Positioning himself for a Larger Role
Jalen McMillan is positioning himself for a larger role in his second year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After stepping in for Chris Godwin following his Week 7 ankle dislocation last season, McMillan gradually found his footing and made a significant impact.
Rising to the Occasion Late in the Season
Although McMillan’s rookie season began slowly, he stepped up late in the year. Over the course of the season, he totaled 37 receptions for 461 yards and eight touchdowns. However, the majority of that production came during the final five games. From Weeks 14 through 18, McMillan caught 24 passes for 316 yards and seven touchdowns, establishing a five-game scoring streak during a pivotal stretch.
Reflecting on that surge, McMillan explained how his mindset shift contributed to his improved performance: “I feel like last year, I was more focused on, ‘How am I going to look in the future?’ instead of worrying about what I wanted to accomplish in the moment,” McMillan said this week, via Pewter Report.
“And as y’all can see, as I focused on the moment, I did good things. It gave me a lot of confidence. I think it also gave me a lot of just confidence within myself, just going out on the field and feeling belonging.”
Learning from Veteran Leadership
With Chris Godwin sidelined, McMillan had the chance to rely on the experience of Tampa Bay’s veteran receivers. Mike Evans and Godwin, who have combined for 19 NFL seasons and 15 1,000-yard receiving campaigns, provided a wealth of knowledge. That mentorship helped McMillan succeed as a consistent target for quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Now preparing for his sophomore season, McMillan has a clearer vision for how to elevate his game. “Just be where my feet are, [have] intent with all my actions,” McMillan said. “Definitely [to] get stronger, get faster, get smarter, just keep my circle tight. I think I was on a great run last year so just continuing that and not falling off.”
Staying Focused Amid Added Competition
McMillan has taken advantage of organized team activities to refine his skills. The Buccaneers, meanwhile, have made several moves to bolster their receiving corps. In addition to re-signing Godwin, they brought back veteran Sterling Shepard and selected Emeka Egbuka in the first round of the draft. They also added Tez Johnson from Oregon in the seventh round.
With Evans and a healthy Godwin leading the depth chart, the competition for the WR3 spot will be intense under new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard. Despite the crowded room, McMillan is concentrating on what he can control.
“I’m just looking forward to making the most of my opportunities,” he said. “I’m not really worried about any three, four, five, six spots. I’m just worried about when the ball comes my way, [I’m able to] make the play.”
