Jalen McMillan Injury Update: Neck Strain Sidelines WR
Jalen McMillan's injury update is a tough pill for Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans to swallow right now. The young wide receiver suffered a severely strained neck during the preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on August 16, 2025, when he awkwardly landed on the back of his head and neck after leaping for a catch and colliding with a defender. Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) reported on Twitter that Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles confirmed wide receiver Jalen McMillan has a severely strained neck.
It was one of those heart-stopping moments—the kind that makes you hold your breath as he crumpled midair. Thankfully, McMillan walked off the field with medical help and a neck brace, but the scare was real enough to send him for hospital tests and serious follow-up back in Tampa.
Head Coach Todd Bowles confirmed the severity of the strain is substantial enough that McMillan will miss a significant portion of the regular season. The wideout is expected to start on injured reserve, which rules him out for at least the first four games, with strong indications he won’t return until after the bye week in Week 9, possibly around early November. So, the optimistic takeaway? This isn’t expected to be career-threatening, but it definitely puts McMillan on a longer recovery track than anyone hoped.
Chris O'Brien (@17gamepace) pointed out on Twitter, that Chris Godwin has not yet jogged on his surgically repaired ankle, while Jalen McMillan is expected to miss half the season with a severely sprained neck.
For Bucs fans, that means the offense has to shuffle its pack without one of its emerging stars. McMillan ended last season strong with eight touchdowns and over 460 yards in his rookie campaign, so his absence will be felt on the field. In his place, fellow receivers like rookie Emeka Egbuka and veterans will need to step up as the team navigates these early injuries—especially with Chris Godwin also sidelined by ankle surgery.
Injuries are part of the game, but it still stings when a promising player like McMillan has his momentum paused. Fingers crossed he uses this recovery time wisely, comes back strong, and gives Buccaneers fans a reason to celebrate later this season. In football—and life—it’s all about the comeback, right? The silver lining here is that the team has depth, and this might just pave the way for some new heroes to rise while McMillan heals fully. Keep an eye on updates, but for now, patience is the game plan.
So, while Tampa Bay’s offense might feel like it lost its spark for now, the story isn't over—it's just on hold. And knowing how resilient players like McMillan tend to be, we can expect a spirited return before too long. But hey, those first few weeks? A nail-biter.
