The Tampa Bay Buccaneers prepare for their Week 14 home matchup against the New Orleans Saints with reinforcements potentially on the way. Jalen McMillan has been sidelined since suffering multiple vertebrae fractures during the preseason. Will fantasy football managers have the second-year receiver available for the stretch run?
Jalen McMillan Injury Update
McMillan suffered three vertebrae fractures in his neck during a preseason game against Pittsburgh on August 16. The injury occurred when McMillan elevated in traffic to make a tough catch over the middle and was undercut before falling awkwardly onto his head and neck. He also sustained ligament damage, which actually took the longest to heal and required wearing a neck brace for many weeks.​
It was a very serious injury that threatened to derail his career. McMillan spent months on injured reserve without any guarantee he would play this season.​
McMillan received clearance from noted spine expert Dr. Robert Watkins earlier this week. The Buccaneers opened his 21-day practice window on Wednesday, and he returned to the field for the first time since the preseason. Both wide receivers Mike Evans and McMillan were designated to return from injured reserve, giving Tampa Bay a potential boost to their depleted receiving corps.​
Head coach Todd Bowles said McMillan will have to see how his neck responds to wearing a helmet again. CBS Sports lead NFL insider Jonathan Jones noted that both McMillan and Evans will take some time getting back on the game field, so while a return to the lineup may not be imminent, this is a key step forward.​
McMillan obviously won’t play in Week 14 against New Orleans, but he could return in either Week 15 or 16. The Bucs have a 21-day window to activate McMillan once he was designated to return, and given the severity of his injury and the time he has missed, a return closer to Week 16 appears more realistic.​
McMillan’s Fantasy Outlook
McMillan had a scorching finish to his rookie season in 2024 and was a weekly fantasy starter. He recorded 37 receptions for 461 yards and eight touchdowns last year. His eight receiving touchdowns were the third-most by a Buccaneers rookie in franchise history, trailing Mike Evans (12 in 2014) and Mike Williams (11 in 2010). His eight receiving touchdowns ranked second among all rookies in 2024, trailing only Brian Thomas Jr. (10).​
That doesn’t mean he will return to fantasy relevance upon his comeback. The Bucs are getting Evans back from a broken clavicle. Chris Godwin is finally healthy after missing time with a fibula injury. Emeka Egbuka has established himself as the team’s primary X receiver (but will likely move to Z when Evans returns).
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Baker Mayfield is not playing well enough to support three pass catchers, let alone four. Mayfield is on pace for 3,682 passing yards and 27 touchdowns through 12 games. His passing yardage, touchdown rate, and completion percentage are way down from the totals he posted last season.​
McMillan is a name to watch if injuries quickly befall the Bucs pass catchers again, but fantasy managers do not need to stash him. The crowded receiving corps and Mayfield’s regression make McMillan unlikely to provide consistent fantasy value even when he returns to action.
