Jacob Parrish Faces Massive Test Against Bengals

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive Back Jacob Parrish is about to discover just how much his move the to outside will be tested.

The Buccaneers travel to Cincinnati on Sunday for a matchup featuring two of the NFL’s most dangerous receivers. Ja’Marr Chase presents an enormous challenge, while Tee Higgins brings the size and physicality to create another problem.

For Parrish, this could be the biggest test of his young career.

Parrish’s Move Outside Faces Its Biggest Challenge

Parrish has impressed since Tampa Bay selected him in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. However, his rookie season primarily came in the slot.

The Buccaneers are now asking Parrish to handle more responsibilities on the outside. He played outside in college, but the NFL presented different challenges because of his size.

Parrish stands just under 5-foot-10 and has 30 7/8-inch arms. Higgins, meanwhile, stands 6-foot-4 with 34-inch arms.

That creates a significant physical difference between Parrish and one of the receivers he could see Sunday. Chase presents a different challenge with his combination of explosiveness, route running and versatility.

Chase and Higgins Can Create Problems Anywhere

Chase enters Sunday’s matchup as one of the most difficult receivers in football to defend.

He produced 1,412 receiving yards last season. That number represented a drop from his 1,708-yard performance the previous year.

What makes Chase particularly difficult is how Cincinnati deploys him. He can line up across the formation, preventing defenses from simply preparing for him in one location.

According to PFF, Chase played 390 snaps on the left side last season. He also played 270 snaps on the right side and 316 snaps from the slot.

That versatility could force both Tampa Bay cornerbacks to deal with him throughout Sunday’s game.

Buccaneers Won’t Simply Follow Chase

The Buccaneers typically don’t have their cornerbacks follow receivers around the formation.

Todd Bowles relies heavily on zone coverage, meaning Tampa Bay’s corners generally remain responsible for their assigned areas. That approach could put Parrish in Chase’s path at different points throughout the afternoon.

Bowles understands the talent Cincinnati possesses. Still, his message to the Buccaneers has been straightforward.

“We have to play our game,” said Bowles. “We can’t get so caught up in who they are as opposed to worrying about executing our scheme.”

That approach will be especially important for Parrish.

Bowles Believes Parrish Can Handle It

The Buccaneers aren’t entering the matchup without confidence in their cornerbacks.

Bowles specifically pointed to the strengths of both Parrish and Zyon McCollum when discussing Cincinnati’s receiving duo.

“Zyon and Parrish have strengths as well,” Bowles noted.

That confidence matters for Parrish as he prepares for a dramatically different challenge on the outside.

McCollum also enters the matchup with plenty to prove after signing a three-year, $48 million extension. The Buccaneers expected him to become more impactful, but injuries limited his effectiveness last season.

Now, Tampa Bay needs both corners to deliver against Cincinnati’s receiving talent.

Higgins Could Present the Bigger Physical Challenge

Chase may receive most of the attention, but Higgins could create an especially interesting matchup for Parrish.

Higgins’ 6-foot-4 frame and 34-inch arms give him a substantial physical advantage. Parrish’s smaller frame means he cannot afford to allow Higgins easy positioning at the catch point.

That makes technique, positioning and discipline especially important. Parrish will need to compete without allowing the size difference to dictate the matchup.

Sunday Could Define Parrish’s Next Step

Parrish has already shown the Buccaneers enough to earn an opportunity on the outside. Now, he gets an immediate chance to prove that decision was justified.

Facing Chase and Higgins is about as difficult as it gets for a young cornerback. Doing it while transitioning from the slot only increases the challenge.

Bowles believes Parrish has the ability to handle it. Sunday will provide the first major opportunity to show whether that confidence was warranted.