Trey Palmer (10) and Rachaad White celebrate Palmer’s 15-yard touchdown catch Sunday.

After a solid game to open the season, Bucs rookie receiver Jalen McMillan is more or less gone. But on Sunday, a few teammates stepped up when McMillan couldn’t go.

McMillen had two big catches, one each in weeks 2 and 3, but that’s not great production.

McMillan suffered a hamstring injury on Friday, but not yesterday. So the Bucs let a few receivers step into the void.

The first was the speedy Trey Palmer. He made a nice catch with Darius Slay hanging over him for a 15-yard touchdown on the Bucs’ second possession. Palmer didn’t last long because he suffered a concussion. But it appeared Bucs coach Todd Bowles wanted people to know about Palmer’s contribution.

“The ball (Baker Mayfield) threw to Trey (Palmer) was right in there,” Bowles explained. “The DB had great coverage about that. I think it was (Darius) Slay, but it was a great catch.

That has been Palmer’s main bugaboo: inconsistent hands. If Palmer can find a way to catch the ball consistently, it will be difficult to keep his wheels off the field.

Then there was Mayfield’s old Oklahoma teammate Sterling Shephard, who essentially took over for Palmer after the Nebraska product left the game.

Shephard finished with three catches averaging 17 yards each.

“It’s just fun to have his energy in the group,” Mayfield said. “(He’s) someone who has played a lot of ball, obviously taken a big step, just like Kam (Johnson).

“Obviously, with Trey (Palmer) hurting himself, those guys took a huge step. (I’m) proud of those guys, especially ‘Shep.’

If nothing else, the Bucs showed their depth at receiver on Sunday. McMillan couldn’t get dressed and the proverbial next man, Palmer, delivered.

As Palmer left, the next man, Shepard, rose to the occasion.

Even Kameron Johnson didn’t embarrass himself, unless you call dropping a touchdown pass an embarrassment.

So it was good for the Bucs to showcase their receiver depth. No wonder Bowles wanted people to know how well Palmer played for six points.

Baker for Trey Palmer! The win increases 14-0.

📺: #PHIVsTB on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/HH5869xGoi

—NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2024