While head coach Sean McDermott made it clear that Josh Allen would not play in the Buffalo Bills’ first preseason game, it remains unclear about what other starters might be on the field. In my opinion, the team really shouldn’t put players like Von Miller, Tremaine Edmunds, Matt Milano, or Micah Hyde on the field as these players are experienced and don’t need the extra reps.
However, there are a number of players who the Buffalo Bills should try to get on the field Saturday in the first preseason game that could play pivotal roles in this defense this season.
The extra reps would be valuable but also because the Colts have given the coaching staff a great opportunity to evaluate some players against starters. The Colts are expected to play Matt Ryan and a number of their starters at least some on Saturday.
With that in mind, these are five players on defense to pay extra attention to in the Buffalo Bills first preseason game.
Shaq Lawson
The Buffalo Bills brought back defensive end Shaq Lawson this offseason after he left the team after the 2019 season in free agency. The former first round pick by the Bills had a career year in his final season with Buffalo but hasn’t been able to match that level of production since with his stops with the Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans, and New York Jets.
At this point, Lawson is probably more of a depth player than a starter but in this defense, that means he could have a role this season. The Bills rotate regularly at the position and it isn’t uncommon to see four or five defensive ends get snaps over the course of a game.
However, Lawson was a player that didn’t generate much buzz during training camp. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it will be interesting to see how he does in the preseason against the Colts and if he has an impact in the game.