Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie sensation Jalen McMillan appeared on Wednesday’s injury report with a finger injury, raising questions ahead of Sunday night’s wild-card game against the Washington Commanders.

Good news arrived quickly for Bucs fans. According to RotoBaller Keith Hernandez, McMillan participated fully in Wednesday’s practice. The rookie receiver’s active involvement suggests he’ll be ready for the playoff showdown, barring any setbacks.

McMillan’s presence matters for Tampa Bay’s offense. The 23-year-old has caught fire over the past five games, hauling in 24 catches for 316 yards and seven touchdowns. His late-season emergence helped power the Buccaneers to a 6-1 record in their final seven games.

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The Washington product stepped up brilliantly after Chris Godwin’s injury in October. McMillan finished his rookie campaign with 37 receptions, 461 yards and eight touchdowns. He has scored in five straight games heading into the playoffs.

Baker Mayfield, who posted career-best numbers with 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns, praised McMillan’s development.

“The biggest thing for him, you look for in any rookie, is progression throughout the year, and that’s what he’s done,” Mayfield said on Sunday.

Jalen McMillan could be Tampa Bay’s playoff X-Factor

NFL: New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Source: Imagn
NFL: New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Source: Imagn

Jalen McMillan‘s impact extends beyond the stat sheet. The 33rd Team’s Ian Valentino identified the young receiver as Tampa Bay’s X-factor for the postseason run.

“A switch was flipped in McMillan,” Valentino wrote Thursday. “He’s been a more prominent feature within the offense, and his role in beating New Orleans to win the NFC South already capped off a great finish to the season … Evans will always be the alpha in Tampa Bay, but McMillan now has Baker Mayfield’s trust.”

Coach Todd Bowles highlighted McMillan’s grasp of the offense and growing confidence.

“When guys went down early in the year, he got a chance to get his feet wet and understand where he needs to be on the field from a spot standpoint,” Bowles said. “The older guys have helped him a lot, and he’s playing really fast right now.”

The stakes rise considerably as Tampa Bay prepares to host Washington. These teams met in Week 1, with the Buccaneers claiming a 37-20 victory. McMillan’s evolution since that season opener adds another dimension to Tampa Bay’s passing attack.

McMillan’s partnership with future Hall of Famer Mike Evans could give Tampa Bay an offensive edge in coming games.