Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Jalen McMillan made his long-awaited return to the football field in the 29-28 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 15.
Having not seen the field since preseason due to a neck injury, McMillan spoke to the media on Monday and delivered a bombshell that he was nearly paralyzed due to his neck injury, according to his doctor.
Getting news like that is life-changing, and it made him question if he would ever play football again, as he wore a neck brace for three months, all day, every day.
And McMillan detailed the mental journey he went on, getting the news that he was nearly paralyzed, to then wanting to play football again.
"It's about embracing your journey, really," McMillan said. "It sucked for me because people would tell me, "Oh, you're going to be back. Don't worry. You'll be fine." But in the back of my head, I'm not sure if I'll be back, but I'm going to try to approach every day as if I am.
"So, it just took everything in me. Took waking up, reading, finding new hobbies of mine, trying to explore different aspects of my life just so I could try to level up outside of football."
More: Buccaneers' Jalen McMillan gets honest about 'scary' neck injury
McMillan loving being back on the field
It has been a long time coming for McMillan to get back on the field, and you could see how much it meant to him to be able to do the thing he loves the most.
While Jalen admitted there wasn't too much emotion getting back on the field Thursday night, as he had already gone through those emotions after being cleared to play, but hearing how serious his situation was, it now gives us a greater appreciation for what these players go through when things go wrong.
And for McMillan, after what was no doubt a tough time in his life, he's come out the other side and is ready to resume his NFL career.
More Buccaneers news:
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- Bucky Irving's frustrating lack of usage near goal line explained by Bucs reporter
- Todd Bowles points finger after Bucs' loss to Falcons and it wasn't at the coaches
- Buccaneers vs. Falcons final score, results: Kirk Cousins, Falcons storm back from 14-point deficit to shock Buccaneers