CHARLOTTE — Tetairoa McMillan has heard the talk, the endless and relentless conversation and debate comparing him and Emeka Egbuka from Tampa Bay, two rookie receivers taken at the top of their position class, dominating their first years in the league. It's a topic he hasn't sought up, but it somehow manages to keep finding him.

"I hear about it," McMillan said with a self-deprecating laugh, because there really is no way to avoid what has become one of the storylines in this year's NFL.

"I feel like it's a hot topic, so I can't go a day without hearing about it. Whether it's from my family, people in the locker room, you know, stuff like that."

While winning Sunday's game against Tampa Bay, a quasi-playoff game for these two teams deadlocked at the top of the NFC South, won't be entirely dependent on McMillan's performance versus Egbuka's, it's hard not to see the matchup through that lens, understanding how important both have been to their respective team's success this season.

In Charlotte, McMillan arrived to fanfare as the No. 8 overall pick and with great curiosity about how quickly he could make an impact. For coaches and teammates, the answer was simple.

"Right away," answered Bryce Young. "He does so many things so well, it's obvious just to see all that he brings to the table."

It was a sentiment Dave Canales agreed with.

"It was pretty clear in training camp with the different formations we threw at him, the way that he was able to handle moving around in formation, the different concepts we try to throw at him," the coach said Wednesday.

As McMillan clearly became the focal point of the Panthers' receiving corps, teams adjusted, doing everything they could to take him out of the game plan.

"Targeting him a bunch really early on kind of put him on team's radars, and they started to make adjustments to try to take him away. And then we've seen in recent weeks Jalen Coker taking advantage of opportunities and matchups that way, and we want to continue to build that way."

The strategy has paid off at different times, such as in Atlanta, when spreading the ball around to multiple receivers resulted in McMillan having a career day, or like against the Rams, when McMillan and Coker combined for just five receptions, but both had huge second-half touchdowns.

"Luckily, in this receiver room we have a lot of guys capable of that, which is great for me, being able to have weapons across the board," Young said.

"We all want, obviously, everyone to go and have success and have a career night every night, in the league sometimes, it's going to get spread out, but TMac's doing a great job; he's special. That's not changing."

Comparing Tetairoa McMillan and Emeka Egbuka

A rookie receiver in a growing offense means there have been days like the aforementioned Falcons game, when McMillan had eight receptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Then there have also been games like Sunday against the Saints, with two receptions for 25 yards and no touchdowns.

It's a process, and one that is indicative of how this entire team is growing alongside its young talent.

"I mean, yeah, it's obviously a blessing just to be able to play in this league," said McMillan. "And obviously, it's my first time for everything, so, you know, just kind of taking it all in and just being good for every opportunity that comes."

In Tampa, Egbuka—who was taken 19th overall—arrived at the perfect time, another ready-made Ohio State receiver who was able to plug-and-play while the Bucs dealt with a litany of injuries to their receiving corps.

McMillan and Egbuka have volleyed for position atop the leader board for rookie receivers all season, with the Bucs receiver taking firm control the first half of the season, and McMillan really soaring past in the second half. Currently, they could not be closer, with Egbuka 15th in the league in total receiving yardage (870 yards, averaging 15 yards per catch) and McMillan 16th in the league (851 yards, averaging 14.4 yards per catch). Both have six touchdowns.

"I'm a big fan of the player that he's become and the person that he is," McMillan said this week of Egbuka. "He deserves everything that has come his way and more. So, I wish him nothing but the best, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the future holds for him for sure."

For now, though, for both receivers, the future holds two games in three weeks that will presumably decide the NFC South and who gets into the playoffs. McMillan didn't practice on Wednesday with a foot and ankle injury. Canales indicated the decision was precautionary and confirmed the receiver would be day-to-day.

"I think he got rolled up on on a run play it looked like, and just kind of built up on him, and we just decided to keep him out of practice today, try to get him back for (Thursday)."

The primary day McMillan is thinking of, though, is Sunday.

"As long as I can go on Sunday, I'm good."

And on Sunday, that topic—the one McMillan has been trying to avoid—will inevitably arise once again, with all the graphics and expository commentary that accompanies sports talk, comparing and contrasting these two receivers who have sat atop the Rookie of the Year odds all season. For the Panthers' rookie, though, it's a conversation that doesn't affect him.

"That's not really my concern right now," McMillan said. "We've just got to win the game."