The Tampa Bay Buccaneers
received some encouraging news Monday after losing starting cornerback Jacob Parrish during their 33-27 season opening loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Todd Bowles said Parrish suffered a back sprain, but both his X-rays and MRI came back negative. Parrish is dealing with soreness following the injury, making his status something to watch as the Bucs prepare for their Week 2 home opener against the Cleveland Browns.Considering how Parrish left Sunday's game, avoiding a more serious injury is a positive development for a Tampa Bay secondary that is already relying heavily on young players. Parrish suffered the injury during the second quarter while making a tackle on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. He initially walked off
the field with trainers and was listed as questionable to return before eventually being ruled out for the remainder of the game. Before leaving, Parrish had played just 20 defensive snaps. His absence forced Benjamin Morrison into a larger role, and the second-year corner responded well after being called upon.
Tampa Bay entered the season with Parrish starting on the outside opposite Zyon McCollum after he spent much of his rookie year working from the slot. The Bucs believe his coverage ability and versatility can make him an important piece of Todd Bowles' defense, especially because Parrish can move back inside when Tampa Bay changes personnel. Morrison would be the most obvious candidate for additional snaps after replacing Parrish against Cincinnati. The Bucs also have young corners Ayden Garnes, Keionte Scott, and Kevin Knowles available, and could also bring up Sean Murphy-Bunting from the practice squad. Parrish's availability against Cleveland will become clearer as the practice week progresses, but negative X-rays and MRI results give the Bucs reason to be optimistic that his absence won't be long-term.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Jacob Parrish injury update
