Will Bucky Irving, Chris Godwin return in Week 10? Latest injury updates on Bucs stars

Mike Moraitis

Will Bucky Irving, Chris Godwin return in Week 10? Latest injury updates on Bucs stars image

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are banged-up on the offensive side of the ball as they come out of their bye and prepare for a Week 10 game against the New England Patriots.

Two of those injuries are to wide receiver Chris Godwin and running back Bucky Irving, both of whom have missed multiple games in a row.

Irving hasn't played since Week 4 due to foot and shoulder injuries that were expected to keep him sidelined at least two weeks, and Godwin, who is considered week to week is dealing with a fibula injury that has sidelined him since Week 5.

With Mike Evans also sidelined for a significant period of time, Godwin's return is particularly important, but it goes without saying that the Bucs need Irving back, also.

Here's what we know about their chances of returning in Week 10.

Will Bucky Irving be back in Week 10?

FRIDAY UPDATE: Greg Auman of FOX Sports reports that Irving is not practicing on Friday and will be ruled out for Week 10.

THURSDAY UPDATE: It's status quo for Irving on Thursday, as he's not practicing yet again. Start making other plans, fantasy owners.

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: It is confirmed that Irving is not practicing on Wednesday, so he's off to a bad start to the week and is on track to not play yet again.

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: Rick Stroud of The Tampa Bay Times reports on Wednesday morning that Irving is not expected to practice on Wednesday, which is bad news for his Week 10 status.

There is no concrete answer to this question, unfortunately.

What we do know is that Irving is not on injured reserve, which seemed to suggest that the Bucs didn't expect him to miss more than three games.

However, it has now been four contests since Irving played and that indicates the injury is a bit more serious than Tampa Bay initially believed, so that leaves the running back's status even more up in the air.

The Bucs will drop their first injury report of the week Wednesday, so we'll know more then, but for now we'd put Irving's chances of returning this week at 50/50, and that might be generous.

The good news is, the Bucs do expect Irving back at some point, as The Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud noted on Tuesday.

"(The Bucs are) banking on players such as Bucky Irving, Chris Godwin, Luke Goedeke, Haason Reddick and even Mike Evans returning from injury," he explained in regard to why Tampa Bay didn't make any trades.

Will Chris Godwin be back in Week 10?

FRIDAY UPDATE: Godwin is not practicing on Friday and will be ruled out for Week 10, FOX Sports' Greg Auman reports.

THURSDAY UPDATE: Godwin is sidelined at practice once again on Thursday and he's now almost certain to sit out again this week.

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: We now have confirmation that Godwin is not practicing to start the week, so start making other plans if you were relying on him in fantasy.

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports on Wednesday morning that Godwin is not expected to practice, which puts him on track to sit out again this week.

Again, no definitive answer here.

Like Irving, Godwin wasn't placed on injured reserve, so the expectation was he'd miss three games, at most. The veteran wideout has now missed three contests, so there's at least a chance he plays this week.

We already referenced Stroud's comment on the Bucs' expectations for their injured players, so it doesn't appear Godwin has anything that will keep him sidelined much longer.

We'll know more on Wednesday, when the Bucs drop their first Week 10 injury report.

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