Bucs' Jalen McMillan OUT! Neck Injury Derails Promising Season Start
Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans received some concerning news regarding wide receiver Jalen McMillan. After a scary incident in Saturday's preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, it's been confirmed that McMillan will miss the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons due to a severely sprained neck.
The injury occurred when McMillan landed awkwardly on his head and neck after a significant hit from Steelers cornerback Daryl Porter Jr. While McMillan initially reassured fans via Instagram, the official diagnosis from Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles confirms he'll be sidelined for a significant period.
"Bucs coach Todd Bowles says Jalen McMillan has a severely sprained neck and will miss some time. He will not be ready for the season opener,” reported Rick Stroud.
This is a blow for the Buccaneers, as McMillan was expected to play a larger role this season after a promising rookie year where he recorded 37 catches for 461 yards and eight touchdowns. The injury throws a wrench into those plans, delaying his sophomore campaign.
Adding to the Buccaneers' wide receiver woes, Chris Godwin remains on the PUP list. However, there's a silver lining: rookie first-round pick Emeka Egbuka now has a golden opportunity to step up and showcase his talent alongside veteran star Mike Evans.
Egbuka's Opportunity
Egbuka has impressed throughout training camp and the preseason, earning praise from teammates and coaches alike. His polished route running, exceptional hands, and relentless work ethic have made him a standout player. He even snagged his first NFL touchdown catch against the Steelers on Saturday night.
As SI’s Colin Haalboom noted, “Egbuka has been the talk of the offseason for the Buccaneers with his polished route running, exceptional hands and relentless work ethic, earning unanimous praise from teammates and coaches alike. Each of those attributes were on full display when he nabbed his first TD catch as an NFL player vs. the Steelers on Saturday night.”
Other NFL News
In other NFL news, several teams are dealing with injuries and roster adjustments. The Carolina Panthers' TE Tommy Tremble is on track to play Week 1, while the Green Bay Packers' QB Jordan Love is expected to be limited in practice due to a thumb injury. The Indianapolis Colts have named Daniel Jones the starting quarterback over Anthony Richardson to begin the 2025 season.