The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 2025 season has been defined by injuries through five weeks.
Tampa Bay has battled key absences at just about every position but has persevered to a 4-1 record, tied for the best in the NFL.
The offensive line has been the biggest storyline so far, with Tristan Wirfs missing the first few games, Cody Mauch out for the season with a knee injury, and Luke Goedeke sidelined for a few weeks with a foot issue. The team opened the year with a makeshift line featuring four of five starters either as backups or playing out of position.
But now, a new position group might be taking over as Tampa Bay’s most embattled unit. After a 2024 campaign in which the secondary was decimated by injuries, history appears to be repeating itself.
Jamel Dean, who had been playing some of the best football of his career, exited the Week 4 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles with a groin injury. Rookie standout Benjamin Morrison is dealing with a hamstring issue, while versatile defensive back Christian Izien missed the start of the season with an oblique injury suffered in the offseason, but injured his quad upon returning to action and has found himself back on the sideline.
The Buccaneers faced the explosive Seattle Seahawks offense in Week 4 with Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish as their only healthy cornerbacks. Parrish, typically the nickel corner, was forced to step outside for the first time in his professional career.
Now, as Tampa Bay prepares for a pivotal Week 6 showdown with the 4-1 San Francisco 49ers in a matchup that could shape the NFC playoff race, the cornerback room has taken yet another hit.
Zyon McCollum adds to Buccaneers’ growing list of injuries
According to Fox Sports’ Greg Auman, Zyon McCollum was sidelined for Wednesday’s practice and was spotted wearing a sling on his arm.
Bucs secondary had 3 full games together, which might be a record in my time covering the team https://t.co/AGbPdgllOf
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) October 8, 2025
Head coach Todd Bowles told reporters that McCollum underwent a thumb procedure this week and will have a chance to play Sunday, depending on his pain tolerance.
McCollum apparently suffered the injury prior to last week’s game against Seattle but managed to battle through and play the entire game. The hope is that he can once again gut it out for a key matchup against San Francisco.
The Buccaneers simply can’t afford more injuries in the secondary after surrendering a season-high 35 points to the Seahawks. If McCollum is unable to go and Dean remains sidelined, Tampa Bay would be without both of its starting outside cornerbacks.
Fortunately for the Bucs, Bowles said Dean is “in play” for this weekend. Morrison remains unlikely to return, but getting Dean back would provide a much-needed boost to the depleted defensive backfield.
Given how this season has gone, the Buccaneers might want to consider wrapping their starters in bubble wrap. Injuries have been a defining theme of 2025, and Tampa Bay will need all hands on deck if it hopes to reach its potential and make a legitimate Super Bowl run, which this roster is more than capable of doing when healthy.