Is Harrison Phillips fighting for a roster spot with the Buffalo Bills this training camp?
In the first NFL Draft for Brandon Beane as the Buffalo Bills general manager, he used a third round pick on Harrison Phillips out of the University of Stanford. The hope was that he could be a key part of the rotation at defensive tackle with players like Star Lotulelei.
He had shown flashes as a rookie but looked like he was on his way to a breakout season in his second year with the Bills. However, that season was cut short due to a torn ACL in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Phillips returned last season and would end up playing 12 games but didn’t look like the same player. He was actually a healthy scratch during three games in the middle of the season.
The former third round pick is now entering his final year on his rookie contract and there is a possibility that Phillips doesn’t make the Buffalo Bills 53-man roster with the depth the team has along the defensive line.
Profile
Position: Defensive Tackle
Age: 25
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 307 pounds
Years of Experience: 4
2020 Stats
This past season, Harrison Phillips played in 12 games (three starts) and had 18 total tackles, four QB hits, and one fumble recovery.
Expectations for the 2021 season with the Buffalo Bills
Harrison Phillips is a player that certainly has a wide range of outcomes during training camp. Based on what he showed in 2019, he has the potential to be a key part of this defense and rotate frequently with Star Lotulelei as the one-tech.
There is also the question of how much the knee and him coming back from his serious injury in 2019 impacted his play last year. It isn’t surprising to hear players it wasn’t until the second season after the injury that they felt fully recovered.
However, if Harrison Phillips doesn’t show enough in training camp and preseason, the Buffalo Bills may elect to cut Phillips. He is entering the final year of his contract and the Bills have some other players they may want to keep on the 53-man roster. There is no question this is a pivotal training camp for Harrison Phillips with the Buffalo Bills.