There’s been a bunch of standout rookie receivers, with Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas and Ladd McConkey leading the way. But third-rounder Jalen McMillan made a nice late-season push for the Buccaneers.
McMillan, recall wasn’t even one of the first two wide receivers from his college team to be drafted. The Bucs picked him up late in the third round – long after Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk. But McMillan was the most impact of the three.
McMillan wasn’t much of a factor early in the season. But after the Bucs lost both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to injuries, it forced them to start looking more to their other receivers, and McMillan answered the bell nicely.
Especially late in the season. McMillan caught touchdowns in each of his last five game, including a real nice catch on the edge of the end zone on Sunday.
Only three other rookies have caught touchdowns in five straight games. Only one of those guys put together an even longer streak – Randy Moss.
ROOKIES CATCHING TOUCHDOWNS IN 4 STRAIGHT GAMES | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | G | No | Yards | Avg | TD |
1998 | Randy Moss, Min. | 7 | 37 | 714 | 19.3 | 11 |
1995 | Chris Sanders, Hou. | 5 | 18 | 391 | 21.7 | 7 |
2004 | Lee Evans, Buff. | 5 | 27 | 406 | 15.0 | 7 |
2024 | Jalen McMillan, T.B. | 5 | 24 | 316 | 13.2 | 7 |
1984 | Louis Lipps, Pitt. | 4 | 18 | 339 | 18.8 | 4 |
1985 | Eddie Brown, Cin. | 4 | 15 | 291 | 19.4 | 4 |
1987 | Curtis Duncan, Hou. | 4 | 8 | 125 | 15.6 | 5 |
1989 | Andre Brown, Mia. | 4 | 9 | 194 | 21.6 | 4 |
1989 | Hart Lee Dykes, N.E. | 4 | 13 | 244 | 18.8 | 4 |
2002 | Donte' Stallworth, N.O. | 4 | 15 | 179 | 11.9 | 4 |
2005 | Heath Miller, Pitt. | 4 | 17 | 184 | 10.8 | 5 |
2009 | Hakeem Nicks, NYG | 4 | 14 | 297 | 21.2 | 4 |
2011 | Julio Jones, Atl. | 4 | 20 | 393 | 19.7 | 6 |
2013 | Terrance Williams, Dall. | 4 | 14 | 313 | 22.4 | 4 |
2014 | Odell Beckham, NYG | 4 | 43 | 606 | 14.1 | 7 |
2014 | Martavis Bryant, Pitt. | 4 | 14 | 310 | 22.1 | 6 |
2014 | Mike Evans, T.B. | 4 | 24 | 505 | 21.0 | 6 |
2017 | Evan Engram, NYG | 4 | 21 | 243 | 11.6 | 4 |
2021 | Amon-Ra St. Brown, Det. | 4 | 33 | 401 | 12.2 | 4 |
2022 | Christian Watson, G.B. | 4 | 15 | 313 | 20.9 | 7 |
2023 | Tank Dell, Hou. | 4 | 25 | 369 | 14.8 | 5 |
2023 | Jordan Addison, Min. | 4 | 23 | 297 | 12.9 | 5 |
Statistics compiled using search tools at Pro-Football-Reference.com
—Ian Allan