The Bucs have invested significant resources into their secondary this year. But it may be one of their smaller investments that may pay some of the biggest dividends. Last year Bryce Hall was supposed to be a steady veteran hand to help backstop the cornerback depth after the team traded away Carlton Davis III to open a starting spot for Zyon McCollum.

Hall brought experience and upside to the position room and was set to be the first man up if either McCollum or Jamel Dean had to miss any time. What he and the Bucs didn’t expect was how quickly he would be leaned on. And they definitely did not expect for him to suffer his own devastating injury that would knock him out for the year before the first game of the season even concluded.

Bucs CB Bryce Hall – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

After Zyon McCollum had to leave the Bucs’ Week 1 matchup against the Commanders, Hall stepped in. He was playing relatively well until he also suffered an injury, dislocating his ankle and fracturing his fibula. He left the field in an air cast and was placed on injured reserve shortly thereafter.

The Long Road Back

Attacking rehab from a major injury is a different animal than thriving in the daily grind of NFL life. It is a longer road with more nebulous milestones. Where the active league is a week-to-week affair regarding injuries, rehabilitation goals for serious injuries may not be seen for several weeks or even months. It requires a different type of mental fortitude and discipline to successfully recover.

“Yeah, absolutely, I 100% agree,” Hall said when asked about whether there is a difference in the two mentalities. “Going through this type of injury, I realize the mental part, and the spiritual and visual part, is probably the most important part. Even more so than just the physical. The day-to-day, the rehab. I think I really leaned upon that side of being able to see myself getting better. Not just going to rehab and going through the motions.

“But to be able to see myself back out on that field, back out making plays – seeing my body being strong and healthy and really coming into alignment with that belief, I feel like through my faith and understanding I believe that anything is possible with God. And if he’s called me to this, there is nothing that is too hard, too far. I’m just coming into agreement with what he says, and what is possible. So, that approach for me was everything.”

Hall continued to detail his rehab and recovery process.

“I did approach the rehab, obviously, with intention, but that part was just as important,” Hall said. “And I think it helps with the healing process. Because if you are in a place of being down, negative. I think that affects your body in a certain way. But if you come to work joyful, not allowing those situations to dictate you, but seeing the vision, seeing the bigger picture, I think all of that translates to you coming out. It affects your body in that way. I don’t know all the science and all that other stuff, but I just think that seems right to me.”

In addition to his faith, Hall had help from a teammate. Less than two months later, Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. suffered a similarly devastating injury.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: USA Today

“We talk all the time, especially early on during the rehab process [when] we were in there together,” Hall said. “He has such a great mindset, great perspective, and I think that is what carries him. We are rooting for each other. Whenever he sees me out here, he is dapping me up, we are talking, and I am going to be just as excited when he is back out here making plays.

“You kind of have a special connection with guys when you have a similar journey, in a similar path. I think Chris [Godwin Jr.] is doing everything he needs to do – I am not even worried about him when he gets back out here, he is going to crush it. Just his mindset, his perspective, his approach to everything – there is no coincidence he has had the career he has had.”

Bryce Hall Provides Bucs With Unique Depth

For all the fanfare rookies Jacob Parrish and Benjamin Morrison have received this offseason – bolstering the back end of the Bucs’ cornerback depth chart – they are still entering their first year at a position that notoriously requires a steep learning curve. The Eagles found an exception to the rule last year in Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell. Most rookies struggle out of the gate.

Where Morrison and Parrish lack experience, Hall provides it. With almost 1,900 regular season snaps Hall provides similar experience as fellow veteran Kindle Vildor, just with a better track record of success. Hall’s career yards per coverage snap of 0.98 and quarterback rating allowed of 99.6 are both better than Vildor’s 1.19 and 12.1, respectively. The two veteran reserves are essentially battling for one roster spot, though.

It makes sense that the Bucs should have a good mix of veterans and young players alike. While Hall may not have the upside he once did, he will help improve the communication on the back end if pressed into service.

While he may be the forgotten man amidst a flurry of exciting moves, it was just a year ago that Hall was the exciting addition to the Bucs defensive backfield that would provide depth while also pushing Zyon McCollum to become an above average starter. If fully healed from his 2024 injuries, all of those factors remain in play.