The biggest question facing Tampa Bay Buccaneers second-year cornerback Benjamin Morris was about his ability to stay healthy. While there are still five weeks until the Buccaneers hit the field for the start of the regular season, that concern is only growing at Bucs training camp.
Morrison has been on the sideline with a sore hamstring for the past eight practices. This is highly concerning considering injuries have been the story of his career so far. The second-round pick is in danger of becoming a poor selection already.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cornerback Benjamin Morrison Misses Eight Straight Practices With Hamstring Injury
GettyTampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Benjamin Morrison.
Morrison came into the NFL with injury concerns. He missed time in 2023 with a quad injury. Then, in 2024, he had right shoulder surgery and a hip labral tear. This caused a player with potential first-round talent to slide into the second round of the draft.
The Bucs bet on his potential but always knew there was a chance he would not be able to maintain his health. So far, that has been the case. Morrison had quad and hamstring issues during his rookie year. The biggest concern there might be that they ar ecompletely seperate than the big injuries that held him out in 2024.
Morrison missed seven games in his rookie year and only started in three games. He totaled 360 snaps. One of the big concerns is that he did not even look like a high-end draft pick when he was on the field.
So, this second season felt pivotal for Morrison. So far, he has yet to get on the field to prove anything.
Buccaneers Have Plans Without Morrison in the Picture
All indications are that Morrison lost any chance to be an every-down player. Jacob Parrish is going to start on the outside. The question is whether Parrish will slide inside on nickel snaps so that Morrison will play outside. Or will Parrish stay on the outside and the team will bring in a slot cornerback.
They drafted Keionte Scott this past season, and he has experience in the slot. Scott is a fourth-round pick, but he has been available in practice and has been flashing in training camp.
So, Morrison is slowly losing any chance of seeing the field in his second season. Injuries to other players can happen, but it is hard to see him getting any more snaps than he did during his rookie year if he cannot get healthy soon.
If Morrison goes two years with that little production, it will be a lot easier for fans and media to write him off. The Tampa Bay front office has already put in some protection plans that are being used. Next year, he would not be in the plans and would have to prove he can fit in.
These next few weeks could decide a lot of the future with Morrison on the Buccaneers.
Buccaneers Second-Round Pick Facing Alarming Training Camp Trend