The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be without rookie cornerback Benjamin Morrison when they open the 2025 season on the road against the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday. The second-round pick has officially been ruled out with a minor soft-tissue injury, but head coach Todd Bowles made it clear that the team is playing the long game.
“If it were an important game, he’d be playing,” Bowles said Friday. “We’re just being smart with it. It’s a long season.”
Morrison, selected No. 49 overall in April’s NFL Draft out of Notre Dame, impressed throughout training camp and was positioning himself to earn early rotational snaps in the Buccaneers’ secondary. Though he was not expected to start, the team had plans to get him involved behind veteran corners Zyon McCollum and Jamel Dean. The injury, described as minor by team sources, occurred late in the preseason and does not appear to be serious. Morrison has remained engaged in meetings and walkthroughs, and his availability for Week 2 remains a possibility.
“He’s been everything we hoped for in a young player,” Bowles said. “He works hard, picks things up quickly, and competes every day. This is just about making sure he’s 100 percent.”
With Morrison sidelined, the Bucs will rely on their established starting duo of McCollum and Dean on the outside, with rookie Jacob Parrish manning the nickel corner spot. Second-year Tykee Smith, who transitioned full-time to safety this season, plays alongside All-Pro Antoine Winfield Jr. in the deep secondary. Additional cornerback depth will come from Josh Hayes and Kindle Vildor, who are both expected to be active on game day and may contribute on special teams or in dime packages.
Tampa Bay opens its season with a critical NFC South matchup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where the Falcons will have an inexperienced quarterback, Michael Penix Jr. The Buccaneers’ defense will look to pressure the young signal-caller and limit explosive plays.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Buccaneers’ Benjamin Morrison to miss Week 1 but set to return soon
Reporting by Ashlie Abrahams, Buccaneers Wire / Bucs Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
