The Buccaneers’ rough start just got worse.
Tampa Bay is already 0-3 to open the 2026 season, and the hits keep coming on offense. Baker Mayfield will be out for a few weeks, which leaves Jalon Daniels as the team’s starter for now. And now the Buccaneers are also losing Jalen McMillan for at least four games after placing the wide receiver on injured reserve with a knee injury.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported, "Buccaneers placed wide receiver Jalen McMillan on injured reserve, sidelining him for a minimum of four games,".
McMillan, 24, is in his third NFL season, but this is turning into a lost year for the third-round pick. The knee issue flared up in Week 3, and the setback now could keep him out six to eight weeks.
He had entered the year dealing with injury concerns, though there was optimism he’d be ready from Week 3 on. Instead, he aggravated the knee problem he first dealt with in the offseason and will now miss a significant stretch of 2026.
Before the injury shut him down, McMillan had just one target.
His 2025 season included 12 catches on 15 targets for 178 yards and no touchdowns. As a rookie, he was much more productive, hauling in 37 of 58 targets for 461 yards and eight touchdowns while also adding 43 rushing yards on four carries.
McMillan was expected to take on a bigger role this season with Mike Evans gone, but that plan is on hold. For now, Tampa Bay will have to lean on Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr. and Ted Hurst in the receiver group. Tez Johnson and Kameron Johnson could also see opportunities as the Buccaneers try to piece together production with one of their top preseason options sidelined.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Injury Concern Just Got Worse At The Worst Time
The Buccaneers are already juggling a growing injury list, and the timing could hardly be worse as they get ready for Green Bay. Baker Mayfield, Rueben Bain Jr., Jalen McMillan and Josiah Trotter have all been part of the health conversation this week, and now another key name has been added to the mix.
Chris Godwin landed on the injury report with an ankle issue and did not take part in practice, leaving Tampa Bay with even more to monitor before the Packers arrive. For a team trying to stay steady through the week, the concern now stretches beyond who is available to who can get through the prep work in time. [Read more 🡒]
Gronk Just Turned Up Pressure On The Buccaneers Biggest Decision
Rob Gronkowskis latest comments landed at a rough moment for Tampa Bay, with the Buccaneers staring at an 0-3 start and already dealing with the kind of early-season instability that can force hard conversations. Gronk pointed to the absence of Mike Evans and Lavonte David as part of the reason the team has struggled, and he framed the situation as one that may demand more than just a quick fix. The pressure is only sharper because the Bucs have had to turn to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniel at quarterback while Baker Mayfield nurses an injury.
For an organization that has spent recent years trying to stay in the contender conversation, the next step is no longer just about getting healthy. It is about whether the current structure can steady itself soon enough to prevent a bad start from becoming something far more serious. Gronkowski openly raised the possibility of change on the coaching side, putting Todd Bowles squarely in the middle of a discussion Tampa Bay would prefer to avoid this early in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Suddenly Face A Week 4 Concern They Cant Ignore
The Buccaneers are heading into Week 4 with an injury report that already looks like a storyline in itself, and it comes at a time when the margin for error is getting thin. Tampa Bay has several important offensive and defensive pieces either missing or limited in practice, creating some unease around a roster that has been trying to stay steady through the first month.
Chris Godwin Jr. was among the notable absences because of an ankle injury, while Rueben Bain Jr. is still working back from groin and shoulder issues. The bigger concern for Tampa Bay may be the quarterback situation, with the team hoping Baker Mayfield can return soon without needing a trip to injured reserve, a decision point that could shape how the Buccaneers navigate the next stretch. [Read more 🡒]