Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles replied, "I hope so," when asked whether wide receiver Jalen McMillan (neck) will play in 2025, per Greg Auman of Fox Sports. Bowles did note that McMillan is "getting better" but is "still in the neck brace." The second-year wide receiver suffered a neck injury during the preseason and is currently on Injured Reserve. McMillan recorded 37 catches for 461 yards and eight touchdowns on 58 targets in 13 games last season, but it does not appear he is close to making his 2025 debut. The Buccaneers' wide receiver corps is currently quite depleted, with wideouts Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (fibula) both set to miss the team's Week 6 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Evans and Godwin are both expected to return before McMillan, but Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka could have an extended run as the team's WR1.
Oct 10, 2025 2:10 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (neck), still on injured reserve from a preseason injury, is still slated for a 2025 return, but likely not until after Tampa's Week 9 bye. The second-year receiver sustained the injury on a frightening play trying to catch a pass, but avoided worst-case scenarios and has a realistic change to come back this season. He finished as the 55th-ranked PPR receiver last year on the strength of eight touchdown catches. McMillan's return, however, is still on the shelf for at least another month as Tampa deals with injuries at several other key positions.
Oct 4, 2025 1:41 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (neck) remains on the same recovery timeline. Head coach Todd Bowles said, "Timetable has not changed. We see him every day. He's doing fine, but we're just walking in the hallway." McMillan suffered a scary neck sprain in the preseason when a high pass from Teddy Bridgewater forced him to land awkwardly on his head. While there's still a chance he returns later in the year, his fantasy outlook for 2025 remains limited. With Chris Godwin healthy, rookie Emeka Egbuka emerging, and Mike Evans continuing his push to extend his 1,000-yard streak, McMillan projects as more of a WR4/role player when he's back on the field.
Sep 25, 2025 10:45 AM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (neck) is currently on the Injured Reserve and eligible to return on October 5, as the Buccaneers will travel to take on the Seattle Seahawks. McMillan left Tampa Bay's exhibition in Pittsburgh on August 16 with what eventually was termed a strained neck. This injury has opened the door for rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka to be involved early on in the season, and he has not disappointed, hauling in three touchdowns in his first two career NFL games. McMillan had a nice rookie campaign in 2024, hauling in 37 of his 58 targets for 461 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Before the draft, McMillan was lined up to be in the WR2 spot on the Bucs offense with Chris Godwin (foot) recovering from his injury. At this time, McMillan remains a dynasty stash and can be picked up off the waivers in leagues with deeper benches once he returns.
Sep 17, 2025 10:00 AM EST
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed wide receiver Jalen McMillan (neck) on Injured Reserve with a return designation on Tuesday. The move means that McMillan will be eligible to come back in Week 5, but he may have to miss more time than that as he recovers from a sprained neck. The 23-year-old suffered the injury in a preseason win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Aug. 16. McMillan, a third-round pick from Washington in 2024, impressed with 37 catches, 461 yards, and eight touchdowns in 13 games. He hauled in seven of those scores in the Buccaneers' final five games of the season, but he won't be able to build on that performance until at least October. The Bucs will also open the year without Chris Godwin (ankle), which will give first-round rookie Emeka Egbuka a prime opportunity to step up as the team's No. 2 receiver after Mike Evans.
Aug 26, 2025 9:23 PM EST
Updating previous reports, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (neck) could be out through the team's Week 9 bye, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. McMillan will be placed on Injured Reserve with a "severely sprained neck" that he suffered in the second preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers over the weekend. The Bucs still feel fortunate that his injury wsn't worse. It's tough news for McMillan and more bad news for the team's receiver depth with Chris Godwin (ankle) potentially starting the year on the PUP list and missing the first four games of the season. With the 23-year-old McMillan now potentially missing over half of the 2025 campaign, rookie first-round receiver Emeka Egbuka's fantasy value will skyrocket. Egbuka should be Tampa's WR2 behind Mike Evans if Godwin isn't ready.
Aug 19, 2025 1:52 PM EST
Updating a previou report, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (neck) will not be ready for the season opener, according to Rick Stroud of The Tampa Bay Times. Stroud reported that McMillan suffered a neck sprain. McMillan sustained their injury during their preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend. While reports earlier on Tuesday suggested that McMillan was only to be held out of practice, it appears the second-year wideout has suffered a more serious injury. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he could miss multiple games if he is unable to progress. Chris Godwin (ankle) is also trending toward missing the start of the season, which would leave veteran Mike Evans and rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka as the top options in the passing attack. After a slow start in his rookie season, McMillan emerged as a breakout as he caught at least one touchdown pass in each of his final five games. When he does return, he will likely slot in as the No. 4 option behind Egbuka, which will limit his upside.
Aug 19, 2025 10:56 AM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (back) is not practicing on Tuesday, according to Rick Stroud of The Tampa Bay Times. The 23-year-old has been held out of action since suffering a back injury during the preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he could be in danger of missing the remainder of the preseason if this injury begins to linger. Last season, McMillan enjoyed a productive second half in his rookie campaign. After catching just 13 passes throughout the first eight games, McMillan would go on to score at least one touchdown in each of his final five games of the regular season and average a stellar 19.8 PPR points per game over this stretch. However, with first-round rookie Emeka Egbuka gaining traction during camp, McMillan may take a step back during his sophomore season.
Aug 19, 2025 10:33 AM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers second-year receiver Jalen McMillan (neck) was in good spirits over the weekend, following a scary-looking fall that took him out of Saturday's preseason game against the Steelers in the first quarter. After landing awkwardly on his head/neck area while making a catch, he was carted to the locker room and ruled out for the remainder of the game. McMillan seems to have avoided any major injury and is now dealing only with soreness. He finished on a league-winning heater last season, registering seven touchdown grabs in his final five regular-season games. Chris Godwin (ankle) is projected to start the year on the PUP list. McMillan should still have a role in the Buccaneers' high-powered offense while Godwin is sidelined.
Aug 18, 2025 10:38 AM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (back/head) was ruled out of Saturday's preseason game against the Steelers after taking a hard fall in the first quarter. The rookie wideout made a highlight-reel catch before being flipped by defensive back Daryl Porter and landing on his head. With Chris Godwin (ankle) still recovering from last year's injury, Tampa Bay's receiver depth is being tested early. If McMillan misses time, the Buccaneers will likely turn to Trey Palmer or rookie Emeka Egbuka to fill in. Fantasy managers should monitor updates, though McMillan profiles as a waiver-wire watch more than a redraft target.
Aug 16, 2025 7:47 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan is still a very large part of the Buccaneers' plans this season, according to new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard. Grizzard was new coach Liam Coen's pass game coordinator last year, and when pressed to give a player who needed to play well for his offense to work this season, he identified McMillan. Grizzard said, "He's in a good spot." The Bucs' receiver room is crowded with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin coming back from injury, and new first-round pick Emeka Egbuka. McMillan made a big impact, though, 37 catches for 461 yards and eight touchdowns. He stepped up after Godwin's injury and had seven touchdowns in his last five games. McMillan is a risky pick with so many options in the offense, but he showed off a high enough ceiling to definitely be a part of starting lineups in standard leagues coming into the season.
Jul 22, 2025 10:52 AM EST
When asked to pick an offensive player who needs to step up in 2025, Tampa Bay Buccaneers new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard named wide receiver Jalen McMillan on The Ronde Barber Show. McMillan came on strong to close out the 2024 season with Chris Godwin (ankle) injured, but he'll have plenty of competition for playing time with Mike Evans, Godwin and rookie first-rounder Emeka Egbuka in the receivers room. The 23-year-old finished his second NFL season with 37 catches for 461 yards and eight touchdowns. In the final five games, he had 24 receptions, 316 yards and seven touchdowns. "I think that where (McMillan) left last season and the progress he showed on and off the field, and you could see that carry over into the spring with not having Chris out there and bringing Emeka along and him showing Emeka the ropes," Grizzard said.
Jul 18, 2025 3:26 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan caught two of his four targets for 41 yards during Sunday's playoff loss to the Washington Commanders. It was a below-average performance from the rookie receiver, who snapped a five-game touchdown streak in the defeat. He had found the end zone seven over during this five-game window, ranking as the overall WR7 in half-PPR leagues during that span. McMillan did a great job filling in for Chris Godwin (ankle) down the stretch, and the rookie's emergence is likely enough to convince the Buccaneers that re-signing Godwin isn't a high priority. The University of Washington product offers a nice complement to Mike Evans, and the two should continue to form a solid one-two punch for years to come. McMillan remains a strong fantasy WR3 going forward, especially if he can prove that his nose for the end zone in 2024 wasn't a fluke.
Jan 13, 2025 12:30 AM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (finger) remained on the injury report this week, but is ready to play after getting in three straight full practice sessions. The rookie wideout will look to keep his touchdown-streak alive during Sunday's Wild-Card game against the Washington Commanders. McMillan has caught a touchdown in five straight games coming into this game. He has become a favorite red-zone target for quarterback Baker Mayfield. It took some time for the two players to get on the same page, but McMillan has been heavily involved since Week 14. The Bucs lack many viable receiving options outside of Mike Evans and McMillan. That being said, McMillan should see plenty of work against a struggling Commanders defense this weekend. The 23-year-old is well worth a look for this weekend's games.
Jan 10, 2025 5:45 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan (finger) is listed on this week's injury report with a finger injury but was able to give it a full-go in practice on Wednesday. It's something to keep an eye on the rest of the week, but barring a setback, McMillan should be good to go for Sunday night's wild-card playoff battle against the visiting Washington Commanders. The 23-year-old third-round selection out of Washington came on like gangbusters to close out his rookie campaign in the regular season, catching 24 of 31 targets for 316 yards and seven touchdowns in the last five contests. McMillan is the No. 2 behind future Hall of Famer Mike Evans, but there are enough looks to go around in Tampa's pass-happy offense for the rookie to be considered on the WR1/2 borderline for DFS playoff lineups this weekend.
Jan 8, 2025 10:14 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan posted another strong performance during Sunday's regular season finale against the New Orleans Saints. The rookie wideout hauled in five of his six targets for 74 yards and a touchdown in the win. It's also worth noting that McMillan rushed the ball once for six yards. That score was his seventh touchdown over his last five games. McMillan has come out of nowhere and become an elite red-zone threat for the Bucs down the stretch of the season. The rookie wideout will look to extend his five-game touchdown streak during next week's playoff game.
Jan 5, 2025 9:00 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan has stepped up and delivered for this offense over the last few weeks. The rookie wideout came alive in Week 14 and hasn't looked back since then. McMillan now carries a four-game touchdown streak into the Week 18 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. The 23-year-old has also hauled in five receptions for 50 yards or more in each of the last four games. McMillan is playing solid football right now and that should continue during Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. He'll get a banged up secondary and he has already emerged as a reliable red-zone threat. Fantasy managers should strongly consider sticking McMillan in their DFS lineups given his recent success. Otherwise, McMillan should be treated as a WR2 for fantasy managers in championship games.
Jan 3, 2025 8:33 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan continued his impressive late-season surge during Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers. The rookie wideout hauled in all five of his targets for 51 yards and two touchdowns in the win. McMillan now has six touchdowns over his last four games after having one total touchdown heading into Week 14. Fantasy managers are finally getting production out of the rookie wideout at the best time of the season. McMillan might sneak onto the WR2 radar for the Week 18 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.
Dec 29, 2024 6:56 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan has finally decided to show up during the final stretch of the regular season. The rookie wideout hauled in five of his seven targets for 57 yards during last week's loss to the Dallas Cowboys. McMillan has finished with four receptions or more while surpassing 55 receiving yards in each of his last three games. The Bucs are down a few wideouts, so expect McMillan and Mike Evans to see plenty of targets against the Carolina Panthers this weekend. The rookie wideout has scored four touchdowns over his last three games. He has clearly become a viable red-zone option for this team. Fantasy managers should consider McMillan a WR3 for this Week 17 matchup.
Dec 27, 2024 9:02 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan caught five of his seven targets for 57 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's Week 16 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The rookie has been a terrific contributor for Tampa Bay this season, filling in admirably as the team's No. 2 wide receiver with Chris Godwin (ankle) done for the year. McMillan has come on particularly strong lately, catching 14 passes for 191 yards and four touchdowns over his last three games. He has found the end zone in three consecutive contests, cementing himself as a very strong WR3/FLEX option moving forward. He should continue to be started in most leagues ahead of next week's matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
Dec 23, 2024 12:48 AM EST
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