin Jr. is aiming to elevate his game even further down the stretch, starting with the Bucs playing a divisional matchup against the Saints. Having yet to play the NFC South rival this season, Godwin will be fired up at his next chance to be a difference-maker come Sunday afternoon.