Jalen McMillan Embraces Fresh Start With Buccaneers After Scary Neck Injury⁠

TAMPA, Fla. — Jalen McMillan caught passes from Baker Mayfield during OTAs last week and flashed the same confidence that turned heads in his rookie year. The third-year wide receiver no longer wonders if his neck will hold up. He just runs routes and celebrates every rep.

McMillan suffered three fractured vertebrae in a 2025 preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Doctors told him he came close to paralysis. He spent months in a neck brace, missed most of the season, and returned for the final stretch.

“I had to sit in my bed and wonder, ‘Is my neck going to heal correctly?'” McMillan said, via Pewter Report. “As soon as I was given the opportunity to play again, I knew that I could not look back.”

The numbers tell part of the story. In 2024, the third-round pick hauled in 37 passes for 461 yards and eight touchdowns across 13 games. The 2025 injury limited him to four appearances. He still posted 12 catches for 178 yards, including a standout seven-catch, 114-yard performance against the Miami Dolphins in Week 17.

Opportunity Knocks With Mike Evans Gone

Mike Evans signed a three-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers in March 2026, ending his long run in Tampa Bay. That opens the door wider for McMillan at the X-receiver spot.

At 6-foot-1, McMillan brings reliable hands and the willingness to fight for contested catches. New offensive coordinator Zac Robinson sees Emeka Egbuka primarily as a Z-receiver, while Chris Godwin excels from the slot. McMillan figures to rotate heavily on the outside and potentially start.

Head coach Todd Bowles praised the receiver’s mindset.

“Jalen’s tough. His mental toughness is unbelievable,” Bowles said. “His competitiveness, the way he attacks the ball, the way he fights for every route and tries to get open and wants to be ‘that guy,’ you know, that gives you a lot of confidence.”

You could see that fire during the limited reps last season. McMillan took hits and bounced right back up. No hesitation. No fear.

A Grateful Perspective

McMillan now calls his parents daily. He savors small wins on the practice field. The scary injury shifted how he views football and life.

“Just to be out there and to catch balls from Baker and just to run on my feet, I feel good,” he said. “I am definitely taking appreciation for the small things.”

The Buccaneers offense looks to build around Baker Mayfield, a strong running game, and this revamped receiving group. McMillan, now 24, sits ready to take on a bigger load.

Fans who watched his late-2025 surge against Miami know the potential. He high-pointed balls and stretched the field. With Evans no longer commanding double teams on every snap, McMillan should see more one-on-one chances.

The road back from that neck injury tested everything. McMillan passed with flying colors. Now the focus shifts to production in 2026.