Despite starting 4-1, the Buccaneers have weathered a number of injuries on the offensive side. It appears they'll have to continue overcoming the health-related challenges.
Receiver Chris Godwin is dealing with a fibula ailment that will keep him out of Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers and has rendered him week to week, coach Todd Bowles told reporters Friday.
The injury affects a "different part" of Godwin's fibula than what was affected by last year's season-ending dislocation, Bowles said, and was sustained in the Week 5 win over the Seattle Seahawks.
"I don't know if it was a hit or a twist," Bowles said of how the injury occurred. "I just saw him limp off."
Jalen McMillan still isn't ready to return, either. McMillan has missed the first five games of Tampa Bay's season due to a neck injury and is still in a neck brace, per Bowles, who added "I don't know when he'll return to practice, but he's getting better."
Fortunately for Tampa Bay, rookie Emeka Egbuka has been a fantastic addition, racking up 25 catches for 445 yards and five touchdowns in his first five games. With Mike Evans still out with a hamstring injury and Godwin rejoining the injured list, Egbuka's role will only increase in importance.
"I do not think you can ever fill a void [left] by Mike and Chris," Bowles said Friday, via team transcript. "Other guys have things they do well to make this team. We [have] to make sure when they are out there that we really try to enhance those abilities that we know what they can do and call the right plays from that aspect of it."
