This year, the Buffalo Bills have been running a new defensive scheme under first-year defensive coordinator and former Bills safety Jim Leonhard. So far, it's been a blend of both positive and negative results.
One big issue that needs immediate attention is at linebacker. They need some additional depth right now, as they boast the NFL's 30th-ranked defense. They are also 28th out of 32 in points per game, giving up 28.2 points.
It may be time to look to the team's practice squad for additional help, giving the linebacker corps the support they need to address the issues they face.
Could activiting Shaq Thompson from practice squad help defense?
Yes, it absolutely could. While the current Bills linebacking corps is still bigger and better than it was last year under Sean McDermott, Shaq Thompson was the one constant. He has shown that with his 6-foot, 230-pound frame, he can be a hard-hitting linebacker in either a 4-3 or a 3-4-based defense.
Plus, in the past with Carolina, Thompson played in a 3-4 under Steve Wilkes, who was the defensive coordinator at the time. And a 3-4 base defense requires bigger, physical linebackers who can stop the run and drop back into coverage. Leonhard's version of the 3-4 can work with Thompson, as he is a linebacker who can help stop the run.
Who he could replace?
While Dorian Williams and Terrel Bernard have played well, Bernard has been struggling to play at 100%. Kaleb Elarms-Orr has been getting more reps in his rookie season. Williams has continued to be a tackling machine with his 6-foot-1, 228-pound frame and 4.49 speed.
That would leave Bernard as the odd man out, which means Thompson could play alongside Elarms-Orr and/or Williams.
Shaq Thompson should be ready to play
The Bills added Thompson back to the team as a practice squad edition this past summer.
The 32-year-old needed to sit back and watch how Leonhard's 3-4 scheme operates. Last year, the Bills ran a 4-3, and Thompson played 12 games in that scheme, which ended up being Sean McDermott's last season; the process ended after 9 seasons.
Facts about Shaq Thompson
Drafted in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft, Thompson spent his first 10 years in the league with the Carolina Panthers, with the first two under McDermott as defensive coordinator. He has played in 135 career regular-season games and has started in 118 of those games.
The Bills primarily signed Thompson to strengthen their small linebacker depth before the start of the 2025 season. He then strengthened their defense by playing in 12 games and he started in 6 of them. In reality, Thompson was without a doubt the Bills' premier defensive player most of the time and came through in the postseason.
As he started in both playoff contests, Thompson tallied 13 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, and one interception.
While all the coaches and players like and respect Thompson and his intense, physical play, now is the time to activate the gritty linebacker.
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