Bills position battles settled, injury list short: What McDermott said at press conference
ORCHARD PARK - Sean McDermott didn’t play his cards close to the vest as he often does when it comes to announcing roster decisions. He was asked three direct questions Wednesday afternoon, and he did not hesitate in his replies.
Terrell Bernard at middle linebacker, Christian Benford at cornerback, and O’Cyrus Torrence at right guard. All will start Monday night’s season opener in New York against the Jets, having won competitions that extended back to the very start of OTAs.
Most surprising was Bernard beating out Tyrel Dodson, not because Dodson outperformed him but because Bernard missed the entire preseason with a hamstring injury. Still, despite no exposure in live game situations, Bernard gets the nod.
Sign up for the Bills Blast newsletter Delivered straight to your inbox, additional Bills analysis, insight, stats, quotes and team history from Sal Maiorana
“We thought he did some good things when he was healthy and available,” McDermott said. “And unfortunately that situation, that competition got cut a little bit short due to an injury. We’re confident in TB and I’m excited to watch him play.”
Benford, the sixth-round draft pick in 2022, once again beat out Dane Jackson and 2022 first-round pick Kaiir Elam for a Week 1 start. It was clear by the end of the preseason that Benford was getting more reps with the 1’s and that Elam may be the third man at the position which, for a first-round pick, is not an ideal situation.
“Again, over the course of spring and training camp, he was on his assignments,” McDermott said. “I think he contested balls and made some interceptions, made some plays on balls as well.”
And with Torrence, there was really never a doubt. He started all three preseason games ahead of Bates and the Bills want Bates to be their primary backup at the three interior positions.
“I’ll start with Ryan, he’s really good football player,” McDermott said. “There was nothing Ryan didn’t do, it was more just Cy-Bo coming in as a young player and again, taking it one play at a time and I think a workmanlike approach to his game early on in spring and then in training camp. I thought he handled himself well. And just like Christian, TB and now Cy-Bo, they’re all young players that are a little bit inexperienced at this point, but we’re confident in them.”
Here are a few other highlights from McDermott’s presser:
Buffalo Bills injury report, as you would expect, is short
The only player McDermott mentioned was safety Micah Hyde who, over the past few days, has been dealing with a sore back. Everyone else was termed ready to go with the exception of Von Miller who will be on the physically unable to perform list for at least the first four games of the season.
Hyde is coming back after missing all but two games last season with a severe neck injury and his return is vital for a Bills defense that missed him in 2022. If he can’t play, it would seem that free agent Taylor Rapp would step in.
More: Will Spectrum blackout of ESPN affect your Bills vs. Jets game viewing?
AFC East division rival NY Jets have new wrinkles
The Jets have a new quarterback in Aaron Rodgers and a new offensive coordinator in Nathaniel Hackett, and they added a new running back in Dalvin Cook to join forces with 2022 rookie Breece Hall. McDermott said this has obviously created a little more studying for his staff.
“There’s some unknowns because there’s not a whole lot on film of Aaron with with coach Hackett,” said McDermott, though there is history there as Rodgers and Hackett were together three years in Green Bay. “They’ve both been around each other but never in the two seats they currently occupy with the OC and the quarterback.
“So it’s been a little bit of a challenge for us in terms of trying to find what we should watch and how long we should watch it. So just trying to be fundamentally sound on what we do and know that we’re up for a big challenge.”
Buffalo Bills know they’re on a big stage on Monday Night Football
Not only is this game the kickoff for Monday Night Football, it’s being played in the New York City region on the 22nd anniversary of 9/11. McDermott knows his team will be in an emotional cauldron at MetLife Stadium.
“We have a lot of respect, certainly for the Jets and their coaching staff, and it’ll be pretty special to memorialize the 9/11 situation and remember all the people that gave their lives for this country,” McDermott said. “And so to be on the field in New York City on 9/11, I think is special regardless of if it’s Monday night or whenever it is. And so we’re very grateful for that opportunity.”
Sal Maiorana can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @salmaiorana and on Threads @salmaiorana1. To subscribe to Sal's newsletter, Bills Blast, which will come out every Friday during training camp, please follow this link: https://profile.democratandchronicle.com/newsletters/bills-blast
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills news: Injury report short, starters at key spots named
