Jalen McMillan
Wide Receiver #15
Jalen McMillan News
Jalen McMillan Placed on Injured Reserve
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) on Injured Reserve, which will sideline him for a minimum of four games, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. This was the expected outcome after the team announced that McMillan is dealing with a PCL sprain in his left knee. The 24-year-old is expected to miss around six to eight weeks. It is a big blow to Tampa's passing game, especially after they lost quarterback Baker Mayfield (thumb) for at least three weeks as well. McMillan had been dealing with knee issues since training camp this summer, and he missed the Week 1 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals before catching zero passes on just one target in Weeks 2 and 3. He can safely be dropped in most single-year leagues where he was rostered. With McMillan out for the foreseeable future, rookie Ted Hurst III becomes an intriguing waiver-wire pickup this week as the WR3 behind Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr., although Mayfield's injury will certainly hurt Hurst's short-term upside.
Sep 30, 2026 8:28 AM EST
Jalen McMillan Out 6-8 Weeks With Sprained Knee
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) could miss anywhere from six to eight weeks after he was diagnosed with a sprained left PCL on Monday, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN. It is a tough break for a Bucs offense that will also be without starting quarterback Baker Mayfield for at least the next three games due to a dislocated right thumb that he suffered in the Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The 24-year-old McMillan had a 37-461-8 line in 13 games as a rookie with the Bucs in 2024, but he played in only four games a year ago due to a serious neck injury. He has been dealing with a knee injury since training camp this year, and in the two games that he has played, McMillan has zero catches on just one target. It was obvious that McMillan has not been right in some time, and he will most likely be placed on Injured Reserve. For now, he belongs on the waiver wire in most leagues. McMillan's injury opens up more playing time for impressive rookie Ted Hurst III, although his fantasy appeal should be tempered with undrafted rookie QB Jalon Daniels set to take over the offense for the next three weeks.
Sep 28, 2026 4:23 PM EST
Jalen McMillan Out Against Vikings
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings, the team announced via the X platform. McMillan was targeted once and didn't record a catch before exiting Sunday's game. The third-year receiver missed most of training camp and Tampa Bay's season-opener because of the knee injury. Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. are active in Sunday's game, and rookie receiver Ted Hurst III has a receiving touchdown on one target for Tampa Bay.
Sep 27, 2026 1:01 PM EST
Jalen McMillan Questionable to Return With Knee Injury
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) is questionable to return to Sunday's game, the team reported via the X platform. McMillan missed most of training camp and was out of the Bucs' season opener because of the knee injury, and didn't make it on the stats sheet when he returned in Week 2. Tampa Bay will continue leaning on Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. to lead the receiving corps.
Sep 27, 2026 12:48 PM EST
Jalen McMillan Plays Limited Role in Return from Injury
After missing his team's season opener because of a knee injury, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan returned to the field in Week 2. However, the third-year wideout was hardly utilized, playing just seven offensive snaps and failing to earn a single target. McMillan missed most of training camp with the knee issue, and Tampa Bay may simply be working him back in slowly. Still, the 24-year-old missed nearly the entire 2025 season due to a neck injury, so it's been a while since he was a regular contributor for the Bucs. The Buccaneers also have other options in their wide receiver room. Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. are locked into the WR1 and WR2 roles, and youngsters Ted Hurst III and Tez Johnson have flashed upside as well. At least in the short term, McMillan should remain off the radar of fantasy managers.
Sep 25, 2026 5:32 PM EST
Jalen McMillan is a Risky Play for Week 3
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan made his season debut versus the Cleveland Browns last week. He has been dealing with a knee issue that sidelined him during the season opener. McMillan was limited to only seven snaps during Sunday's loss to the Browns. The expectation is that his role is going to grow as he gets more practice reps. McMillan has been practicing in full this week and should be a full-go for Sunday's Week 3 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. It's unclear how much McMillan is going to play as the Bucs continue to ramp him up. Fantasy managers shouldn't consider McMillan a safe starting option for this weekend.
Sep 25, 2026 3:55 PM EST
Jalen McMillan Making his Debut in Week 2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) is officially active for the Week 2 contest on Sunday at home against the Cleveland Browns, per Buccaneers Communications. McMillan missed most of training camp and all of the preseason this summer with a knee injury that also kept him from suiting up in the Week 1 season-opening loss last Sunday to the Cincinnati Bengals. The 24-year-old made solid progress during the week in practice, though, and has been cleared to make his 2026 season debut against the Browns. It is good news for Tampa's passing attack, but with McMillan expected to be on a pitch count in his return, fantasy managers in deeper leagues should not be viewing him as a deep-league sleeper for the Bucs. Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. will continue to operate as the team's top pass-catchers, with impressive rookie wideout Ted Hurst III likely a better sleeper option as a deep-league flex on Sunday.
Sep 20, 2026 7:44 AM EST
Jalen McMillan Expected to Play Sunday in Limited Role
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) is expected to play in Sunday's Week 2 contest against the Cleveland Browns despite being listed as questionable, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. However, he'll be functioning at less than 100 percent, as Schefter reports that McMillan isn't ready to occupy a full-time role yet. The 24-year-old is working his way back from a knee injury that has bothered him since training camp. He also missed 13 games last year due to a neck issue, so he's still trying to carve out his first substantial playing time since his rookie season in 2024. He showed high upside with eight touchdowns during his rookie campaign, but he might not replicate that scoring total in 2026 given his role behind Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. For now, he's more of a redraft stash and less of a weekly lineup option.
Sep 20, 2026 5:16 AM EST
Jalen McMillan to Be a Game-Time Decision
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) missed the team's season-opening loss to the Bengals with a knee injury sustained midway through training camp, and head coach Todd Bowles told reporters on Friday that he will be listed as questionable ahead of Tampa's Week 2 matchup with the Browns, considering him a game-time decision. McMillan logged full practice participation on Wednesday and Thursday, and Bowles gave no indication of any setback Friday, so he appears to be trending toward his season debut. The third-year player missed four games as a rookie with lingering hamstring issues and was limited to only four games in 2025 after suffering a serious preseason neck injury, but he has been an impactful fantasy presence whenever healthy and active.
Sep 18, 2026 9:38 AM EST
Jalen McMillan a Full Practice Participant
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) missed the team's season opener with a knee injury sustained in training camp, but he was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, according to head coach Todd Bowles. McMillan has struggled to stay on the field through his first three seasons, but his impact has been felt when healthy and available, finishing as a top-20 fantasy wide receiver in six of his last nine starts and cracking the top 12 three times in that stretch. Quarterback Baker Mayfield spread the ball around in a Week 1 loss to the Bengals, with five different players making at least three catches, so McMillan's ceiling could be capped upon his return. Still, he is a player to monitor if he can keep stringing together full practices ahead of a potential Week 2 debut against the Browns.
Sep 16, 2026 9:39 AM EST
Jalen McMillan Making Progress Ahead of Week 2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) was on the field for Wednesday's practice, according to Greg Auman. That's encouraging after McMillan couldn't get cleared for the opener, but it's worth remembering that he practiced on a limited basis all three days last week before ultimately sitting out against Cincinnati. Wednesday alone doesn't guarantee much. McMillan appeared in only four games last season, finishing with 12 catches for 178 yards, and Tampa Bay still lists him with the first-team receivers alongside Chris Godwin Jr. and Emeka Egbuka. His return would make an already crowded passing game even tougher to sort through for fantasy purposes. The next step is seeing whether McMillan can increase his workload as the week goes on. For now, he's moving in the right direction, but fantasy managers shouldn't assume he'll be ready for Cleveland just yet.
Sep 16, 2026 8:15 AM EST
Jalen McMillan Officially Out to Begin 2026 Season
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee), who was listed as doubtful on Friday, is officially out for the Week 1 season opener on Sunday versus the Cincinnati Bengals, per Scott Smith of the team's official website. McMillan was limited in all three of the team's practices this week, but he could not gain clearance from a knee injury that has been bothering him since early August. With McMillan sitting out this weekend, rookie Ted Hurst III and Tez Johnson will be battling for WR3 duties behind Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. in Tampa's new-look offense without future Hall of Famer Mike Evans. The 24-year-old McMillan had 37 catches for 461 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games as a rookie in 2024, but he played in only four games last year due to a serious neck injury that he suffered in the preseason. His absence to begin 2026 is bad news, as Hurst drew rave reviews as an up-and-coming pass-catcher for the Bucs. If Hurst continues to shine in the season opener, McMillan might not have a very big role on offense whenever he can return from his knee injury.
Sep 13, 2026 8:05 AM EST
Jalen McMillan Considered Doubtful for Season Opener
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) is listed as doubtful for the Week 1 season opener on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. In addition to McMillan, third-string running back Sean Tucker (hamstring) is doubtful to play. The 24-year-old McMillan had been a limited practice participant this week, but the Bucs apparently did not see enough progress to clear him for the regular-season opener this weekend. He missed extensive time in training camp and all of the preseason, potentially opening the door for impressive rookie wideout Ted Hurst III to take over the WR3 role from McMillan early on this year. With McMillan unlikely to play against Cincy, Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. will have higher fantasy ceilings, and Hurst will get his chance to make his mark early. McMillan, a third-rounder in 2024, found the end zone eight times as a rookie, but he played in only four games a year ago due to a serious neck injury he suffered in the preseason. Staying healthy has been an issue. He is rostered in only 14% of Yahoo leagues.
Sep 11, 2026 9:07 AM EST
Jalen McMillan Listed as Starting Receiver for the Bucs
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) is listed as a starting wideout for the team on their unofficial depth chart entering their Week 1 contest this Sunday versus the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN. McMillan missed the entire preseason due to a knee injury, but he was back on the practice field on Monday and is trending in the right direction to play in the season opener this weekend in a favorable matchup against Cincy. At least to begin the 2026 campaign, McMillan will be in three-wide sets alongside Chris Godwin Jr. and Emeka Egbuka (toe), with Ted Hurst III checking in as the WR4. While McMillan rested during the summer, Hurst was turning heads and impressing the coaching staff, so McMillan will need to stay healthy and produce to hold off the impressive young pass-catcher. McMillan played in only four games in 2025 due to a serious neck injury he suffered in the preseason, but he caught 37 passes for 461 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games as a rookie in 2024 after being selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft. The 24-year-old is only rostered in 15% of Yahoo leagues and is tough to recommend as a Week 1 starter in deeper leagues after he missed most of camp and the preseason.
Sep 8, 2026 9:07 AM EST
Jalen McMillan's Experience an Advantage in Depth-Chart Competition
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) is competing for the No. 3 role on the depth chart, and his experience in the Bucs' offense gives him an early advantage over his teammates. Chris Godwin Sr. and Emeka Egbuka (toe) project as Tampa Bay's top two wideouts, leaving McMillan and Ted Hurst III vying for the next spot in the pecking order. The good news for McMillan is that Hurst is a rookie, which means his ascension into a meaningful role might be delayed as he adapts to NFL speed. On the other hand, McMillan has been in the NFL since 2024 and has 17 games' worth of experience (plus three offseasons) under his belt. His familiarity with the system and his connection with quarterback Baker Mayfield go a long way, especially considering that McMillan averaged 10.4 fantasy points per game in PPR leagues as a rookie. Managers should expect McMillan to open the year as the Bucs' No. 3 wide receiver, which also puts him on the fantasy radar in deeper leagues. The 24-year-old is a matchup-dependent WR3/flex as it is, and he would jump into the WR3 tier on a consistent basis if Godwin or Egbuk were to miss time. As a result, McMillan should be added off the waiver wire in all 12+ team leagues.
Sep 7, 2026 8:57 PM EST
Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan Could Play in Week 1
Buccaneers wide receivers Emeka Egbuka (toe) and Jalen McMillan (knee) are both still dealing with injuries that they picked up this preseason, but there is optimism from the team that both will be ready to play in Week 1, according to NFL Network's Sara Walsh. McMillan is back to running routes after missing a couple of weeks with a knee injury, while Egbuka is recovering from a sprained toe that he suffered in a joint practice with the Jets a few weeks ago. Egbuka had a breakout rookie season, and both he and McMillan bring lots of fantasy upside this year, following the departure of target-magnet Mike Evans. With plenty of work up for grabs in Baker Mayfield's offense, Egbuka has WR1 upside if he's healthy, while McMillan could be a strong late-round sleeper if he secures regular playing time.
Sep 1, 2026 5:36 AM EST
Buccaneers Expect Jalen McMillan to be Ready for Week 1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said on Saturday that he expects wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) to be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Sept. 13, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. The team is hoping that fellow wideout Emeka Egbuka (toe) will also be ready, and they do not plan on carrying an extra receiver on the 53-man roster to offset their short-term injuries at the position. The 24-year-old McMillan sustained a knee injury earlier this month and was held out of all three preseason games. It sounds like his injury is not very serious, but McMillan could be facing snap-count limitations in the regular-season opener against Cincy. If Egbuka is out or limited as well, it could mean a lot of work for veteran Chris Godwin Jr. and tight end Cade Otton. McMillan is in line for a bigger role in a new offense in 2026 with Mike Evans gone, but the former third-rounder from Washington must stay healthy to capitalize. He played in only four games in 2025 due to a serious neck injury he suffered in the preseason. A 37-461-8 line in his rookie campaign shows the kind of upside McMillan has. He is a late-round dart throw for fantasy managers that will gain a boost if Egbuka misses the start of the season.
Aug 29, 2026 8:08 AM EST
Jalen McMillan Not Expected to Play in Preseason Finale
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) did not travel with the team to Jacksonville for joint practices this week and is not expected to play in the preseason finale against the Jaguars on Friday, according to Pewter Report. McMillan has been practicing in a limited fashion in training camp, but the 24-year-old will end up missing the entire preseason while battling a knee injury this summer. When fully healthy, the former third-rounder from the University of Washington should start in three-wide sets in Tampa alongside Emeka Egbuka (toe) and veteran Chris Godwin Jr. A significant neck injury suffered last preseason limited McMillan to only four games last year, but he impressed with 37 receptions for 461 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games played in 2024 as a rookie, and there's room for upside in 2026 in Tampa's passing attack now that Mike Evans is no longer in town. Still, injury concerns are not going away, and McMillan is going to have to prove it before most fantasy managers in 12-team leagues take notice. RotoBaller currently has McMillan ranked as the WR57 in half-PPR formats, right behind 49ers veteran wideout Deebo Samuel Sr.
Aug 26, 2026 10:05 AM EST
Jalen McMillan Returns to Practice After Multi-Week Absence
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) is back at practice on Tuesday, working in pads after missing almost two weeks with a sore knee. Head coach Todd Bowles had shared with the media on Monday that the third-year receiver was considered day-to-day, and with McMillan back in action a day later, he will look to pick back up where he left off in what had been reported as a solid start to training camp. Injuries have unfortunately become a major piece of McMillan's story, missing 13 games in 2025 after suffering a serious neck injury in the preseason, but when he's on the field, he's been a fantasy difference-maker, topping 14 half-PPR points in six of his last nine games. At RotoBaller's WR59, McMillan offers underrated value from the closing rounds of 2026 drafts.
Aug 18, 2026 6:13 AM EST
Jalen McMillan Considered Day-to-Day
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said on Monday that wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) is considered day-to-day, according to Pewter Report. McMillan has been nursing a sore knee for almost two weeks, although it does not appear to be anything serious enough to put his availability in question for the start of the 2026 regular season. The 24-year-old was held out of the team's preseason opener against the New York Jets and will most likely not take part in this Saturday's preseason contest against the Kansas City Chiefs. When fully healthy, McMillan will likely operate as Tampa's WR3 in 2026 behind Emeka Egbuka (toe) and veteran Chris Godwin Jr. The former third-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft from the University of Washington only played in four games last year due to a serious neck injury that he suffered in the preseason. McMillan had 37 receptions on 58 targets for 461 yards and an impressive eight touchdowns in 13 games as a rookie for the Bucs. RotoBaller currently has McMillan ranked as the No. 59 overall fantasy WR.
Aug 17, 2026 10:59 AM EST
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