Buccaneers' Jalen McMillan: Two catches in season debut
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McMillan (neck) brought in both targets for 38 yards in the Buccaneers' 29-28 loss to the Falcons on Thursday night.
Making his long-awaited season debut following his recovery from a preseason neck injury, McMillan looked good while bringing in a pair of 19-yard grabs. One of those catches was originally ruled a 20-yard touchdown reception that was overturned on replay, when it was determined McMillan hadn't broken the plane of the goal line. The second-year wideout will have a chance to build on what was an encouraging initial performance when the Bucs travel to Carolina for a key Week 16 clash with the Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 21.
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Buccaneers' Jalen McMillan: Set for season debut
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McMillan (neck) is active for Thursday's game against the Falcons.
McMillan thus is eligible for his first game action since he suffered three neck fractures and significant ligament damage in his neck back in preseason Week 2 in mid-August. Fellow WR Mike Evans (collarbone) also is active for the first time since Week 7, but because both players didn't log more than a limited practice this week, the pair seemingly will have a cap on their reps Thursday while working behind Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin and alongside Tez Johnson, Sterling Shepard and Kameron Johnson.
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Buccaneers' Jalen McMillan: Activated from IR
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The Buccaneers have activated McMillan (neck), who is officially listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Falcons, from IR.
McMillan and Mike Evans (collarbone) have both been activated from IR and are listed as questionable for Thursday Night Football after having been limited in three consecutive practices. Final word on McMillan's status for Week 15 will arrive no later than 90 minutes prior to Thursday's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff, but it's a positive sign to see him activated from IR in time to be eligible to suit up against Atlanta.
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Buccaneers' Jalen McMillan: Listed as questionable for TNF
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McMillan (neck) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice and is officially listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Falcons, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
McMillan and Mike Evans (collarbone) are both officially listed as questionable after having logged a trio of limited practices, and they will each need to be activated from IR in advance of Thursday's matchup in order to be eligible to take the field. A 2024 third-round pick, McMillan is working to make his 2025 regular-season debut after having suffered a significant neck injury during an Aug. 16 preseason clash against the Steelers.
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Buccaneers' Jalen McMillan: Logs another limited session
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McMillan (neck) was a limited participant in Tuesday's walkthrough practice.
McMillan is inching his way toward making his 2025 debut after starting the year on injured reserve due to a neck injury. The Buccaneers will have a normal practice Wednesday, and McMillan's participation in that session will provide clarity on whether he'll be able to play Thursday against Atlanta.
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Buccaneers' Jalen McMillan: Limited on practice estimate
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McMillan (neck) was listed as a limited participant on Monday's practice estimate, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
The same applies to fellow WR Mike Evans (collarbone), with coach Todd Bowles noting Monday that both players are in play to potentially return to action Thursday night against the Falcons, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports. McMillan has yet to see game action this season after having suffered a neck injury during an Aug. 16 preseason tilt against the Steelers.
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Buccaneers' Jalen McMillan: Not playing this week
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McMillan (neck) won't return for Sunday's game against the Saints, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
As expected, with McMillan having logged just 2-3 limited practices after missing more than three months due to fractures and ligament damage in his neck. It's unclear what kind of role he'll have if he's ready to play in Week 15 or 16.
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Buccaneers' Jalen McMillan: Limited again Thursday
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McMillan (neck) was a limited practice participant Thursday.
The Buccaneers designated McMillan for return from injured reserve Wednesday, and he so far has logged a limited walkthrough and a capped practice this week. He's seeking his first game action since preseason Week 2 in mid-August, when he suffered three neck fractures and significant ligament damage in his neck that resulted in him wearing a neck brace for a lengthy span of time. McMillan may require a ramp-up period in order to be activated from IR, but Friday's injury report will reveal whether or not he even has a chance to play Sunday against the Saints.
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Buccaneers' Jalen McMillan: Limited at walkthrough
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McMillan (neck) was limited in Wednesday's walkthrough.
McMillan suffered a major scare preseason Week 2 when he was upended while making a leaping catch and fell hard on his neck and helmet. He sustained three neck fractures and significant ligament damage in his neck that forced him to wear a neck brace for a long stretch of time. Now that he's been designated for return from injured reserve and actually mixed into some drills, McMillan has a chance to return to action as soon as Sunday's game against the Saints, but the Buccaneers instead may be more focused on ramping up his activity level with an aim to get him back beyond Week 14.
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Buccaneers' Jalen McMillan: Returning to practice Wednesday
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Tampa Bay is designating McMillan (neck) to return from injured reserve Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
McMillan suffered a severe neck strain along with multiple broken bones in his neck during a preseason game in mid-August. He consequently began the regular season on IR (where he still resides), but he's finally ready to return to practice. Given McMillan's extended absence, it could take some time for him to be ready to play in games, but it appears that he'll be able to contribute before the end of December, barring any setbacks. The Buccaneers' receiving corps has been shorthanded all season, so it'll be a big boon to get McMillan back. In similarly positive news for the team's passing game, veteran wideout Mike Evans (collarbone, IR) also is being designated to return from IR on Wednesday.
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Buccaneers' Jalen McMillan: Could practice this week
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Coach Todd Bowles said Monday that McMillan (neck) could practice this week, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
McMillan suffered multiple neck fractures and ligament damage in an Aug. 16 preseason game. The injuries landed McMillan on injured reserve, where he's spent the first 13 weeks of the season. Bowles added that McMillan had to adjust to wearing a helmet again to see how strong his neck is following the injuries. While McMillan could begin practicing this week, Bowles said both McMillan and Mike Evans (collarbone) "have a little ways to go before playing," according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. The Bucs haven't had their entire wideout room healthy yet this season.
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Buccaneers' Jalen McMillan: Appears set to practice in Week 14
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McMillan (neck) received clearance from a spine specialist to resume on-field work and is expected to return to practice in Week 14, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
McMillan has resided on injured reserve all season after he sustained three neck fractures as well as ligament damage during an Aug. 16 preseason game against the Steelers, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. The ligament damage in particular took the longest time to heal and required McMillan to wear a neck brace for an extended period, but the second-year wideout has finally turned a corner in his recovery and could provide some aid to the Tampa Bay passing attack down the stretch. McMillan excelled in a complementary role as a rookie, appearing in 13 games while finishing with 37 catches for 461 yards and eight touchdowns on 58 targets.
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Buccaneers' Jalen McMillan: To start year on IR
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The Buccaneers are expected to place McMillan (neck) on injured reserve when they finalize the 53-man roster, which will force him to miss at least the first four weeks of the regular season, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles said that McMillan suffered a "severely sprained neck" during Saturday's preseason win over Pittsburgh, and the wideout's recovery timetable could stretch beyond the team's Week 9 bye. With Chris Godwin (ankle) still uncertain for Week 1 and a candidate to miss time early in the season, six-time Pro Bowler Mike Evans and rookie first-round pick Emeka Egbuka appear primed to open the regular season as quarterback Baker Mayfield's top two receivers, while tight end Cade Otton stands to also benefit from an uptick in target volume.
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Buccaneers' Jalen McMillan: Dons neck brace
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McMillan (back) was spotted wearing a neck brace after Saturday's 17-14 preseason win at Pittsburgh, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
At the end of his 18-yard leaping catch in the first quarter, McMillan was undercut by a Steelers defender and landed hard on his neck and head region. He was able to walk to the sideline under his own power before being ruled out due to a back issue, while also being evaluated for a concussion. It's unclear if McMillan has been diagnosed with a head injury, but it seems likely that he'll miss some time with just one preseason game to go (Saturday, Aug. 23 against the Bills) ahead of Week 1.
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Buccaneers' Jalen McMillan: Long catch in preseason opener
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McMillan recorded one catch on one target for 21 yards in Saturday's 29-7 preseason win over the Titans.
McMillan started the game due to Mike Evans (rest) and Chris Godwin (ankle) both being sidelined. He made an instant impact on the game, catching a long 25-yard pass from Kyle Trask down the middle of the field on the first play of the game. McMillan has increased competition for targets and playing time from rookie Emeka Egbuka, but the former should still have a role in the regular season -- particularly if Godwin isn't ready for Week 1.
McMillan is part of a crowded WR room that just added Emeka Egbuka with the 19th overall draft pick.
One might assume no concerns about job security for a 2024 third-round pick who scored seven TDs over the final five weeks of his initial NFL regular season. Unfortunately for McMillan, there's a chance Egubka proves to be the superior player, and not much chance of Mike Evans or Chris Godwin (ankle) getting benched. Of course, it's also possible the concerns prove unfounded and McMillan cements himself as a quality starter, with Egubka either brought along slowly or getting most of his snaps when Evans/Godwin miss time. There does seem to be a lot of overlap between McMillan, Godwin and Egubka in terms of relative strengths and weaknesses, whereas Evans is a different animal altogether, largely running downfield routes on the perimeter.
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Buccaneers' Jalen McMillan: Two catches in season-ending loss
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McMillan brought in two of four targets for 41 yards in the Buccaneers' 23-20 wild-card loss to the Commanders on Sunday night.
McMillan finished a distant second to Mike Evans in receiving yards and was also the runner-up to his teammate in targets on a night when Baker Mayfield threw the ball only 18 times. The rookie wideout's serviceable first career postseason contest also included a team-high 26-yard reception on the first play of a fourth-quarter drive that culminated in a game-tying field goal by Chase McLaughlin. McMillan will head into his first NFL offseason with plenty of momentum after having posted a 37-461-8 line on 58 targets and adding 43 rushing yards on four attempts across 13 regular-season games.
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Buccaneers' Jalen McMillan: Stands out in finale
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McMillan secured five of six targets for 74 yards and a touchdown and rushed once for six yards in the Buccaneers' 27-19 win over the Saints on Sunday.
McMillan finished second in receptions, receiving yards and targets on the afternoon while also recording a touchdown for the fifth straight contest. McMillan's yardage total was also the second-highest of his young career, and about the only blemish on the final regular-season game of his productive rookie campaign was an unsportsmanlike penalty that McMillan earned with a taunting gesture following a key 33-yard reception early in the fourth quarter. McMillan will remain a key component of the Buccaneers' air attack as Tampa Bay heads into the postseason as the NFC's No. 3 seed.
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Buccaneers' Jalen McMillan: Two more TDs in win
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McMillan brought in all five targets for 51 yards and two touchdowns and rushed once for nine yards in the Buccaneers' 48-14 win over the Panthers on Sunday.
The rookie wideout continued his impressive late-season run with his fifth and sixth touchdown receptions over the last four contests. McMillan hit pay dirt from 10 and 16 yards out in the second and fourth quarters, respectively, and he finished second in catches and targets to Mike Evans on the afternoon. McMillan has five catches in three consecutive contests heading into the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Saints.
Over the last three weeks Jalen McMillan has 14 catches for 191 yards and four touchdowns on 20 targets. With Sterling Shepard possibly out, we could see McMillan's target share go even higher in Week 17. He's a number three wide receiver this week who has top-12 upside in a given week. In fact, he's actually been a top-12 wide receiver over the last three weeks combined.
