Buccaneers Place WR Jalen McMillan on IR with Neck Injury

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will start the 2025 NFL season without wide receiver Jalen McMillan, who suffered a severely sprained neck during a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. McMillan is expected to be placed on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least the first four weeks and potentially extending beyond the team's Week 9 bye. Chris Godwin, another key receiver, remains questionable due to an ankle injury and may also miss early-season games, further increasing the responsibilities for Mike Evans and rookie Emeka Egbuka. Egbuka is poised to take on a significant role in the offense, initially as the primary target behind Evans and likely retaining a substantial role even after Godwin's return. Despite McMillan's injury, the Buccaneers feel fortunate it was not more severe and believe their wide receiver depth can manage the early-season challenges. McMillan had a promising rookie season with 37 receptions, 461 yards, and eight touchdowns, making his absence a notable setback for the team.