Jalen McMillan scores touchdown, exacts revenge on first NFL catch

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan scored a touchdown on his first career reception, beating a former Michigan corner.

Tampa Bay seems to be a popular destination for Husky football players, as the Buccaneers have six former Washington standouts on their roster.

Among them is rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan, who was drafted by the Bucs in the third round this April after helping the Huskies to a berth in the national championship game.

Washington fans are familiar with McMillan’s big play ability, but the NFL was introduced to one of Michael Penix Jr.’s best targets in an explosive way on Sunday, as McMillan scored a touchdown on his first career reception.

The rookie ran a corner route from the slot, beating Washington Commanders nickelback Mike Sainristil down the field and coming wide open. Sainristil, a fellow rookie, was on the Michigan team that beat the Huskies in the national championship eight months ago.

Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield found McMillan, who waltzed into the end zone for his first career NFL touchdown.

McMillan is the first of Washington’s trio of standout receivers to score in the NFL, as both Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk were held out of the end zone in their NFL debuts.

The touchdown also helped wipe away the vision of a ball bouncing off McMillan’s outstretched fingertips earlier in the game. The rookie was open down the sideline, but a Mayfield throw came in just a bit high and clattered off the hands of the receiver, who could’ve scored his first touchdown two quarters earlier.

Instead, McMillan settled for revenge on the Wolverines. The touchdown catch put the Buccaneers up 30-14 on the Commanders on the first play of the fourth quarter, bringing Huskies East one step closer to a Week One victory.