Buccaneers Reveal Shocking News on WR Jalen McMillan’s Neck Injury
If you had to stop and say “Wait, what?” with the recent news on Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan’s neck injury, that’s OK. You’re not alone.
With the Buccaneers on a bye in Week 9 and McMillan still out with what was thought to be a severely strained neck, Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles revealed that it wasn’t actually a strained neck.
Bowles disclosed McMillan’s injury was actually a fractured neck during an interview on The Ira Kaufman Podcast.
McMillan hurt his neck in a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on August 16 and was initially projected to be out for at least the first 8 games of the regular season. In October, that was amended to McMillan not being able to return until at least Week 14.
“Bucs receiver Jalen McMillan remains in a neck brace two months after his severe sprain in August, but hasn’t had any setbacks,” Fox Sports NFL Reporter Greg Auman wrote on his official X account on October 13. “On course for a December return right now. Some of the original reporting on McMillan’s timetable had mentioned a Week 10 return after the Bucs’ bye, but the expectation was a December return and still is.”
ESPN’s Jenna Laine had perhaps the clearest take on the confusion around the McMillan injury.
“Adding … Jalen McMillan did not require surgery for this,” Laine wrote on her official X account on November 1. “Unclear why it was a ‘significant neck strain’ in August but a fracture now. The MRI would have revealed the ligament damage and the fracture … It’s unclear whether the structural damage was part of the original diagnosis and that information was withheld or whether it was revealed later through additional testing.”
Wide Receiver Injuries Rampant on Bucs
McMillan’s injury has been part of the bigger injury storyline for the Buccaneers this season of traumatic injuries to their wide receivers.
As of Week 9, all 3 of the Buccaneers’ starting wide receivers from last season were not available due to injuries.
NFL All-Pro Mike Evans is on injured reserve after he broke his collarbone in a Week 7 loss to the Detroit Lions, and that came after already missing 3 games with a hamstring injury.
NFL All-Pro Chris Godwin returned from a gruesome dislocated ankle suffered in Week 7 of the 2024 regular season, but only played 2 games before irritation in that same ankle flared up. He’s missed 6 games this year.
Rookie wide receiver and 2025 first round pick Emeka Egbuka has been the one who has picked up the most slack — he leads the Buccaneers with 34 receptions for 562 yards and 5 touchdowns.
McMillan Ended Rookie Year Looking Elite
McMillan, a 2024 third round pick (No. 92 overall), had 37 receptions for 461 yards and 8 touchdowns as a rookie. He put up the bulk of those stats down the stretch with 24 receptions for 316 yards over the final 5 games of the regular season — a stretch in which he led the NFL with 7 touchdowns.
From the Buccaneers’ official X account in December 2024: “J Mac’s 4 straight games with a TD grab is tied for the fourth-longest streak by a rookie in NFL history.”
Commanders' nightmare loss to Seahawks continues to get worse with more unfortunate injury updates
The season is officially over for the Washington Commanders, and the nightmare somehow continues after the worst night in recent memory for this franchise.
The Commanders got blown out at home in primetime during a night that was supposed to be special with the throwback uniforms and Art Monk jersey retirement, but it turned into fans leaving in the middle of the second quarter, and a gruesome injury. You can move on from a loss, but seeing Jayden Daniels go down with a severe elbow injury was gut-wrenching.
Daniels' injury wasn't the only significant injury last night, as the hits continue with two more season-ending injuries
Luke McCaffrey suffers a season-ending injury
The game barely started before the Commanders suffered yet another injury, and wide receiver Luke McCaffrey went down after returning the opening kickoff. He went down awkwardly on his left side, which is now being diagnosed as a broken collarbone that will have him out for the rest of the year.
McCaffrey was starting to really find his role in the offense and special teams, and now his season comes to an end. He was second in the league in kickoff return yards with 769, and also averaged 18.5 yards per catch. The Commanders turned to McCaffrey after injuries to Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown, and he was showing a lot of promise with multiple tough catches.
He should be part of the offense next season, but another injury just shows even more how badly this team needs help at the position. The Commanders added Treylon Burks and hope to get a roster win from him, but major changes need to happen with McLaurin and Brown injured, and Deebo Samuel not under contract next season. The defense is another conversation, and they lost another starter for the rest of the season.
Marshon Lattimore is feared to have torn an ACL
The defense was an embarrassment once again, with the Seahawks blowing the team out before halftime, and it never got any better. Busted coverage and wide-open explosive plays were all over the field, and major changes need to happen on and off the field. It got even worse for Marshon Lattimore, who went down with an injury that is feared to be a torn ACL.
There's no easy way to put it, but it was a nightmare night for Lattimore. He played really well last week against the Kansas City Chiefs, but it's time to admit that this trade was a massive swing and a miss by Adam Peters. It's unfortunate to see the season go down like this for Laittmore in what is very likely his last game with the Commanders. He's under contract for next season as well, but I don't expect him to be here after the defense faces an overhaul this offseason, if not sooner.
Injuries have been the biggest headline of the season with multiple starters suffering long-term injuries, and the roster honestly needs an overhaul as well. It will be a long rest of the season, with a massive offseason coming up.
