The Carolina Panthers made a huge decision in 2024 to bench their sophomore QB Bryce Young after two games. A few weeks after the controversial decision, Young returned to the starting lineup and looked like a much-improved signal-caller.
With Young’s development looking very promising, it was time to get him an elite weapon on the outside, and that’s what they did in the draft. With the No. 8 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Panthers selected WR Tetairoa McMillan.
Panthers fans have big expectations for McMillan’s rookie year, but he picked up a hamstring injury during training camp. When is he slated to return?
How Much Time Will Tetairoa McMillan Miss?
McMillan’s hamstring injury isn’t too serious. With soreness in his hamstring, the Panthers didn’t want to risk any further trouble by keeping him out of practice on Monday and Tuesday. He missed their final preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, as well.
Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan not practicing due to minor hamstring injury, per Dave Canaleshttps://t.co/fP4rbjb7N0 pic.twitter.com/7StBrHz1K7
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) August 18, 2025
However, head coach Dave Canales wasn’t very concerned when assessing McMillan’s potential return date. McMillan’s hamstring imaging reportedly came back clean, so he isn’t expected to miss any time. Canales chalked up McMillan’s soreness to his high activity during training camp and numerous reps with starters to get acclimated to the new level.
McMillan will likely be back for Week 1, as long as he returns to practice and responds well. With no setbacks, McMillan will be suiting up for the Panthers’ season opener when they take on the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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The Panthers have to be careful with managing McMillan, though. They need him available for the full season, as he’s expected to be their WR1 and a major part of their offense. A hamstring injury that isn’t treated properly can snowball into a re-injury and cause him to miss additional time.
The Panthers are hoping that McMillan can help Young take another step forward in his development as an NFL starter. McMillan was a star in college for the Arizona Wildcats. He was an All-American in his junior season, with 1,319 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Over his three-year collegiate career, he tallied 3,423 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns.
The Panthers must be cautious with McMillan, but fans should be optimistic about McMillan entering his rookie campaign.
A sore hamstring is far from the worst, and there’s a realistic chance he will be good to go for Week 1, as Canales expects him to be ready. The Panthers have their eyes set on the Jaguars, prepared to make a statement to the rest of the league.
McMillan’s Fantasy Outlook
McMillan was the most productive receiver in the 2025 draft class in college. During his final two seasons in Arizona, McMillan averaged 87.0 receptions, 1,360.5 receiving yards, and 9.0 touchdowns per season. There were some concerns about his speed, but he put those to rest by running a 4.58 40-yard dash at his Pro Day.
The Panthers drafted McMillan eighth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, immediately giving Young the outside weapon he needed to take his game to the next level. From Weeks 8 to 18 (Bryce Young’s best stretch of the season), Young was seventh among quarterbacks in average depth of target (9.2) with 68.3% of his throws going to his first read.
A player like McMillan, with a big catch radius and the ability to win in contested catch situations, is the perfect complement to his playstyle during that stretch.
McMillan should have no problem earning targets over returning contributors like Adam Thielen, Jalen Coker, and Xavier Legette. If anything, his presence in the passing game will help those players see better coverages and situations.
McMillan will be a target magnet as a rookie on a Carolina offense in negative game scripts. Based on volume, he could easily finish as a top 15 wide receiver as a rookie.
