Rookie shines as Tampa Bay Buccaneers strike first in Huge Game vs. Chargers

On By Littum

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have developed a good habit of starting games with successful offensive possessions. That trend continued Sunday as the Buccaneers wasted no time getting to work against the number one scoring defense in the NFL in the Los Angeles Chargers.

After his best game of the season, where he scored two touchdowns vs. Raiders, rookie receiver Jalen McMillan provided the first big play for the Bucs when he hauled in a 19-yard reception to move the Bucs toward midfield.

READ MORE: Bucky Irving playing status revealed for Buccaneers vs. Chargers on Sunday

That wouldn’t be his only contribution to Tampa Bay’s opening effort, however.

Just a few plays later, the Bucs executed a beautifully designed rub play that caused multiple Chargers defenders to fumble, ultimately leaving McMillan wide open up the seam, which Baker Mayfield recognized immediately before finding the talented rookie for a 26 -yard TD reception.

The touchdown reception is McMillan’s third in his last five quarters of football, and the recent production has been a massive boost for an offense that has been searching for a playmaker since Week 7, when Chris Godwin went down with a season-ending injury.

McMillan now has 4 receiving touchdowns on the season, the most by a Bucs rookie since OJ Howard had 6 back in 2017

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