The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been waiting months for clarity on wide receiver Jalen McMillan, the promising young receiver whose preseason turned disastrous in a matter of seconds.
A violent collision left him with three fractured vertebrae, a neck injury so severe that early concerns were not about football timelines but about long-term stability and whether he would be able to return at all. Tampa Bay immediately shut him down, sent him to the top specialists. And also spent the season holding onto nothing more than cautious hope while the offense struggled to find consistent playmakers.
That uncertainty finally shifted this week, and it did so with authority. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that Tampa Bay is expected to open McMillan’s 21-day practice window today, signaling that his recovery has reached the point where he can re-enter on-field work. The update does not just hint at progress; it confirms that the Bucs believe he is physically ready to take controlled steps toward a return.
Rapoport added that this momentum actually began a day earlier, when McMillan was officially cleared by renowned spine expert Dr. Robert Watkins, whose approval is often the final hurdle in serious neck-related recoveries. That clearance provided the franchise exactly what it needed. It is now clear, based on medical confirmation, that McMillan can begin practicing this week without risking the integrity of his healing vertebrae.
For an offense that has battled inconsistency and injuries all year, the timing could not be better. McMillan showed real playmaking potential as a rookie, posting 37 catches, 461 yards, and eight touchdowns. His return does not just add depth; it changes how defenses must prepare for Tampa Bay’s spacing, speed, and red zone structure.
Todd Bowles has already acknowledged that McMillan has been running and is close to putting on a helmet, though the team will take a deliberate approach as they test both his conditioning and his neck’s response to football movements.
Whether this three-week window leads to game action or becomes a ramp-up period for a late-season return, one thing is now finally clear: The Buccaneers are getting real help back, and their offense just gained a reason to believe again.
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