Raekwon McMillan Grateful To Be Playing Football Again

Raekwon McMillan has had a tough time staying healthy since entering the NFL. The Miami Dolphins drafted McMillan in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. McMillan tore his ACL in the first preseason game of his rookie season costing him to miss the entire season. Unfortunately, it would not be the last major injury the linebacker faced in his NFL journey.

A hamstring injury forced McMillan to miss the final three games of Miami’s 2018 season. He signed with the New England Patriots after playing the 2020 season with the Raiders. Once again, McMillan suffered a season-ending ACL injury before the season began. He missed the entire 2021 campaign. After returning to contribute as a reserve linebacker and core special teams player in 2022, another injury caused him to sit out 2023. McMillan tore his Achilles tendon during OTAs, landing him on season-ending injured reserve.

Through seven seasons in the NFL, Raekwon has only played in four. So feeling healthy heading into the 2024 season, after so many setbacks, has given him a positive outlook on his football life.

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“I’m blessed to be able to be back on here on the field doing my thing. I try not to think about it (the injury) as much when I come out on the field. I think God for another opportunity and keep it going.”

Making a Positive Impression in Training Camp

Raekwon McMillan entered training camp as a bubble candidate for the Patriots’ 53-man roster. The team returned starting linebackers Ja’Whaun Bentley and Jahlani Tavai. New England lost Mack Wilson Sr. in free agency to Arizona but appeared to replace him as a linebacker and core special teams player with Sione Takitaki. That left McMillan competing with Takitaki, Christian Elliss, Joe Giles-Harris, and UDFA Steele Chambers for as few as two roster spots.

McMillan appears to have earned one of those spots.

After seeing only eight defense snaps in the Patriots preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers, McMillan received a much longer look against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday. He played 32 snaps on defense and eight on special teams. McMillan recorded a team-high nine tackles (eight solo). He added four stops and had no missed tackles.

“Every time I touch the field, on kickoff, defense, punt, punt return, anything it is, I just have the mentality that, one, I can’t be blocked. And two, I need to go make a tackle,” said McMillan about his mentality. “I’m out there in my mind as if I’m the only guy on the field and I got to go make the tackle.”

Flashing Potential for a Breakout Season

Last season Jahlani Tavai went from being a solid role player (50% of defense snaps and core special teams player in 2022) to winning the Tom Brady Award as the New England Patriots Most Valuable Player. It is unrealistic to expect a similar leap from McMillan in 2024, especially coming off a major injury. However, his play in camp does not make it appear far-fetched either.

McMillan plays in the box for the most part, though New England did move him to the edge for a few plays against the Eagles. After Matthew Judon got traded last week, New England lacks depth at outside linebacker. The more versatile McMillan shows he can be, the more he will play.

Although McMillan admitted to being, “frustrated, pissed off” after his Achilles injury last summer those feelings are now a thing of the past. “Fifteen months out,” he said, “feeling blessed, feeling good.”

If Raekwon McMillan stays healthy and performs in the regular season the way he has looked in preseason, the New England Patriots will be feeling blessed to have him on their team in 2024.