Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie sensation Jalen McMillan appeared on Wednesday’s injury report with a finger injury, raising questions ahead of Sunday night’s wild-card game against the Washington Commanders.
The good news came quickly for Bucs fans. According to RotoBaller Keith Hernandez, McMillan participated fully in Wednesday’s practice. The rookie receiver’s active involvement suggests he will be ready for playoff contention, barring any setbacks.
McMillan’s presence is important to Tampa Bay’s offense. The 23-year-old has caught fire over the past five games, hauling in 24 catches for 316 yards and seven touchdowns. His late-season emergence helped the Buccaneers go 6-1 in their final seven games.
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The Washington product bounced back brilliantly after Chris Godwin’s injury in October. McMillan finished his rookie campaign with 37 receptions, 461 yards and eight touchdowns. He scored in five straight games heading into the playoffs.
Baker Mayfield, who posted career-best numbers with 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns, praised McMillan’s development.
“The biggest thing for him, what you look for in any rookie, is progression throughout the year, and that’s what he did,” Mayfield said Sunday.
Jalen McMillan could be Tampa Bay’s playoff X-Factor
Jalen McMillan’s impact extends beyond the stat sheet. Ian Valentino of the 33rd team identified the young receiver as Tampa Bay’s X-factor for the playoffs.
“A change has been made at McMillan,” Valentino wrote Thursday. “He’s been a bigger part of the offense, and his role in beating New Orleans to win the NFC South has already capped off a great end to the season…Evans will always be the alpha in Tampa Bay, but McMillan now has Baker Mayfield’s trust.
Coach Todd Bowles highlighted McMillan’s mastery of the offense and his growing confidence.
“When guys went down early in the year, he had a chance to get his feet wet and figure out where he needed to be on the field, spot-wise,” Bowles said. “The older guys have helped him a lot and he’s playing really fast at the moment.”
The stakes rise significantly as Tampa Bay prepares to host Washington. These teams met in week one, with the Buccaneers taking a 37-20 victory. McMillan’s evolution since the season opener adds another dimension to Tampa Bay’s passing attack.
McMillan’s partnership with future Hall of Famer Mike Evans could give Tampa Bay an offensive advantage in future games.
Edited by Krutik Jain
