Even Todd Bowles Seems Frustrated With Benjamin Morrison
August 9th, 2026
MIA.
It’s frustrating, yes, but Joe really can’t hammer a player for it.
Aside from possibly the notorious Myron Lewis, Joe doesn’t know of any NFL player who wants to be hurt. But after a while, a player becomes labeled and eventually, a team will cut its losses, no matter how talented he may be.
That’s the road Bucs corner Benjamin Morrison is driving down right now. It would be a little different if Morrison had already proven himself to be an NFL player. The second-year Notre Dame product has not, at least not yet.
In the few games Morrison played, he didn’t appar special. At least with two other guys, a current Bucs player Calijah Kancey and a former Bucs player, Jamel Dean, those guys, proved they could play. (Joe heard on SiriusXM NFL Radio today, broadcast live from Steelers training camp, that Dean had a pick-six this morning.)
Morrison last year missed seven games with a variety of ailments, including a hamstring. He missed most of underwear football in the spring of 2025 and some training camp with a hamstring issue as well.
Morrison has yet to take a snap in training camp this summer; that’s eight practices. He’s sidelined with — all together now — a hamstring. Will he see the field in New Jersey later this week when the Bucs hold scrimmages and a worthless preseason game with the Jets? Who knows?
(Yes, Joe knows Tristan Wirfs also has not practiced with a bum hamstring. But he’s friggin’ Tristan Wirfs! He has worlds of street cred to earn a pass.)
Joe reads fans’ comments about Morrison. They’re fed up with Morrison’s inability to even practice, forget games. And it seems Bucs coach Todd Bowles’ patience with Morrison may be getting tested.
Consider Bowles’ five-word reply today to a question about how Morrison is aiming to return to the field.
“He’s the same as usual.”
The Bucs simply cannot count on Morrison until he proves he can stay healthy — until he proves he belongs and can hang on an NFL field.
At some point before the regular season begins, the Bucs need to get an experienced corner in here. (Maybe that comes in a Vita Vea trade?).
Cornerback may be the weakest position on the team with little to no depth. Facing Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins Week 1 might be a fireman’s special unless the Bucs can regularly put Burrow on the ground.
Morrison is simply undependable until proven otherwise. Joe hopes that changes.
August 9th, 2026 at 1:33 pm
A Blue Licht Special ( for those old enough to remember K-Mart )…thought he was getting first round value in the 2nd. There’s little but he has played…he looks lost.
August 9th, 2026 at 1:41 pm
its interesting in individual sports where if you win you make money there seems to be far less injuries. maybe the athletes in those sports are just better athletes or are more professional in taking care of themselves
August 9th, 2026 at 1:43 pm
They have to proceed under the assumption that he’ll never play, imo. They need to obtain a starter at corner. A number one corner, really. It has been GM malpractice to ignore that need.
Last year they entered the season with two backups on the offensive line. Once the injuries hit, they didn’t trust either to play and had to sign jobless guys off the scrap pile. It ruined the season. The cornerback situation this year seems worse.
Baffling!
August 9th, 2026 at 1:46 pm
Kancey’s been hurt for 3 years. It’s only been 1 for Morrison and they drafted him knowing he had problems. Season hasn’t started yet. You don’t hear Bowles dogging Calijah.
August 9th, 2026 at 1:49 pm
And a lot of us said it when he got drafted… why tf would you draft an injury prone corner to replace an injury prone corner? Licht is great, but some of his mistakes are just AWFUL. Between this and the 2021 draft when the focus was on special teams (insane thing to say/do) I’m dumbfounded
August 9th, 2026 at 1:51 pm
They drafted him like this..
August 9th, 2026 at 2:00 pm
VV for CB
August 9th, 2026 at 2:05 pm
Like y’all said. Lichtenstein and Kit Kat monster got no one but themselves to blame. It’s one to make a bet on a diamond in the rough than to draft a player that has a history of injuries in college. They only get worse in the pros. They should’ve let someone else take a chance on him. Just another reason they don’t make a good team for the Bucs
August 9th, 2026 at 2:05 pm
That’s on him and Licht….dude was injured coming into the league yet they drafted him. This is the stuff that gets Licht in trouble with fans, he’s often trying to be too savvy in finding gems the rough. It’s rarely panned out, if you’re injury prone in college odds are at the NFL where everyone is bigger, faster, stronger….the body is getting pushed even harder.
August 9th, 2026 at 2:05 pm
From a guy who drafted such injury prone corners as Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean it’s not surprising that he overlooked that problem with Morrison.
Just like with Edge players, the keys to the Bucs draft should be taken away from Licht when it comes to players with an injury history.
I have nothing against Morrison at all. Some guys just get hurt more often. They don’t belong in the NFL and smart GM’s sure as heck don’t draft with 2nd round grades. Screw the projections.
August 9th, 2026 at 2:07 pm
Maybe Morrison doesn’t want to play ball and is happy collecting money in the hot tub.
August 9th, 2026 at 2:14 pm
I feel sorry for the kid….. I’m sure he wants to practice and play.
August 9th, 2026 at 2:18 pm
Kancey still produces when he is on the field bmo on the other hand doesn’t
August 9th, 2026 at 2:32 pm
He is our best corner?
Life with Jason…
August 9th, 2026 at 2:40 pm
Larrd, thank you. It was insane to have Heck and Klein as the backups then when it was time to do their job, they were essentially scared to play them.
August 9th, 2026 at 2:42 pm
Damaged goods the moment we drafted him. Cut bait.
August 9th, 2026 at 2:43 pm
To be fair, the injuries he had in college are not the injuries he has now. Calijah Kancey had almost NO injury’s in college!
August 9th, 2026 at 2:46 pm
“Same as usual’ sounds like a dig.
August 9th, 2026 at 2:46 pm
Jason Light is one of the Best GM’S in the NFL! He took a chance and it didn’t workout. Some of the views here blow my mind..
August 9th, 2026 at 2:47 pm
But but but the Bucs’ ring around the collar GM Jason Licht drafted him. He must see the diamond that he is.
Nah. This kid went to Notre Dame. So of course he was overhyped and as durable as toilet paper in a porta-crapper.
August 9th, 2026 at 3:00 pm
Cut him
August 9th, 2026 at 3:15 pm
Drafting an injury prone player to play. For the NFL hamstring capital has little chance of working. At least R of H Light didn’t do it with a first rounder.
August 9th, 2026 at 3:21 pm
Good old fashion hope draft. With his history of injury and with this training staff and Jason still drafts him? Pure blind hope. Smh. Go Bucs.
August 9th, 2026 at 3:24 pm
Well he was already broken goods when they drafted him, But hey, is the son of one of Todd Blows former teammates back in the day and that my friends, is why he was drafted!
August 9th, 2026 at 3:29 pm
Should be interesting if he makes the team and is still not practicing. if that happens…all hell will break loose . From what I keep hearing here and elsewhere, that undrafted rookie Ayden Garnes is looking great. He’s probably playing so well that some other needy team will grab him if the Buc’s try to put him on the practice squad.
August 9th, 2026 at 3:35 pm
@badbuc.
Is Kancey injured? No. Kancey will atleast practice, Morrison can’t even get through training camp for the second year in a row. They should just cut Morrison at this point. I don’t see it getting any better.
August 9th, 2026 at 3:36 pm
22 yrs old with the body of a 50 yr old. Cut the glass tiger. Hes proven to be a bum.
August 9th, 2026 at 3:38 pm
I don’t know if Garnes has any special teams experience. I sure hope so. That’s probably the only way he’ll make the team.given Todd Bowles’ buddies injured kid was a 2nd rounder.
August 9th, 2026 at 3:40 pm
You drafted him knowing this dumbass
August 9th, 2026 at 3:40 pm
Kid was a top recruit coming out of high school and a starter for years at ND – before his 2024 hip injury. Todd’s frustrated because he was pounding the table to draft this guy in the 2nd. Just don’t think Benjamin’s ever fully gotten his mojo back following that last hip surgery.
August 9th, 2026 at 3:44 pm
There’s a high pick invested in him so he wont be cut but he’s running out of time to show something.
After this season, he’s just another guy.
August 9th, 2026 at 3:49 pm
Gotta agree with Joe on this one. I hope Benny does prove himself, but that’s up to him.
August 9th, 2026 at 3:50 pm
No, The weakest position on the team is Head Coach. He still has personal relationship judgement issues. Morrison feels like he has a pass because Bowles knows his father. Meanwhile – he hasn’t done anything. Anything at all. And unless there is some miraculous change in behavior from the head coach decisions like this are finally going to end his career. The clock is ticking.
August 9th, 2026 at 3:52 pm
Greg-therealone, we all know that. We don’t have to be reminded constantly. It’s a long season.
August 9th, 2026 at 4:03 pm
He had a congenital hip issue repaired in college.
If he (and the training staff) can figure out the hammy strains he can be a solid corner…. He looked good blanketing brown and smith in the eagles game last year.
August 9th, 2026 at 4:30 pm
I’m glad Lovie Bowles put in a good word for his buddy’s son, the Bucs needed another Myron Lewis out there at CB (well, in the trainer’s room, anyway).
August 9th, 2026 at 4:48 pm
This is ridiculous. The bengals offense is no joke on paper. Deff will take us to the cleaners if we don’t bury Joe
August 9th, 2026 at 4:53 pm
All you whiners blaming Licht for Morrison’s hamstrings, bear in mind that the same Licht drafted the BEST CORNER OF THE CLASS in the THIRD ROUND.
August 9th, 2026 at 4:57 pm
i think this was a prediction by a few fans prior to camp and f agency ……. There are some things Licht is just an absolute buffoon at recognizing !!
August 9th, 2026 at 5:23 pm
Licht is great, but some of his mistakes are just AWFUL. Between this and the 2021 draft when the focus was on special teams (insane thing to say/do) I’m dumbfounded…..Whiskey
Maybe the answer is that Licht is NOT, repeat NOT great. Pretty simple to me.
August 9th, 2026 at 5:31 pm
Kancey usually makes it through a game or two before hightailing it to his usual seat in the tub. They should get him an honorary cheerleader uniform. Undersized DT. Great idea JL. it’s not 1980 anymore. Another failed 1st round genius pick to go with JTS. Always outsmarting himself.
August 9th, 2026 at 6:15 pm
I’m not mad at him. God knows the kid wants to be out there, I’m sure.
But man, tick tock
August 9th, 2026 at 6:27 pm
Vita to New England for Carlton Davis and a second rounder .
August 9th, 2026 at 6:34 pm
Bowles told Licht to draft him because he is Todd’s God son.
And Licht finds a way to waste second round picks every draft.
The HC\DC and GM are a match made in heaven. Equally mediocre.
Only Brady made them look competent. Before and after they look lost.
The only season Brady had sub .500 was under Bowles. He’s a guru.
August 9th, 2026 at 7:11 pm
this was Bowles pick so here we are, he was injury prone throughout his entire career
August 9th, 2026 at 8:14 pm
Bowles told Licht to draft him because he is Todd’s God son.
And Licht finds a way to waste second round picks every draft.
The HC\DC and GM are a match made in heaven. Equally mediocre.
Only Brady made them look competent. Before and after they look lost.
The only season Brady had sub .500 was under Bowles. He’s a guru.
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Brady sat out half of the last game of the season vs. the Falcons with a lead so its likely the Buccs would have had a winning record had he played.
Brady didn’t always look competent. The defense played their part under Bowles in winning a Super Bowl.