The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' receiver room is under a ton of pressure heading into 2026 now that future Hall of Famer Mike Evans is no longer in the building. Last year's first-round pick Emeka Egbuka has already shown to be one of the league's most explosive young wideouts, while Chris Godwin remains a reliable chain mover. But there's another receiver who's expected to take a big leap this year, and that's former third-round pick Jalen McMillan.
However, the third-year wideout hit a potential roadblock earlier this month when he was held out of training camp with a left knee injury, forcing him to miss Tampa Bay's preseason opener against the New York Jets. The Bucs received good news Tuesday, however, with McMillan returning to practice for the first time in a little over two weeks. More news: Raiders QB Kirk Cousins Makes His Feelings on Fernando Mendoza Crystal Clear More news: Chiefs Face Concerning Injury as Top Breakout Candidate Leaves Practice on Cart Before Egbuka arrived, McMillan was the young receiver in Tampa generating the most attention.
He hauled in 461 yards and eight touchdowns on 37 catches across 13 games as a rookie, immediately establishing himself as a potential long-term piece of the offense. He was pegged as a breakout candidate heading into last season, then the team selected Egbuka in the first round, and McMillan suffered a serious neck injury before the regular season. The Bucs placed him on injured reserve before Week 1 after he landed awkwardly during a preseason game.
The team later revealed that McMillan had fractured three vertebrae and suffered herniated discs. He wasn't activated until late last season as a result, finishing the year with 12 catches for 178 yards in four games. But now that Evans is in San Francisco, there's a massive void in Tampa Bay.
Egbuka is expected to emerge as Baker Mayfield's top receiver, while Godwin remains the reliable option underneath. But McMillan has already shown he can make big plays, and if he can stay healthy, he could be in line for a real breakout season. His return to practice is an important first step.
The Bucs' next game is Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs before they close out the preseason against the Jacksonville Jaguars at home on Friday, Aug. 28. If all goes well, McMillan should have an opportunity to get back on the field with the first-team offense over that stretch. More news: Jaguars Suffer Tough Injury Blow as Second-Year RB Ruled Out for Camp
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