Just when we all think the Bucs might slightly be on the mend with their injuries, another issue comes about. Tampa Bay once again had a walk through practice on Wednesday because of all of their injured players. While typically not much can be determined based on who is in and who is out because nobody is wearing equipment, one thing was obvious.

A starter who hast yet to miss a game this season was seen in a sling. And that player was…cornerback Zyon McCollum. Surely Bucs fans must be thinking right now, “Are you kidding me?” Unfortunately, it is true.

McCollum had the sling on his left arm while standing on the sideline at practice. He had been on last week’s injury report with a thumb injury but played the entire game against the Seahawks and was legitimately in on every snap.

Bucs CB Zyon McCollum and Eagles WR AJ Brown – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“He got a thumb procedure done,” head coach Todd Bowles said of McCollum. “We’ll see how he feels towards the end of the week. It’ll be touch and go. We’ll see what his pain level is and that’s what it’ll depend on it.”

What’s crazy is that this procedure happened last week and McCollum played through it.

“It actually happened a week ago,” Bowles said. “They taped him up and casted it up.”

Bucs Are In Dire Straights At Corner

Part of the big concern over this new injury with McCollum other than that he’s the team’s top corner is that the Bucs are already banged up at the position. Cornerbacks Jamel Dean (Hip) and Benjamin Morrison (Hamstring) were each out last game and their status isn’t known yet for Week 6 at home against the 49ers.

It can’t be ruled out about McCollum just yet either, but the Bucs could be in a nightmare scenario where they’re looking at being without their top three corners on the roster. Tampa Bay does have solutions though. Based on what Bowles said today, Dean has a chance to play Sunday but Morrison looks like he’ll be out once again.

“Dean is in play,” Bowles said. “We’ll see what he does tomorrow, but he’s in play. Morrison I haven’t seen enough of yet.”

Last game with Dean and Morrison out, they moved rookie third round pick Jacob Parrish to the outside and then would put him back to his nickel position on third downs or when the right personnel package called for it. When that was the case, veteran Kindle Vildor would go to the outside.

Bucs DT Vita Vea and NCB Jacob Parrish – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs do have corner Josh Hayes on the roster that they can play on the outside, although he struggled heavily in that area last season when more injuries went on and he needed to play more. Hayes is better suited as a special teams player and did a good job the previous game downing the ball at the 1-yard line on a punt.

This might be where we see the season debut of Bryce Hall, who’s been on Tampa Bay’s practice squad all season long. Hall might be even better equipped to play on the outside over Vildor and certainly Hayes, but it depends on who’s available.

It’s certainly possible that McCollum, Dean or Morrison could end up playing this Sunday. Another factor even if they don’t go is potentially the return  of Christian Izien, who’s only played a full game in Week 2 and exited early in Week 3. If Izien can find a way to return, he can be utilized on the slot and that can keep Morrison on the outside with Vildor or Hall at the other.

Bucs DBs Jacob Parrish and Christian Izien Photo by: USA Today

We’ll see how the week progresses with the injuries to all the aforementioned players. The Bucs have been injured all season so it’s not exactly new them but not exactly the situation they want to be in either.