Tampa Bay's Chris Godwin Ready For Season Opener Against Dallas

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Almost nine months after tearing an ACL in his knee, Tampa Bay wide receiver Chris Godwin is expected to be ready for the season opener against Dallas on Thursday, Sept. 11, according to two people within the organization.

Chris Godwin will be ready for Tampa Bay's Week 1 game after returning from a torn ACL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Godwin has not played in the preseason and was only cleared last week to return to practice. Even with those constraints, the coaching staff has been planning for Godwin to return to action. Godwin has been wearing a yellow jersey in practice so that defenders know not to hit him.

Godwin suffered the injury on Dec. 19 and missed the final three games of the season. He finished the season with a career-high 98 catches and signed a three-year, $60 million contract in the offseason despite the injury. Godwin is considered a favorite of quarterback Tom Brady and figures to be even more important this season if the Tampa Bay offensive line regresses, as some people expect.

The Bucs offensive line has lost all three interior starters, including a season-ending knee injury to center Ryan Jensen in camp. As a result, the Bucs offense may rely on more quick passes and short routes, an area where Godwin excels.

Chris Godwin’s return is akin to the 2012 return of running back Adrian Peterson. He came back from an ACL injury in less than nine months to rush for more than 2,000 yards and become the NFL Most Valuable Player.

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Jason Cole has covered or written about pro football since 1992. He is one of 49 selectors for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and has served as a selector since 2013. Cole has worked for publications such as Bleacher Report, Yahoo! Sports, The Miami Herald, the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, and started his career with the Peninsula Times-Tribune in Palo Alto. Cole’s five-year investigation of Reggie Bush and the University of Southern California resulted in Bush becoming the only player to ever relinquish his Heisman Trophy and USC losing its 2004 national championship.