If you had to do a double-take when you heard the latest news about Jalen McMillan’s neck injury, you are not alone. For a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team already dealing with a mountain of injuries, the situation at wide receiver just went from bad to worse.
What was initially reported as a strained neck is actually a much more serious fracture, a revelation that complicates an already difficult season for the team.
What Happened to Jalen McMillan?
Just when it seemed the news couldn’t get worse for the Buccaneers, head coach Todd Bowles provided a startling update on McMillan. The receiver, who has been sidelined since the preseason, is suffering from a fractured neck, not a severely strained one as was previously thought. The confirmation came during the team’s bye week in Week 9, adding another layer of concern for the depleted offense.
“He’s still in the brace, but he’s getting better,” Bowles said on “The Ira Kaufman” podcast. “He’s getting better, but necks are not like ankles or arms where you see progress where you can lift on ’em and work ’em out when you’re still on the brace and you say, ‘Oh, he looks good today, he’s getting stronger, he is getting faster.’ It’s a neck injury. And those, like you said, it’s a life thing if it doesn’t heal the right way. So they’re saying it’s healing the right way.”
The 23-year-old wideout got hurt in a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in mid-August. While he was initially expected to miss the first eight games of the season, the timeline has been significantly extended. He is now ruled out until Week 14 at the very least, a major blow for a player who broke out in the second half of the 2024 season. During his rookie campaign, McMillan finished with 37 receptions for 461 yards and eight scores.
How Are Injuries Devastating the Buccaneers’ Receiving Corps?
McMillan’s extended absence is just one part of a larger injury crisis for the Buccaneers’ receivers. The team’s top two options have also missed significant time this season, leaving the offense without its primary playmakers.
Mike Evans is currently on Injured Reserve after sustaining a broken collarbone in Week 7, an injury that came after he had already missed three games with a hamstring issue.
Meanwhile, Chris Godwin has also struggled to stay on the field. He made his season debut after recovering from a season-ending ankle injury suffered in Week 7 of the 2024 season, but his return was short-lived. After just two games, another ankle injury sidelined him once again.
With so many key players out, rookie star Emeka Egbuka has been forced to carry most of the load. In their absence, quarterback Baker Mayfield has targeted Egbuka frequently, connecting with him 34 times for 562 yards and five touchdowns.
