Chris Godwin Feeling "Night and Day" Compared to a Year Ago

Despite a lot of negative chatter surrounding the Buccaneers entering the 2023 NFL season, there are still plenty of reasons for optimism in Tampa Bay.

Near the top of that list is the current status of star receiver, Chris Godwin.

Coming off a 2022 season where his health was a major question mark — right up until the first kickoff of the team's season opener vs. the Dallas Cowboys — it's a breath of fresh air for Chris Godwin, and the Buccaneers, to know that he is well positioned for a healthy, bounce-back campaign in 2023.

Even though Godwin was visibly laboring in that opening game at Dallas last year, he still managed to secure a catch on the team's opening drive, and showed his usual knack for generating tough yards through contact. It would've made sense for Godwin to rest for the first few weeks of the season, but being the gritty, determined player he is, it's no surprise that he refused to sit out in what would be Tom Brady's final season.

It's also no surprise that Godwin wasn't himself in 2022. After all, he was coming off a devastating knee injury suffered in the final weeks of 2021. The fact that he was able to take the field at all in the first half of the season, let alone the very first game, is a major testament to the work ethic, commitment, and desire that have become defining features of Godwin's character.

And to speak further to Godwin's resiliency, even without two healthy wheels beneath him, he still managed to haul in 104 receptions for 1,023 yards and 3 TDs over the course of the year.

So although we now know what Chris Godwin is capable of doing on a football field while working still his way back from serious injury, it feels like some people may have forgotten what he's capable of accomplishing at full health. And based on some of the things Godwin has been saying at Bucs' OTA's this week, I think we're all going to be reminded pretty soon.

Although these first-team OTA's are voluntary, you better believe Chris Godwin was out there showing the 'young Bucs' the right way to attack the offseason. After putting in some work on the field, he addressed the media and gave an update on how he's feeling compared to last offseason.

"All this time last year, I was inside doing rehab on my own... Those were very long days and you kind of watch out the window. It's like you're a kid that got in trouble and you're watching all your friends outside, playing and having fun. To be out here now, it's a blessing. It was a lot of hard work. I'm feeling really good. I feel really good with where I'm at. It's a fresh year [with] fresh opportunities for myself and all the guys around."

"It's a night and day difference," Godwin said, in reference to where he's at this offseason compared to last.

"I feel like a lot of my explosion is coming back. I feel very comfortable with the things that I'm working on. It feels really good to be able to have the opportunity to work on my skill development this offseason, as opposed to just working to rehab an injury."

Godwin's confidence is a great sign. And as long as his body gives him the opportunity, he's simply too hard of a worker, and too talented of a football player to not succeed.

Coming off a challenging 2022 season, it feels like some people have forgotten just how dynamic of a receiver Chris Godwin is when healthy. This is why it's important to remember that 2023 is guaranteed to offer an entirely new set of circumstances. So with his health rejuvenated, a new offensive scheme, and that same gritty mentality that got him this far in the first place, something tells me we're all going to be reminded very soon.

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