Receiver Chris Godwin and tackle Tristan Wirfs will begin the regular season on the Bucs 53-man roster, but the move isn’t about readiness. Godwin is recovering from a dislocated ankle that he suffered last October against the Ravens and has not practiced this offseason.

Having Wirfs back on the blindside would be critical in keeping Baker Mayfield upright.Wirfs, who missed the start of camp while recovering from offseason knee surgery, was among the league’s best tackles in 2024.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will start the 2025 season without wide receiver Chris Godwin while he continues to recover from a gruesome ankle injury suffered in Week 7 last year in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens.