After a brutal schedule to start the season, things are getting a bit easier for the Buffalo Bills. They are set to face a 2-7 New York Jets team in Week 10.
The Bills should never overlook any team, but there's no reason they shouldn't dismantle the Jets. Buffalo wasn't super active at the trade deadline, but they did pull off a deal to add Tennessee Titans safety Amani Hooker.
He is currently tied for the NFL lead with five interceptions and should be an immediate boost to one of the league's worst passing defenses. However, is the plan for him to play in Week 10 against the Jets?
Hooker wants to play vs. Jets
The Bills recently released C.J. Gardner-Johnson, so they need a starting safety as soon as possible. It would be a very quick turnaround for Hooker to play in Week 10, but it sounds like he's ready to go.
“Oh, I’m gonna play on Sunday. Yeah. I’ll be ready to go," Hooker told reporters, via The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia.
Since he's eager to play, it wouldn't make much sense to keep him off the field unless the Bills think he needs more time to learn the system. Buffalo isn't really doing much right on defense anyway, so it can't hurt to play him, even if it's in a limited role.
Now, the Jets aren't the stiffest competition, so the Bills could favor waiting to play him. At the same time, it wouldn't be a bad idea to get him playing time against one of the weaker teams in the division. The Bills also play the lowly Miami Dolphins in Week 11, so that could be a good time to give Hooker his first start.
What's most likely is that the Bills give Hooker a bit of run against the Jets, but don't give him every snap. Then he can ramp up more against the Dolphins, which will set him up to be fully integrated for the big game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 12.
With the Bills sitting at 7-1, they are in the driver's seat as the top team in the AFC, and once Hooker gets more adjsuted to the scheme and the team, the Bills are set up for instant success.
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