Buccaneers Lose WR to Injured Reserve Amid Baker Mayfield Injury

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers recently placed third-year wide receiver Jalen McMillan on injured reserve, placing him on the sidelines for at least the next four games. The knee injury sustained by McMillan occurred during the first quarter of their Week 3 loss against the Minnesota Vikings. This is the same knee that had previously sidelined him during the Buccaneers' season-opening loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

The IR decision comes in the aftermath of starting quarterback Baker Mayfield's injury. Mayfield dislocated his right throwing thumb late in their Week 3 loss, and he's expected to miss a minimum of three weeks. To fill the void, the Buccaneers have signed veteran quarterback Brett Rypien to the practice squad, providing a backup option to rookie signal caller Jalon Daniels.

McMillan had a strong rookie campaign in 2024 as a third-round pick for the Buccaneers. He caught 37 passes for 461 yards and eight touchdowns. However, he missed all but four games in 2025 due to a serious neck injury suffered in preseason. Currently, the Buccaneers are 0-3 at the start of the 2026 NFL season. They'll aim to secure their first victory of the year this coming weekend against the Green Bay Packers.