Buffalo Bills: 6 veterans impacted most with no preseason games

ORCHARD PARK, NY - NOVEMBER 03: Josh Norman #24 of the Washington Redskins warms up before the game against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on November 3, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. Buffalo defeats Washington 24-9. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY - NOVEMBER 03: Josh Norman #24 of the Washington Redskins warms up before the game against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on November 3, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. Buffalo defeats Washington 24-9. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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Buffalo Bills
ORCHARD PARK, NY – AUGUST 08: Harrison Phillips #99 of the Buffalo Bills walks the field before a preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at New Era Field on August 8, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

Harrison Phillips

Another player who likely would have benefited from a preseason game or two would have been defensive tackle Harrison Phillips. The former third round pick is entering his third season in the league and was off to a promising start last year.

The retirement of Kyle Williams after the 2018 season created an opportunity for Phillips and he was seizing it early on. He was playing at a high level and started to even surpass Star Lotulelei for snaps. However, he suffered a torn ACL against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3 and would be forced to miss the rest of the year.

Phillips is now part of a crowded defensive tackle room after the team added Quinton Jefferson and Vernon Butler this offseason. He will be fighting for snaps and the preseason would have been a great chance to prove to the coaching staff, as well as himself, that he is recovered and ready to move past the knee injury.

It will be interesting to see if he can prove this in practice and give the coaching staff confidence to give him a chance to regain the role he was carving out early last season.