Jalen McMillan nearly died on a football field last season. That’s not hyperbole. Doctors told him he was millimeters away from paralysis when he fractured a vertebra in his neck, an injury that cut his 2025 season short and left him wondering if he’d ever suit up again.
McMillan admitted he felt sad and depressed after the diagnosis. He told reporters back in December that the fear of never playing again was real. But something clicked. He started focusing on small wins — getting out of bed, walking without pain, catching a pass in practice. And by the end of the season, he was back on the field, proving his body could still hold up.
Now that recovery is behind him, the Buccaneers are hoping McMillan can be the missing piece in a suddenly wide-open receiving room.
The Egbuka Factor
ESPN’s analysts have been making noise about Emeka Egbuka, predicting the second-year receiver could lead the NFL in catches this season. That’s a big claim for a guy who hasn’t played a down as a featured target. But Tampa Bay’s new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is designing schemes that put Egbuka in position to feast underneath and over the middle.
The problem is that Egbuka can’t do it alone. His target share depends heavily on McMillan staying healthy and drawing attention on the outside. When McMillan was on the field last season, he handled third-receiver duties and showed real chemistry with the quarterback. When he wasn’t, the offense bogged down.
Tampa Bay needs a reliable boundary threat after Mike Evans left for San Francisco. McMillan is the best option they have. He brings a wide catch radius, body control on contested balls, and the kind of technical route running that keeps defensive backs honest. He’s also quietly one of the better blocking receivers in the league, which matters in Robinson’s system.
What OTAs Revealed
Voluntary workouts this spring have already turned heads. Ian Rapoport posted a clip of Egbuka making a one-handed grab during OTAs that looked straight out of a video game. But the more telling development is how McMillan looks moving around. No hesitation. No favoritism toward the injury. Just clean routes and sharp cuts.
The team also added rookie Tez Johnson, a depth piece who has shown flashes in drills. Between Egbuka, McMillan, and Johnson, the Bucs have a young trio that could evolve into something dangerous under Robinson’s direction. Chris Godwin remains the steady hand in the slot, but the vertical element — the big-play ability down the field — is now squarely on McMillan’s shoulders.
If he stays healthy, the ceiling is real. If he doesn’t, Tampa Bay is back to square one, hoping Egbuka can beat double teams without help. The whole offense might hinge on a guy who was told he’d never play again. That’s either a great story or a disaster waiting to happen. We’ll find out soon enough.
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