Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Buccaneers star WR Chris Godwin out for season with torn ACL

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 12/20/21

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport (h/t Kevin Patra) and ESPN previously reported that star Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin would miss at least the rest of the regular season due to an MCL sprain he suffered in the second quarter of Sunday's prime-time loss to the New Orleans Saints that dropped the defending Super Bowl champions to 10-4 overall.

That injury is even worse than feared.

Per the NFL's website, Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians has since confirmed Godwin tore his ACL Sunday night. That, of course, will keep the 25-year-old sidelined through the entire playoffs and, likely, the start of the 2022 season.

We're wishing you a speedy recovery, @CGtwelve_ pic.twitter.com/KNi8yi3oK6
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 20, 2021

It's a brutal blow for both a Tampa Bay team looking to repeat as champions and a young one-time Pro Bowl selection who played the 2021 campaign on the franchise tag and, thus, was hoping to sign a lucrative contract this coming offseason. Per ESPN stats, Godwin is third in the NFL with 98 receptions and fifth with 1,103 receiving yards. He tallied five receiving touchdowns and one rushing score across 14 appearances.

Additionally, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports Buccaneers Pro Bowl receiver Mike Evans is considered week-to-week because of the strained hamstring he picked up Sunday evening. Evans could potentially play at the 5-9 Carolina Panthers this coming Sunday.

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