Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan popped up on the injury report at the very last second with an illness. According to the team’s official report, the first-round pick is questionable for today’s contest against the Seattle Seahawks. The two teams play at 1:00 PM, eastern time, and inactives are due 90 minutes before kickoff.
Tetaiora McMillan Placed On Injury Report With Illness, Officially Questionable
This could be a devastating blow to a Carolina Panthers team looking for their first playoff appearance since the Cam Newton days. Currently sitting atop the division with an 8-7 record, Carolina will clinch the NFC South with a win and a Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss against rookie Quinn Ewers and the Miami Dolphins.
Defeating the Seattle Seahawks will not be easy even with Tetairoa McMillan on the field, but this injury update only decreases the odds of Carolina pulling off the upset. Selected with the eighth-overall pick in the draft, the Arizona product immediately became the top option in this passing attack. Appearing in all 15 games, the rookie has recorded 65 receptions for 924 yards and seven touchdowns on 112 targets. No other player on the team has more than 34 receptions or 338 yards.
If McMillan cannot play, look for former undrafted free agent Jalen Coker to lead the passing attack. A former afterthought, the Holy Cross product started the season on the injured reserve but has started to round into form late in the season. Appearing in nine games while making two starts, Coker has recorded 25 receptions for 331 yards and two touchdowns on the season, with a sizable portion of that production coming in the last three weeks.
If the Panthers lose, they can still win the division by taking down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18.