6 key takeaways from the Buffalo Bills depth chart for Week 1

Terrel Bernard listed as a “starter” at linebacker

The Buffalo Bills had Terrel Bernard listed as the starting strongside linebacker alongside Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano. However, the Bills typically don’t have three linebackers on the field at the same time as a majority of their defensive snaps are in nickel.

While Bernard won’t be on the field a majority of the time, he appears to have earned a pivotal role for this defense as he looks to be the replacement for A.J. Klein, who was released this offseason. Over the past few years, Klein has been the player to step in when Matt Milano has missed snaps and when the Bills do play bigger up front in their 4-3 he was on the field.

Terrel Bernard is a smaller linebacker but has good athleticism that should give Buffalo some versatility at the position. The Bills no longer will have to rely on Milano exclusively to be the linebacker dropping into coverage against tight ends and can look to Bernard to help in those situations.