For the second straight practice, rookie Cody Ford was the Buffalo Bills’ starting right tackle.
The right tackle position for the Buffalo Bills was supposed to be one of the more heated training camp battles this year. However, the battle may be over before it really got started as Cody Ford was the team’s starting right tackle for the second straight practice.
According to Sal Capaccio, Ford was joined by Dion Dawkins (LT), Quinton Spain (LG), Mitch Morse (C) and Spencer Long (RG). The addition of Long replacing Jon Feliciano at right guard was the only change from yesterday’s practice.
Ford, who was drafted in the second round out of the University of Oklahoma, is off to a fast start for his NFL career. The fact that he has remained the team’s starting right tackle for the first two practices is significant.
The coaching staff is showing a great deal of confidence in playing him there over free agent signing Ty Nsekhe, who was with the second-team at left tackle during the second practice.
While Ford continues to see work at right tackle, there is a chance that is where he may not stay the entire season. Prior to the second practice, Sean McDermott talked about Ford’s versatility and his potential at right guard.
"“There is thought to his position flexibility,” said McDermott. “With young players you just have to watch how much you put on them early, just so they can get comfortable at one position and then we’ll see where it goes from there.”"
However, this certainly feels like a fallback option and is not what the coaching staff envision for the rookie this year.
If Ford earns the starting right tackle job, it will give the position depth that it hasn’t had in a long time by bumping Nsekhe down the depth chart. This could also free up Nsekhe to push Dion Dawkins for the starting left tackle position, who is coming off a sub-par season in 2018.