It's no secret that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in free fall, but relief might finally be on the way.
On Wednesday, the Bucs activated Jalen McMillan off injured reserve, taking him another leap toward playing on Thursday night against the Falcons. McMillan has been out since he broke his neck in the secnod game of the preseason and hasn't played all season, which makes his return notable in of itself.
The fact that he's coming back to an offense that desperately needs to find a spark before it's too late is another reason this is much-needed good news for Bucs fans.
Bucs have activated both Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan from Injured Reserve, a good sign that one or both will play Thursday night vs the Falcons.
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) December 10, 2025
That's right, McMillan isn't the only player who Baker Mayfield and the Bucs might be getting back in time for Thursday. Mike Evans, less than two months after breaking his clavicle, is set to return to the lineup as well.
It's yet to be seen if McMillan will play this week, but he's a welcome sight regardless. The 2024 3rd round pick struggled last season until the final five games, when he averaged 63 yards and five catches a game and scored seven touchdowns.
The rookie primarily operated as the WR2 behind Mike Evans through those games, but 2025 will look quite different. Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson have joined the party from completely different spectrums of the 2025 draft class and will demand targets.
Jalen McMillan and Mike Evans have finally returned!
The usual suspects, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Sterling Shepard, will be in the mix as well, but all three are aging fast. The combination of Evans' return, Egbuka's emergence, and Godwin's gaudy offseason contract will likely thrust McMillan to the back of the line.
Even if McMillan is battling with Johnson as the WR 3-4, that's fantastic and unusual depth. McMillan showed out last season and proved to be a competent receiver. The injury may have sunk his stock entering 2026, but he's a solid depth piece at the least, and the Bucs need him.
Next season, the depth of the receiver room is uncertain. Shepard's contract will be over, and Tampa Bay likely won't need him back. Evans may run it back one more time, but he'll be 33 and won't require the target share he's used to. This could propel McMillan to a prominant role quickly, but time will tell.
Until then, he must prove himself in the final month of the season in a crowded room. It's exciting to get McMillan back from the injured reserve, but he doesn't fix the Bucs' problems. Entering Week 15, Tampa Bay has lost five of seven, but has the perfect opportunity to bounce back.
The Bucs face the division rival Falcons on Thursday night, a team that has stopped the pass well this season. Against the Seahawks in Week 14 was a different story, and the Falcons allowed the second-most passing yards all season.
Things are looking up for McMillan and the Falcons; now they must produce.