Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan was just released from the hospital after suffering a fractured bone in his neck. He incurred this awful injury during a preseason matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers in August. This unfortunate incident happened as McMillan hit the ground hard and awkwardly backward trying to reel in a pass from QB Teddy Bridgewater. Head coach Todd Bowles first called it a “severely strained neck.” On closer inspection, a much more significant injury was discovered.
The Buccaneers are understandably being cautious with how they handle McMillan’s progress. Bowles underscored the need for rigorous oversight. He stated that measuring neck injuries in particular is more difficult to assess than other injuries. “Until he puts on a helmet and it starts working out and everything else, you just don’t know,” Bowles remarked about McMillan’s progress.
As one of two third-round draft picks for the Buccaneers in 2024, McMillan’s recovery is critical not only for his health but for the team’s future plans. McMillan is said to be making encouraging strides given the seriousness of his injury. Despite everything, he definitely seems like a man on the mend, buoyed by a good spirit. “He’s still in the brace, but he’s getting better. He’s getting better,” Bowles noted.
In order to make his return happen, McMillan needs to be medically cleared and get out of his neck brace. On top of that, he needs to be activated off injured reserve after starting a 21-day practice window. If he is unable to return in this allotted timeframe, the team needs to make a move. Otherwise, they’ll be obligated to put him on season-ending injured reserve.
Early reports suggested McMillan wouldn’t be ready to play until after the team’s Week 9 bye. As he continues to work his way back, there’s still a big question mark over his timeline to return. “I don’t know what getting better means as well because they say it’s not like you can see inside the neck and say, ‘Well he’s moving it a lot better,’” Bowles explained, reflecting on the complexities of assessing neck injuries.
Leave a Reply