In the Buccaneers’ 28-13 win over the Raiders in Week 14, rookie Jalen McMillan had a day between hashtags. McMillan, who turned 23 today, scored two touchdowns and averaged 14.8 yards per catch on four receptions en route to 59 yards. The Bucs’ 92nd overall pick out of the University of Washington in April has an innate feel for running routes and showed it against the Raiders.

“It’s so hard to be a rookie consistent “And we all know what he (McMillan) is capable of – the big plays, the great ways to get the ball,” Cade Otton said. “I think as the year has gone on he’s become more consistent, and I think that’s how the game is slowing down for him. I think he’s gained more confidence and it’s been great to see him develop. He’s so smooth and I think he’s very efficient both on and off breaks. He always has his head down and runs. He doesn’t change his stance much and I think that’s a really cool skill and something that the coaches definitely saw and picked him and it’s something that he brings to our team.”

On the Bucs’ first possession, McMillan capped the 85-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown. Baker Mayfield pumped a fake screen to Bucky Irving and then passed the ball to McMillan, who ran a fly route past the cornerback.

“We knew 18 (Jack Jones) always ran routes like that, and that’s what we did,” noted Jalen McMillan. “We planned it pretty well.”

In the fourth quarter, McMillan put the exclamation point on the win with a lead of 21:13 in the third and sixth quarters. With the Raiders in off coverage, McMillan let go, then quickly turned a dime and Mayfield brought the ball right to his number. Then he turned upfield and as Jones came downhill, Luke Goedeke deflected the corner, giving McMillan a free run into the end zone for a 29-yard score.

“It’s just the work I put in,” McMillan said of his promotion. “I watched Mike (Evans) and Chris (Godwin) work and just tried to model what I do after them every day. It’s a process and nothing will be perfect, but at the end of the day, you have to count your victories and today was a victory.”

McMillan has great speed and creates space in routes with leverage. He is able to counter defensive backs with a sophisticated release package and has elite stop-start skills. McMillan quickly moves up the field and is effective with sophisticated break-in routes. The fluid route runner showed off his developed chemistry with Mayfield on Sunday and helped spark the Bucs’ aerial attack.