Packers
Jalen McMillan has a PCL sprain in his left knee and is expected to miss six to eight weeks. The Buccaneers receiver went down in the first quarter of the 23-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, September 27, and did not return. Imaging on Monday, September 28, confirmed the diagnosis (NBC Sports, Pewter Report).
Key facts
- Jalen McMillan sprained the PCL in his left knee in the first quarter of the 23-16 loss to the Vikings on September 27 and did not return (NBC Sports, September 28).
- The recovery timeline is six to eight weeks, and he is expected to move to injured reserve (NBC Sports, Pewter Report, September 28).
- A move to injured reserve means a minimum absence of four games (UPI, September 29).
- The injury is a re-aggravation of the knee problem from training camp, which kept him out of Week 1 (UPI, September 29).
- McMillan played two games this season and has no catch on one target (UPI, September 29).
- The 0-3 Buccaneers host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, October 4, at 1:00 PM ET, 19:00 CEST, on FOX (Buccaneers.com).
What we know
McMillan's PCL (posterior cruciate ligament) sprain is a re-aggravation of the knee injury he carried out of training camp, which kept him out of Week 1 (UPI). He appeared in two games this season and did not catch his one target.
ESPN's Jenna Laine reported that a second opinion will give more clarity on the timetable, with the early thinking at six to eight weeks (Pewter Report). NBC Sports, Pewter Report and UPI all say he is expected to move to injured reserve. The Tampa Bay Times also reports the six-to-eight-week range.
Injured reserve, explained
A player on injured reserve (IR) is removed from the 53-man roster and must sit out at least four games before he can return. For McMillan, that covers the Packers game on October 4 and the games after it. The Bucs have a Week 10 bye, which sits inside his recovery window (UPI).
Item | Detail |
|---|---|
Injury | PCL sprain, left knee |
Hurt | First quarter, September 27 vs. Vikings |
Timeline | 6 to 8 weeks |
Roster status | Expected to move to injured reserve |
Minimum absence on IR | 4 games |
Source: NBC Sports, Pewter Report, UPI, September 28 and 29.
A short career, interrupted
McMillan is in his third season and is 24 years old. He has played in 19 of a possible 37 regular-season games (Pewter Report). He missed most of last season with a serious neck injury (NBC Sports). In his first two seasons he caught 49 passes for 639 yards and eight touchdowns (UPI).
His timing with this offense never got going in 2026: two games, one target, no catch. For the current picture at the position, see the depth chart, and for the earlier scare, Egbuka and McMillan are back at practice.
The bigger picture in Week 4
McMillan is not the only skill player on the injury list. Baker Mayfield dislocated his right thumb late in the Vikings game and is out at least three weeks, so undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels makes his first start on Sunday, October 4, at 1:00 PM ET, 19:00 CEST, on FOX against the Packers (Buccaneers.com). Our report on the Mayfield injury has the details, and the full schedule shows the road ahead.
For a 0-3 team with a rookie making his first start, this is the wrong week to lose a receiver. Daniels starts with one fewer option in the receiver room, and the Bucs are without McMillan for at least the next four games.
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