As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will look to defend their NFC South title in the 2022 season, they could possibly be at full strength on offense come Week 1.

On Thursday’s edition of ESPN's “NFL Live” program, NFL insider Adam Schefter provided the latest on Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin’s injury status. Godwin has been out of action since suffering a torn ACL injury in Tampa Bay’s Week 15 matchup against the New Orleans Saints last season.

Schefter noted that Buccaneers team officials are “hopeful” that Godwin will be able to make his return to the field by Tampa Bay’s Week 1 opener against the Dallas Cowboys. He also mentioned that the Buccaneers are not going to “rush him back,” but they simply plan on monitoring his progress over the coming months.

Schefter further added that it would be a longshot for Godwin to play in any of Tampa Bay’s upcoming trio of preseason contests.

The Buccaneers have maintained a conservative stance with Godwin’s injury rehab. He has not featured in any notable football-related activities since sustaining the season-ending ailment, from missing the Buccaneers’ pair of playoff games in the 2021 campaign to being ruled out from taking part in their OTAs and mandatory minicamp programs.

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles did note in May that there has been no designated “timetable” set for just when Godwin will receive the green light to make a return to action.

Godwin logged 98 receptions and 1,103 receiving yards in the 2021 season. He is set to play the 2022 campaign on the first year of the three-year, $60 million extension deal he signed off on in March.