Washington wideout Jalen McMillan is nearing a return to the field. UW has no plans of shutting him down for the remainder of the season.

The 6-foot-1 junior from Fresno came back this season hoping to build on a breakout 2022 campaign, but he has been hampered by an injury sustained during the win over Michigan State on Sept. 16 and has only managed a handful of snaps since.

McMillan missed the Cal and Arizona games before returning against Oregon on Oct. 14, but he saw just a handful of snaps before exiting the game again.

He got back onto the field against Stanford last week, but did not play in the second half.

“He was emotional,” offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said Monday. “It’s been really hard on him. I’m not saying J-Mac’s never been hurt, he’s obviously been injured, but just having to fight through some of this and try to find a way to be out there.

“Obviously, he’s had two different games where he’s tried to do that and get out on the field and stay out there. His body just hasn’t allowed that to happen for him. It’s been emotional for him.”

Asked if the staff has talked with McMillan about possibly sitting out the year, Grubb said he has an extra year of eligibility anyway so those discussions haven’t gained much traction.

“It’s all just game-by-game because he’s really close,” DeBoer said. “Just trying to figure out how exactly to get him over the hump. He wants to be out there as bad as anyone. He’s a big-time competitor.

Grubb says UW will be cautious with McMillan going forward. The receiver wants to play, and everyone involved knows UW is better when McMillan is on the field, but they’re working to make sure he’s fully ready.

“It’s just some of the cuts, he’s so violent at the top end of his routes, it produces a lot of stress on his joints,” Grubb said. “Until he can really feel 100% on that, we’ll just have to wait and see.”