By Benjamin Morrison Returns to 11-on-11 Work as Buccaneers Secondary Gets Healthier; Vita Vea Ready to Move Forward
TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ final practice before Saturday night’s preseason matchup with Kansas City was lighter than some of the more physical sessions of training camp, but Thursday still delivered plenty of news.
Benjamin Morrison returned to 11-on-11 work, and Zyon McCollum continued to look sharp.
Perhaps most important for the big picture, the Vita Vea contract saga finally appears to be over.
For a Buccaneers team trying to get healthy and get its defense settled before the regular season, that’s a pretty productive day.
Benjamin Morrison takes an important step
Morrison’s return to team drills was arguably the most encouraging development on the practice field.
The second-year cornerback has battled a hamstring injury that limited him during the offseason and training camp.
On Thursday, he returned to 11-on-11 periods. Head coach Todd Bowles said Morrison remains day-to-day as the Bucs gradually increase his workload.
For Morrison, simply being back on the field carried some emotion.
“You just appreciate it even more when you come back.” Morrison Said.
Morrison acknowledged the frustration of missing time, saying the experience has changed his perspective and helped build character.
That’s important for Tampa Bay because Morrison showed enough as a rookie to make his healthy return worth watching.
He played 359 defensive snaps in 2025, finishing with 26 tackles, four passes defensed, two tackles for loss and a fumble recovery.
Now comes the next test.
Bowles said Thursday that Morrison and McCollum could play Saturday against the Chiefs, depending on how they come through the rest of the week.
For Bucs fans, getting those two healthy could change the look of a secondary that has also seen Ayden Garnes emerge as one of training camp’s biggest surprises.
Zyon McCollum wastes little time
McCollum looked like one of Tampa Bay’s best defenders Thursday.
He broke up a deep Baker Mayfield pass intended for Tez Johnson and later diagnosed a screen to Johnson almost immediately, putting himself in position for what likely would have been a tackle for loss had the practice been played with full tackling.
Those aren’t spectacular box-score plays, but they’re the type of reps you want to see from an experienced corner this close to the season.
If McCollum is healthy and Morrison can stay on the field, Bowles suddenly has some intriguing options in the secondary.
And after the defensive struggles the Buccaneers endured at times last season, nobody around here is going to complain about having too many capable defensive backs.
Vita Vea: “I want to be a Buc for life”
The biggest news surrounding the Buccaneers this week came away from Thursday’s practice.
Vita Vea and the Bucs resolved their contract dispute with a deal that keeps the defensive tackle under contract through 2027.
Tampa Bay’s announcement describes the agreement as a two-year extension.
Vea had reportedly requested a trade during the process, but Thursday he made it clear that leaving Tampa Bay was never what he ultimately wanted.
“I always wanted to be a Buc, and I want to be a Buc for life.”
Vea said the negotiations had their difficult moments, but both sides ultimately found common ground.
More importantly, he described Tampa as far more than the city where he plays football.
“I made Tampa my home. I love it here.”
Vea pointed to his teammates as family and said being traded and starting over somewhere else was “never the end goal for me.”
Vea has been a Buccaneer since Tampa Bay selected him 12th overall in 2018. He’s been part of the Super Bowl championship, four division titles and five playoff appearances since 2020.
He has 35 career sacks, remarkable production for a nose tackle who routinely occupies multiple blockers.
But Vea’s strongest comments Thursday weren’t about money. They were about Tampa.
“Home is where the heart is, and I feel like my heart is in Tampa,” Vea said.
That’s the quote Buccaneers fans should remember from what became an uncomfortable few weeks.
Vea strongly backs Todd Bowles
Vea also delivered a forceful defense of Bowles.
The veteran defensive tackle put responsibility for last season’s shortcomings on the players’ execution rather than Bowles’ scheme, saying the coach consistently put the defense in position to succeed.
Vea’s public backing of Bowles was especially notable given the scrutiny surrounding Bowles entering 2026.
Bowles, meanwhile, isn’t rushing Vea back simply because the contract is finished.
The plan is for Vea to begin ramping up next week.
He is not expected to play in the preseason finale at Jacksonville, with Tampa Bay targeting the Sept. 13 regular-season opener at Cincinnati.
Vea believes he’s physically ready. “I feel great.”
He noted that after nine NFL seasons, he understands what he needs to do to prepare and said he’s remained in good shape throughout the process.
This wasn’t a player sitting at home disconnected from the team. Vea stayed around the organization during the dispute, and now the Bucs can move forward without the biggest cloud hanging over their training camp.
Injuries remain a concern
Thursday wasn’t entirely positive.
Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Cade Otton, Ben Chukwuma, Christian Rozeboom, Justin Skule, Chris Braswell and SirVocea Dennis were among the players sidelined.
The receiver situation remains particularly important with Saturday approaching.
Injuries have opened additional opportunities for players such as Ted Hurst III and Tez Johnson, making the Chiefs game another significant evaluation game for Tampa Bay’s younger receivers.
But Thursday also offered reasons for optimism on defense.
Morrison is back in team drills. McCollum looked healthy and active. And Vea’s contract dispute is finished.
For a Buccaneers defense that needs to be better in 2026, that’s a pretty good Thursday in Tampa.
