How Chris Godwin's torn ACL impacts Buccaneers' Super Bowl defense

It was also noted that fellow wide receiver Mike Evans has a strained hamstring. He’s questionable to go Week 16 against the hapless Carolina Panthers. As with any hamstring injury, this could very well linger throughout the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs.

Godwin not only leads the Buccaneers in catches and targets, but it’s not necessarily close when it comes to Tampa Bay’s other wide receivers.

• Chris Godwin: 127 targets, 98 catches
• Mike Evans: 100 targets, 64 catches
• Antonio Brown: 42 targets, 29 catches
• Tyler Johnson: 42 targets, 27 catches
• Jaelon Darden: 11 targets, 6 catches

In fact, running back Leonard Fournette is second among Buccaneers players with 69 catches through 14 games. Defenses can now hone in on him when it comes to short and intermediate routes.

Focus on that side of the ball will also be sent in the direction of star tight end Rob Gronkowski. He has 40 catches for 527 yards in nine games. Much like what we saw from Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen Sunday night once Godwin and Evans went down, look for opponents to cover Gronkowski with safety help over the top now that one of the Bucs’ top outside receiving threats is lost for the season.

Sans Godwin, other Buccaneers players must step up

Out since Week 6 with both an injury and league-mandated suspension, Antonio Brown should return in time for Sunday’s outing against the Panthers. There was some thought that Tampa might release him after he was suspended for faking a COVID-19 vaccine card, but he's still with the team.

In 13 career games with the Buccaneers dating back to last season, the seven-time Pro Bowler has caught 74 passes for 901 yards and eight touchdowns.

Tyler Johnson is also a rather big wild card for the defending champs in the absence of Godwin. The former fifth-round pick from Minnesota has not seen a whole bunch of action since joining the Buccaneers back in 2020.

However, he has seen an uptick in action over the past several weeks with Brown sidelined. Since Week 6, Johnson has played in 64 percent of the Buccaneers’ offensive snaps six out of eight games. He’s caught 20-of-28 targets for a mere 178 yards during that span. Simply put, Brady and Co. need him to step up.

Godwin now facing NFL free agency

This past offseason saw Godwin fail to agree to a long-term extension with Tampa Bay. Rather, the former Penn State star is earning $15.98 million under the franchise tag.

Now set to hit free agency in less than three months, Godwin is dealing with a torn ACL. This injury will sideline him well into the 2022 NFL season — impacting the receiver’s ability to cash in on a lucrative long-term deal and increasing the likelihood he re-signs with the Bucs. Such is the nature of the beast in today’s NFL.