Buccaneers High Draft Pick Has Alarming Problem

Tampa Bay Buccaneers second-year cornerback Benjamin Morrison continues to raise red flags about his durability as training camp progresses.

The 2025 second-round selection has now missed eight consecutive practices while dealing with a hamstring issue, leaving him sidelined and unable to compete for a meaningful role as the regular season approaches.

Injury concerns have followed Morrison since his college days and played a major role in his draft stock sliding out of the first round. He dealt with a quad injury in 2023, then underwent right shoulder surgery and recovered from a hip labral tear the following year.

Those setbacks kept a player with first-round talent available when the Buccaneers selected him. The front office hoped his talent would outweigh the medical risk, yet the early returns have not eased those worries.

During his rookie season Morrison already showed signs of fragility. Quad and hamstring problems limited him to just three starts and 360 snaps across the year.

He missed seven games in total and never consistently looked like the high-upside prospect the team envisioned. That limited sample made his second season critical for proving he could stay on the field and contribute at a higher level.

Instead, the same pattern has reemerged. With the regular season still five weeks away, Morrison has yet to participate in a single practice session of note. The prolonged absence has effectively closed the door on any realistic chance of becoming an every-down contributor this year.

Jacob Parrish has locked down a starting outside corner spot, and the team has options for the nickel role that do not rely on Morrison’s availability.

Fourth-round pick Keionte Scott, who has experience working in the slot, has been active throughout camp and has shown flashes that could earn him playing time.

If Morrison cannot return soon and build some continuity, his snap count is unlikely to exceed the modest totals from his first season. Two consecutive years of limited production would make it far easier for observers and the organization to view the selection as a disappointment.

The Buccaneers have already begun implementing contingency plans that reduce their dependence on him. By next year the burden of proof would rest entirely on Morrison to demonstrate he can remain healthy enough to fit into the defensive scheme.

The coming weeks of camp will largely determine whether Morrison can still carve out a role in Tampa Bay or whether the injury trend that has defined his young career continues to hold him back.