The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are riding high after finally snapping their three-game losing streak, defeating the Arizona Cardinals 20-17. Even though the Buccaneers walked away with the victory, the team still needs to iron out some of its kinks if it is going to fend off the Carolina Panthers for the NFC South division crown.
Part of the reason for the Buccaneers’ struggles this season has been due to their inability to stay healthy and on the field. The team has been without several of its star players on both offense and defense, yet it still holds a narrow lead in its division.
That being said, the Bucs are slowly getting healthier. Chris Godwin Jr. has already returned to the lineup and is proving his worth, and it looks like another is eyeing a potential comeback.
Buccaneers Head Coach Todd Bowles Provides a Positive Update on Jalen McMillan
23-year-old wide receiver Jalen McMillan has been sidelined all year with a neck injury after an awkward fall during the preseason. After months on the sidelines, it appears that he could be the next weapon to return to the lineup.
Head coach Todd Bowles spoke to the media on Monday, addressing several questions surrounding the team, including the latest update on McMillan’s injury. Bowles was unable to provide a clear timeline of when McMillan might return to the lineup, but he provided plenty of optimism regarding the young receiver.
“He’s been running. It’s just a matter of him putting on a helmet and seeing where he is strength-wise with his neck. He’ll start doing more this week. We will see exactly what, whether it’s individual or whether it’s some more things as well, but he will start moving around,” Bowles explained.
While McMillan is considered week-to-week at this point, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could use him healthy and back in uniform. According to PFSN’s Offense Impact ranking, the Bucs sit 26th in the league, and while McMillan might not change the team as a whole, his ability to make a big play could dramatically help the passing attack.
McMillan is not the only injured star working his way back before the end of the regular season, as club icon Mike Evans is also ramping up activity. The Buccaneers have plenty to fix on both sides of the ball, but having McMillan and Evans back in the fold could be massive.