3 players the Buffalo Bills must rely on more in 2022
Dane Jackson
With uncertainty around the return from injury of Tre’Davious White, there is significant pressure on Dane Jackson. Not only will he likely be starting come Week 1, but he also will be battling rookie first-round pick Kaiir Elam for the starting job across White once he returns. White’s return is still uncertain, but this will at least give you a timeline of when we could see the All-Pro return to the lineup.
Jackson will likely start for at least the first six weeks of the season, meaning he will face potent offenses of the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens, and the new-look Miami Dolphins.
While rookie Kaiir Elam will be cut some slack if his performance is not up to par because he is a rookie, Jackson does not have that luxury. Jackson needs to perform better than in 2021 when he registered a 58.5 PFF grade.
Jackson has shown flashes of solid zone coverage skills and the ability to create turnovers in the past. The next step for Jackson is building his game around consistency. The Bills will rely heavily on Jackson with White’s injury. Jackson’s performance could impact how successful the Bills defense will be early on in the season.