Baker Mayfield and Buccaneers offense receive a shot in the arm ahead of Week 2 matchup against Browns
Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers offense are looking to bounce back after an up and down Week 1 performance. Getting one of the unit’s top weapons back in Jalen McMillan can help it do just that.
Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a good shot at getting to the .500 by hosting a struggling Cleveland Browns team in Week 2 and the latest injury news only helps the situation.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, wide receiver Jalen McMillan is expected to return to play, albeit in a limited capacity. The third-year wideout has been dealing with a knee injury he suffered during training camp and it’s held him out any kind of real action for a few weeks, now.
Regardless, it’s a nice shot in the arm for both Mayfield and the Buccaneers offense as it takes on a talented Browns defense. However, it’s still the same defense that got torched to the tune of 34 points by Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars back in Week 1.
McMillan’s presence, even if he is on a pitch count, will definitely help take some heat off his counterparts in Chris Godwin Jr. and Emeka Egbuka. It’s especially helpful for the latter, who started off hot against the Cincinnati Bengals with five catches for 63 yards in the first half, but immediately cooled off after halftime by not seeing a single target over the back half of the game.
The news gets a little better when considering the Browns could be without one of their top corners in veteran Tyson Campbell. The sixth-year pro has really stepped up his game since he was traded from Jacksonville to Cleveland and is certainly a big part of the Browns secondary.
He hurt his ankle during Wednesday’s practice session, which caused him to subsequently miss Thursday and then put in a limited session on Friday. He did travel with the team, however, which is an encouraging sign. Another positive sign regarding Campbell’s potential presence is the fact the Browns did not elevate a cornerback from the practice squad.
Instead, the team promoted linebacker Nathaniel Wilson, who obviously won’t be on the perimeter trying to defend opposing wideouts.
We’ll see just how much McMillan plays on Sunday, but it doesn’t take anything away from the fact he’s getting closer and closer toward playing at a full capacity and that’s a nice positive for Mayfield and Co.
