Todd Bowles confirms suspicion regarding starter’s status for Bucs’ season opener
The Bucs’ head coach let it be known where things stand with a key player
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ wide receiver corps was not going to be at full strength going into the regular season, with Chris Godwin still working his way back from an ankle injury that prematurely ended his 2024 season.
Now, things just got tougher for the Bucs’ pass catching group. According to Todd Bowles, Jalen McMillan, who suffered a neck injury during the Bucs’ 17-14 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday night, is going to miss time and will not be ready for the start of the regular season.
“He’s got a severely strained neck. He’s going to miss some time,” Bowles said. When asked if that meant the start of the regular season, he responded, “yeah, he’s going to miss some time.” When asked to specify if it was structural, Bowles offered that it was “a severe strain” but noted that it’s not career threatening.
The news isn’t all that surprising, as McMillan’s injury was worrisome at the time it happened. He was taken off the field on a cart during the game. The concern was warranted quickly, as he was spotted after the game in a neck brace heading into the locker room.
McMillan’s is another in a line of injuries that’s struck the Bucs’ roster this season. Tampa Bay is littered with injuries in the secondary, but now they’re facing three starters on the offensive side of the ball being out with Tristan Wirfs (knee) and Godwin also out.
That opens up an opportunity for Sterling Shepard to step in and try to have an impact on the offense. Fortunately, Baker Mayfield’s former Oklahoma teammate looked good against the Steelers last weekend. He had 3 catches for 47 yards including a team-high 27-yard catch and run in the first quarter.
“Sterling played well,” Bowles said on Tuesday. “He had a heck of a camp, a heck of a training camp considering he came in injured last year. He practiced every day. He’s a big energizer guy out there. He talks more than everybody out there – in a good way. In a very good way. You love his energy out there. But he made a lot of plays last week.”
The Bucs wrap up their preseason on Saturday night against Buffalo at Raymond James Stadium. We’ll see if they can keep the already-long injury report from growing as Tampa Bay gets its final prep work in for the season.
