The Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced an early challenge in the secondary when Jacob Parrish exited Sunday’s game against Cincinnati.
Parrish suffered a back sprain during the second quarter and did not return. Todd Bowles confirmed Monday that Parrish’s X-rays and MRI came back negative.
Losing a starting cornerback against Cincinnati’s receiving corps could have created major problems. Instead, Benjamin Morrison stepped into the lineup and gave Tampa Bay plenty of encouragement.
Morrison Took Advantage of His Opportunity
Morrison delivered a strong performance against one of the NFL’s most dangerous receiving groups.
The Bengals have Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase leading their receiving corps. Morrison didn’t look overwhelmed by the challenge.
The Buccaneers’ second-round pick finished with four tackles, including one tackle for loss. More importantly, he did not allow a single reception in coverage.
That performance helped Morrison establish himself as a legitimate option in Tampa Bay’s secondary. His play also gives the Buccaneers more confidence if Parrish misses additional time.
Morrison made several plays in the flat while using sound technique to limit yards after the catch. He consistently showed the ability to close space and prevent short plays from becoming bigger gains.
Morrison Showed Why Tampa Bay Drafted Him
Morrison’s performance also reflected many of the traits he displayed at Notre Dame.
He primarily played outside cornerback in Notre Dame’s base defense. He also occasionally moved inside to the slot.
Morrison showed an ability to mirror receivers and transition effectively into press-man coverage. His patience in off coverage also allowed him to stay disciplined while reading developing routes.
When receivers created separation, Morrison’s recovery speed allowed him to close the gap. He also attacked the catch point against Cincinnati.
Those traits translated immediately when Morrison received an expanded opportunity. That’s an encouraging development for a Buccaneers secondary that needs reliable depth.
Bowles Saw the Same Player
Morrison’s performance stood out enough for Bowles to recognize the player Tampa Bay saw coming out of college.
“It was great because he was healthy and it was great to see him play and not think about it,” said Bowles. “It was the guy that we saw coming out of college and he did some really good things on Sunday.”
That endorsement matters because Morrison didn’t simply fill Parrish’s snaps. He made an impact while facing an extremely difficult matchup.
Parrish’s injury remains something Tampa Bay will monitor. However, Morrison’s performance gives the Buccaneers another reason to feel confident about their cornerback depth.
The Buccaneers may have lost one cornerback during the opener. They also discovered they have another one capable of stepping up when needed.
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