Chris Godwin to be game-time decision vs. Cowboys on SNF

Sep 9 late update: Godwin got a full practice in and is listed as questionable, but his status for Week 1 still is up in the air.

Sep 9 early update: Godwin will be a game-time decision and since this is an evening game, you should look for another receiver to start in fantasy. Godwin is still practicing in a non-contact jersey and all the talk shows us that the Bucs will be cautious with him. And, even if he plays, he could possibly be on a snap count.

Sep 8, noon update: Godwin says that he did not practice on Thursday, per Greg Auman. His status will likely come down to a game-time decision. It would appear they gave Godwin Thursday off after a full practice and will see how he feels on Friday.

Sep 8, early update: Godwin was not seen at the open part of practice on Thursday, per Jenna Laine. But, he could show up later when practice is closed. We’ll likely need to wait for the practice report later today before knowing what is up.

Sep 7, pm update: Godwin was officially a full participant in practice on Wednesday. That doesn’t lock him into playing, as they could still give him another week, but it’s still a good sign.

Sep 7, am update: We have yet to see Godwin’s status on the injury report, but a recent interview and now coach Todd Bowles have said that much of the decision on his Week 1 status will be based on if Godwin feels ready, but the team doctors will still have a say.

September 5 update: Good news, as Godwin shed his knee brace on Monday, per Rick Stroud. The team and Godwin are likely letting him open things up a bit as they see if he can play against the Cowboys this week.

It’s been a while since we had any kind of official update on Chris Godwin’s injury status. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver tore his ACL late last season, in Week 15, but he was starting to get some practice time in, on a limited basis, last month. It’s notable that the team didn’t place him on the PUP list, meaning that the Bucs expect him back within the four-game window to start the season. The question now is whether or not he’ll be ready for Week 1, which we’ll have to wait a little longer to find out.

Fantasy football implications

Even if he’s not ready for the opener, it shouldn’t be long until Godwin’s ready to play. That uncertainty about his status makes him a good player to target in fantasy football drafts and stash him on the bench until he’s ready to go.

With Russell Gage still sidelined with a hamstring injury, Godwin’s absence could mean more looks for Julio Jones. The veteran has been heavily involved in the team’s offense during training camp. Mike Evans would be an even more attractive fantasy pick if Godwin misses time.