Bucs second-year wide receiver Jalen McMillan has had a long journey back to playing. McMillan was expected to be a big part of Tampa Bay’s offense this season, but a scary injury in the Bucs’ preseason game against the Steelers where he had his legs cut out from underneath him, flipped backwards and landed on his neck. That injury changed everything.

McMillan fractured vertebrae in his neck and was put on injured reserve. The hope was that he’d be back in December, which he accomplished when he returned to action on Thursday Night Football. But before there was even a thought of playing football again for McMillan, there were bigger things at hand. His quality of everyday life was close to being in jeopardy. He was close to never having the ability to walk again.

Bucs WR Jalen McMillan Reveals Hardships Of His Injury

“It was dark for me at first,” Jalen McMillan said, recalling the days after his neck injury in August. “At first I felt good and I thought it was just a minor injury, and then the doctor said I almost got paralyzed. So it kind of scared me a little bit. And then there was doubt too, because I didn’t know if I was going to be playing again.”

McMillan also said what the doctor told him after he was informed that he could’ve been paralyzed from the hit.

Bucs WR Jalen McMillan – Photo by: USA Today

“He said I have God on my side,” McMillan said.”So, I’m just blessed.”

McMillan spent months in a neck brace. Three and a half months to be exact. This was his new reality.

“Three and a half months – I had to wear it day and night,” McMillan said. “I probably only took it off a couple of times to take a shower. It was really difficult because it also symbolized I wasn’t playing for a while. I had to wear it everywhere. I got stared at a lot. I just wanted to play ball.”

And while everyone told him he was going to be okay. He alone was the one that had to deal with it. All in one fell swoop, simultaneously he was working to get back to playing while also understanding he might have to what his life is like outside of the game he loves.

“It’s about embracing your journey,” McMillan said. “It sucked for me because people were like ‘Oh, you’re going to be back, don’t worry. You’ll be fine.’ But then again in the back of my head it’s like, ‘I’m not sure if I’ll be back. But I’m trying to approach every day like I am.’ It took everything in me, waking up, reading, finding new hobbies of mine, trying to explore different aspects of my life just outside of football.”

Bucs WR Jalen McMillan – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs receiver detailed how at first there were some really tough days.

“I kept having to try to wake up with a positive attitude,” McMillan said. “At first I didn’t for like a week, two weeks, I was just sad and depressed. But then a mode switched and I was able to wake up and do positive things, find small wins, celebrate the small ones throughout the day and it took a lot.

“And just to get back to that moment and just to see what I could potentially do if I come back. That was what I was thriving off of and that’s what I kept motivating myself off of. I grew as a person, and I’m just honored to play this game. I want to give everything to this game.”

A Triumphant Return

A couple of words come to mind when thinking about Jalen McMillan returning to the lineup for the Bucs’ Thursday Night Football game last week. Inspiring, bravery and encouraging all fit the bill. It was a big moment when he was able to play and help the Bucs score 28 points, the most they’ve scored all month.

McMillan had foreseen this moment, so it wasn’t as gigantic to him as it was for everyone else.

Bucs WRs Jalen McMillan and Chris Godwin Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“It wasn’t as emotional as I expected to be,” McMillan said. “I had dealt with all those emotions prior to the game, a week leading up to it, two weeks leading up to it when they cleared me I was really, really emotional. During the game I had seen the vision so many times that just seeing the ball came natural just because I dreamed of it.”

In his return, McMillan recorded two catches for 38 yards in the game. When it came to knocking off any rust, he didn’t feel there was much to knock off.

“Feels normal, felt like I really didn’t miss a beat,” McMillan said about playing for the first time since August. “Just my head being in football and every day being consistent, practice habits. I kind of approached every week like that as if I was playing so when I came back it didn’t feel different or alien like.”

His first catch of the game was nearly a touchdown as he was ruled down at the Atlanta 1-yard line. He caught the ball and was hit by two defenders on the play. It was essentially the first time he was hit after catching a ball this season.

Another step forward to getting better.

Bucs WR Jalen McMillan and Falcons S Xavier Watts – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“That was something that I just needed,” McMillan said. “It felt good.”

And setting up a touchdown was a big help, too.

“It was pretty cool,” McMillan said. “I saw the play open up and I knew the ball was going to come my way. It was just that mindset, just making sure the ball is secured and helping my team win in any way possible.”

Jalen McMillan is back, and the Bucs offense is now better because of his return to action.