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 participation suggests he will be ready for the playoff showdown, barring setbacks.
McMillan’s presence is important for Tampa Bay’s offense. The 23-year-old has shined over the last five games, hauling in 24 receptions for 316 yards and seven touchdowns. His late-season emergence helped propel the Buccaneers to a 6-1 record in their final seven games.
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The Washington product took a brilliant step forward after Chris Godwin’s injury in October. McMillan finished his rookie campaign with 37 receptions, 461 yards and eight touchdowns. He has scored in five consecutive games heading into the playoffs.
Baker Mayfield, who posted career-highs with 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns, praised McMillan’s development.
“The most important thing for him, what you look for in any rookie, is progression throughout the year, and that’s what he’s done,” Mayfield said Sunday.
Jalen McMillan could be Tampa Bay’s playoff X-Factor
Jalen McMillan’s impact extends beyond statistics. Team 33’s Ian Valentino identified the young receiver as Tampa Bay’s X-factor for the postseason.
“A switch has been flipped in McMillan,” Valentino wrote Thursday. “He’s been a more prominent feature within the offense, and his role in beating New Orleans to win the NFC South already capped a great end to the season… Evans will always be the alpha in Tampa Bay, but McMillan now has Baker “Mayfield’s Confidence.”
Coach Todd Bowles highlighted McMillan’s understanding 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 understand where he needs to be on the field from a venue standpoint,” Bowles said. “The older guys have helped him a lot and right now he’s playing very fast.”
The stakes rise considerably as Tampa Bay prepares to host Washington. These teams met in Week 1, and the Buccaneers came away with a 37-20 victory. McMillan’s evolution since that first game of the season 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 upcoming games.
Edited by Krutik Jain.