Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie sensation Jalen McMillan appeared on the injury report Wednesday with a finger injury, raising questions ahead of Sunday night’s wild-card game against Commanders from Washington.
Good news came quickly for Bucs fans. According to RotoBaller Keith Hernandez, McMillan he fully participated in Wednesday’s practice. The rookie receiver’s active participation suggests he’ll be ready to contend in the playoffs, 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 last seven games.
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The Washington product has made great strides since Chris Godwin’s injury in October. McMillan finished his debut campaign with 37 receptions, 461 yards and eight touchdowns. He scored in five straight games en route to the playoffs.
Baker Mayfieldwho posted career bests with 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns, praised McMillan’s development.
“The biggest thing for him, which you ask for any rookie, is to improve throughout the year, and that’s what he’s done,” Mayfield said Sunday.
Jalen McMillan could be Tampa Bay’s playoff X-factor
Jalen McMillanUser influence extends beyond the stat sheet. The 33rd’s Ian Valentino identified the young receiver as Tampa Bay’s X-factor for a postseason run.
“The switch has flipped at McMillan,” Valentino wrote Thursday. “He was a more prominent feature on offense, and his role in the victory over New Orleans to win the NFC South already capped off a great season finish. . . . Evans will always be the alpha in Tampa Bay, but McMillan now has Baker Mayfield’s trust.”
Coach Todd Bowles noted McMillan’s understanding of the offense and growing confidence.
“When guys went down early in the year, he got a chance to get his feet wet and figure out where he needed to be on the field from a position standpoint,” Bowles said. “The older guys have helped him a lot and he’s playing really fast right now.”
The stakes rise considerably as Tampa Bay prepares to host Washington. These teams met in Week 1, with the Buccaneers coming away with a 37-20 victory. McMillan’s evolution since that season opener adds another dimension to Tampa Bay’s passing attack.
McMillan’s partnership with a future Hall of Famer Mike Evans could give Tampa Bay an offensive edge in upcoming games.
Edited by Krutik Jain
