Looks Like Benjamin Morrison Gets The Start
December 17th, 2025
First start coming?
Unless Bucs coach Todd Bowles does some juggling to his secondary — given how his defense has played the past six weeks, he may want to think about it — it appears rookie Benjamin Morrison will get the first start of his NFL career Sunday when the Bucs face the Stinking Panthers.
That is, unless Morrison messes up his hamstring again between now and Sunday.
Morrison, a second-round pick in April’s draft, has been hobbled by a hamstring all year, ever since training camp. He hasn’t played since the loss at Buffalo a month ago because — you guessed it — hamstring problems.
With Zyon McCollum on injured reserve after hurting his hip last week, it appears Morrison is the next man up.
If Bowles juggles his lineup, who knows, maybe fellow rookie Jacob Parrish could move over from slot corner. Either way, Bucs coach Todd Bowles said he’s ready to use either rookie.
“[I have] very high confidence in both of them,” Bowles said Wednesday. “I mean, they’re not rookies anymore. It’s late in the season right now.
“They both can play. They understand the system and they’ve got to go out there and play.”
But with Morrison seemingly hurt all the time, is Bowles confident Morrison is physically able to start and finish a game?
“I do,” Bowles said.
Morrison has been up and down, sort of expect edfrom a rookie whose hamstring and previous surgeries playing at Notre Dame have abbreviated his adjustment to the NFL.
Morrison never really has had a chance to string together a series of games in order to improve.
Maybe Sunday is the beginning.
December 17th, 2025 at 5:13 pm
How exciting! Another statue in thebackfield
December 17th, 2025 at 5:15 pm
Buckle up Bucs fans. This could get ugly early.
December 17th, 2025 at 5:15 pm
The Godson. Hahah
December 17th, 2025 at 5:25 pm
He will last 1 quarter.
December 17th, 2025 at 5:26 pm
I like it
December 17th, 2025 at 5:28 pm
Be honest. He can’t be much worse than what we’ve seen this season.
December 17th, 2025 at 5:30 pm
Izien is better than Morrison. Play Christian at Nickel and move Parrish to outside CB.
December 17th, 2025 at 5:36 pm
If news is real Dolphins are benching Tua!! Oh mama , that my friends is terrible news!! Everyone knows how a back up is gonna eviscerate Blows defense. They couldn’t wait one more darn week! Also Young’s passing yds line is 208 this Sunday!! So pound the over and buy a boat like me$$$
December 17th, 2025 at 5:42 pm
They will go right after him early and often. Better give him Safety help all day
December 17th, 2025 at 5:45 pm
Wonder if it’s not a hamstring problem, but a hip problem.
Bud Licht strikes again
December 17th, 2025 at 5:50 pm
BBQ B-Mo, I wouldn’t want this kid covering my bar tab
December 17th, 2025 at 5:53 pm
@Defense
I agree. And bring up Bryce Hall and sit Vildor. 4th & 14 and you don’t sink to the marker and force the underneath throw to Bijan and come up and tackle.
December 17th, 2025 at 5:59 pm
I really dont think he can do much worse than what Zyon had been playing like these past few weeks
December 17th, 2025 at 6:01 pm
The good news is that Bryce Young only has about 5 good throws a game in him, so that limits the work load.
December 17th, 2025 at 6:09 pm
I think Morrison and Dean give us our best chance. Zyon has become a liability – his confidence is gone. Keep Parrish @ nickel.
December 17th, 2025 at 6:10 pm
He’s not ready. But I don’t think there are better options.
December 17th, 2025 at 6:16 pm
If Morrisson understands this defense he might be the only one because the rest of the DB’s look lost most of the time.
December 17th, 2025 at 6:28 pm
Don’t need to give up on Morrison just yet. But that doesn’t mean he should be starting. DR is right. Parrish replaces McCollum and Christian in the slot.
December 17th, 2025 at 6:28 pm
Where is Bryce hall. In all honesty probably best suited for outside corner at this point. Or parish and izien at nickle might be a better option.
December 17th, 2025 at 6:30 pm
Just think, this guy and Zyon are likely to be our 2 starting CBs next year.
December 17th, 2025 at 6:34 pm
He MIGHT be ready. We’ll have towait and see.
December 17th, 2025 at 6:36 pm
I am a firm believer in development. It doesn’t happen in a single season. Usually the rookie season is where they learn their NFL weaknesses.
It’s then up to them to start the road to improvement.
December 17th, 2025 at 6:38 pm
Itzien should be out there at all times along with Tykee Smith and Winfield. Winfield has more than proven he can be an impact player, he just need to take his head out of his @rse. Parrish has flashed well but looks to be hitting that rookie wall. Dean is obviously our best corner although we cut his salary for some strange reason. Morrison was always a project and a bit of a reach due to injury history. Zyon should become a rotational player when he’s healthy. I believe if the scheme was simplified these guys should be good and athletic enough to win ball games and get takeaways. Nelson should be playing a lot of snaps. I think Nelson and Reddick as DE’s with Elijah Roberts and Vea in the middle. Bring back a 4-3. I’ve noticed Vea not getting a lot of up the middle pressure like he used to. I don’t know all of the fixes with the linebackers or I’d be a coach. We should have the players- the scheme has become tiresome and confusing.
December 17th, 2025 at 6:44 pm
Bmo will.be fine he had a rough patch there but in the beginning of the year he looked really good I think his confidence got rattled against the Pats an he wasn’t very good the.next week either but he got some time off to reset an get his mind right but Joe Won’t Vildor start.for Zyon or Parrish then on Nickle downs Parrish will kick inside but after last week maybe Bowles will go with BMo over Vildor with how he ended the game.you know I’m really surprised we didn’t see Bryce Hall at all this year he was our CB3 last year h only lasted a Half or so but I mean idk why he hasn’t got a shot he should have Fresh legs I think.Vildor plays pretty good honestly beside that one play.but.tombe far Robinson an pitts were the only 2 that were killing them all game so I can see why he played it the way he did it sucks badly but I believe the Bucs will get it done Sundayy.biggest worry is the Bucs OLine vs the Panthers DL it’s really the 2 guards tampa is playing right now I really believe it is effecting Barton Alot those 3!guys need to step up these 3 games an keep the Pressure out of Bakers Face
December 17th, 2025 at 6:57 pm
What I find interesting is when Griz was on fire early in season that was a bowles pick and now noone seems to be reminding us of Griz being a Bowles pick anymore. Benjamin Morrison was more of a Bowles pick than Griz ever was.
December 17th, 2025 at 6:57 pm
Another built in excuse for the Genius
Watch the Bucs go 8-9, make the playoffs , get blown out by the Seahawks and the Glazers bring back Bowles.
They will have an empty stadium for the next 10 years.
December 17th, 2025 at 6:59 pm
That is a great question for Joe, do you see more activity on the site when the Bucs are successful or when they are in the toilet?
December 17th, 2025 at 7:05 pm
Whatevs, You trolls are here year round.
December 17th, 2025 at 7:05 pm
Can’t be much worse then what Zyon was doing the last few weeks.
December 17th, 2025 at 7:08 pm
As I’ve said before, I can current see a case for keeping Bowles…and for firing him.
These last games will tip the scare I think.
Ironically, he has a better winning percentage for us than Jon Gruden did for us.
December 17th, 2025 at 7:08 pm
“tip the scale”
December 17th, 2025 at 7:22 pm
Doesn’t matter if the Bucs start Rodney Barber, I just don’t have any confidence in the Bucs defense these days From what I am hearing from around the league about players and the Bucs locker room, I don’t see them playing much better regardless of who is in and who is out this weekend
December 17th, 2025 at 7:28 pm
I listen to Ira’s podcasts as well as one other fairly well-known pod. Ira’s guys think that 4th down play was AWJ’s fault, the other thinks Vildor wrongly pulled up to cover the RB
December 17th, 2025 at 7:33 pm
I will take the under on 3 quarters played without getting hurt
December 17th, 2025 at 7:33 pm
😂
Injuries in college
Injuries in the NFL
High draft pick/hype
Starting the week before Christmas
🥱🥱🥱🥱🥱
December 17th, 2025 at 7:40 pm
He’s the perfect DB for Bowles scheme.
15 yards off the ball on 3rd and 8.
Get burned for a 45 yard TD.
Lose in embarrassing fashion against inferior teams.
Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
35-34
December 17th, 2025 at 8:08 pm
We’ll see 🙈
December 17th, 2025 at 8:15 pm
If he can stay healthy I think he will be fine. Legette shouldn’t be the toughest cover in the league. Parrish on Coker. Man up do your jobs, let AWJ and Tykee roam free and read/stay over top/blitz. Seems simple.
The only play that sticks in my mind is him getting beat by Williams from NE on that 74 yard TD. His coverage was tight and confident trying to undercut but it was a better throw from Maye.
Young and Ewers can hit that throw but are much less likely.
December 17th, 2025 at 8:28 pm
Izien is way too slow to play nickel. He will get shredded there.
December 17th, 2025 at 8:31 pm
I would’ve considered passing on him all along. They need to go out in FA this year & actually SPEND $$$$.
December 17th, 2025 at 8:33 pm
It won’t matter who you put in there in the secondary or on the line if that same scheme/system is still gonna be run on D.
December 17th, 2025 at 8:44 pm
Second rounders should be able to start late in the rookie season. He has looked good at times. Izien got toasted a lot last week, I thought.
December 17th, 2025 at 8:45 pm
Fire Todd
December 17th, 2025 at 8:45 pm
Stpetematt, unless I’m missing something Izien has usually been used as the nickel. Without looking it up I think he’s got good speed.
December 17th, 2025 at 8:59 pm
StPeteMatt … Izien played a LOT of Nickel in 2023 and some in 2024. Averaged over 700 def snaps each season (at both Nickel & Safety). Had 2 INTs in 2023 and 1 INT in 2024. Only allowed 1 TD in the 2 years, with a 69.6% completion rate allowed. Total of 140 tackles in those 2 years, with a Missed Tackle Rate of about 9.7%. Been hurt most of this year (barely 100 def snaps this season).
Have no idea how fast he is, but not hard to compare him to Jacob Parrish who’s played mostly Nickel this year. Parrish has 1 INT this year, with a 73.3% completion rate allowed. Total of 63 tackles so far (14 games), with a Missed Tackle Rate of 10.0%. Has allowed 2 TDs this season. I’d say the two compare favorably.
December 17th, 2025 at 9:26 pm
Sure couldve used Nick Emmanwori right about the past 5 games instead of a WR who’s maybe a #3 at the moment…smdh!
December 17th, 2025 at 9:40 pm
Bryce Hall would do better than our current CB’s minus Dean
December 17th, 2025 at 10:10 pm
Get ready for zone coverage….lots of dink and dunk passes, exactly what Young can actually handle.
December 17th, 2025 at 10:18 pm
Maybe a hot take, but I would much rather see Morrison cover Tetaroa than Jalen Coker. Let Dean cover Coker. Yes McMillan will make some plays against Morrison but I do t see him going all Kyle Pitts on us, especially if Morrison has help on critical downs.
December 18th, 2025 at 1:11 am
yippety you hawww
December 18th, 2025 at 1:11 am
at this point, you gotta bring up bryce hall…come on already…i’ve been calling for this for a couple weeks now…
let’s do this !
December 18th, 2025 at 1:12 am
come on it’s bryce hall time…
morrissey is wet wet wet…he’s just not ready
December 18th, 2025 at 3:45 am
Izien is better.
Parrish at CB.
Izien at nickle.
December 18th, 2025 at 6:52 am
Zyon contract details. Another swing and miss by Licht…..
Length: 3 years (through 2028)
Total Value: $48 million
Guaranteed Money: $35.4 million
Signing: September 2025
Key Financials (Cash Flow):
2025: $2 million (fully guaranteed)
2026: $14.594 million (fully guaranteed)
2027: $15.406 million (partially guaranteed at signing, remainder guaranteed later)
2028: $16 million
Significance:
December 18th, 2025 at 9:32 am
So many clueless football folks here. CB is by far the hardest position for a rookie and they usually take a year or 2 to develop. See Brian Kelly..Ronde Barber, 2 good Bucs CBs who looked lost as rookies. I could only imagine the amount of clueless fans (actually I dont have to imagine, because I lived it) who called Kelly “toast” and Ronde a “wasted pick” after 1 year.
What a joke
December 18th, 2025 at 9:48 am
Adam
I’m with you why is a veteran like Hall not pulled up to shore up this secondary ?
He’s on the roster for a reason I presume.
December 18th, 2025 at 10:57 am
A healthy/refreshed Tykee should help this Sunday. Don’t know much about the Safety, Wisdom, other than what I saw of him in pre-season, which was pretty forgettable, he looked lost. Bryce Hall looked pretty bad in pre-season as well.
December 18th, 2025 at 12:44 pm
Fire up some Coker and Leggette in DFS. And Chubba and Uncle Rico will eat too in the pass game. Man we are a bad football team right now.