Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin is working his way back from a torn ACL. After suffering the injury last December, there were a lot of questions this offseason about when one of Tampa Bay’s top receivers would make his return.

Godwin, who signed a new three-year deal with the Bucs this offseason, made enough progress to avoid landing on the PUP list to start training camp. Bucs head coach Todd Bowles has been bringing him along slowly, but the 26-year-old began participating in team drills during Monday’s practice. He wore a black no-contact jersey, but it still represented a step forward in his recovery.

“We’re getting him into team drills slowly,” Bowles said after practice. “He’s doing certain things, but he ran a lot… A bit of team [drills] today.”

Is Godwin On Track For Week 1?

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

With Godwin recovering from something as serious as a torn ACL, the Bucs were always going to take their time with him. But now that he’s starting to participate in team drills once again, might he be available for the Bucs’ season opener in Dallas on Sept. 11?

Well, Bowles won’t go as far as predicting that. He wouldn’t even say if he was optimistic about the receiver’s chances to play against the Cowboys.

“I’m not a doctor,” Bowles said. “I can’t make that decision.”

For a while now, though, there’s been some smoke about Godwin’s return coming earlier in the regular season than some might have originally predicted.

During an appearance on the Pewter Report Podcast back in June, Bucs wide receiver Cyril Grayson Jr. seemed to hint that Godwin could be back ahead of schedule.

“I think Chris is going to surprise people,” Grayson said. “I think he’s going to be back sooner than everybody thinks. I’ll say that.”

ESPN insider Adam Schefter then reported in July that the team was hopeful that Godwin would, in fact, be ready for Dallas.

“They are hopeful that that he’ll be ready for opening day,” Schefter said. “So that’s encouraging. They’ll chart him, monitor him, track him during the summer, see how he’s coming along. Obviously not going to rush him back.

The Bucs Don’t Need To Rush Godwin Back

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

Not that the Bucs would do so anyway, but they don’t need to rush Godwin along in his recovery process. He was never going to play in any preseason games. And as much as he might help in the early portion of a tough schedule — one that includes games against Dallas, New Orleans, Green Bay and Kansas City — Tampa Bay doesn’t need to hurry him along.

For one thing, they want him healthy for the long run — particularly the stretch run and the playoffs. And it helps that they have so many talented receivers for Tom Brady to throw to.

Mike Evans returned to practice on Monday after dealing with a minor hamstring injury. Russell Gage, who is dealing with a minor hamstring issue of his own, shouldn’t be far behind. And Tampa Bay has been especially careful with Julio Jones, who has dealt with hamstring problems in the past.

And beyond Evans, Gage and Jones, the Bucs have a wealth of talent at the receiver position. Tyler Johnson is having a great preseason, as is Jaelon Darden. And there is a group of undrafted rookies lighting it up as well.

So, if Godwin doesn’t suit up on Sunday Night Football in a couple of weeks, Tampa Bay will be OK. But if he makes it back, it wouldn’t be a major surprise.