Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550/WBEN) - With the final preseason game of the 2023 schedule coming up Saturday in Chicago, the question heading into the game was will the starters play against the Bears at Solider Field?
The answer, according to Bills head coach Sean McDermott, is yes.
"It's just what I feel like is best for the team right now," said McDermott on Thursday in Orchard Park. "Every preseason is a little bit different based on where guys are and where the team is, so they're going to play this week. I feel like it's best for where we're at right now."
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McDermott did not clarify how long the starters will play on Saturday.
Heading into the final week of the preseason, there are still a couple of key position battles that remain the focus of the coaching staff.
The more important position battle that continues to lie ahead is at middle linebacker. While Terrel Bernard has been injured and battling a hamstring injury since training camp in Rochester, no one has yet to grab the reins and take control of the starting position.
Despite Bernard remaining out of the action for the time being, McDermott is hoping this gives the others in the mix an extended chance to win the battle in Chicago.
"It gives those other players that are still available extra reps," McDermott said. "'T.B.' [Bernard] is doing all that he can get back as soon as he can, and he's getting as many mental reps as he can, which is important. Those other two guys, three guys with [Baylon] Spector mixed in there, as well, are getting valuable reps."
Although this competition doesn't appear to be anywhere close to being finalized ahead of the start of the regular season, McDermott is only focused on the day-by-day actions of the group.
"I think the important thing right now is where we're trying to go. I thought the middle linebackers, in particular, had a good day yesterday, and that's got to continue as we move forward," he said.
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Meanwhile, the battle for the second starting spot at cornerback opposite Tre'Davious White appears to be leaning, at this time, towards 2020 seventh-round pick Dane Jackson. He's started both preseason games prior to this week at the CB2 position, while Kaiir Elam and Christian Benford continue to battle behind.
"I would say it's how you'd expect teammates to handle it. They respect each other's position, they respect the competition that's unfolding, but they're also trying to help one another. Yet, at the same time, they all have their own things that they're working on that you see them work on either before practice or, in this case, after practice," McDermott said of the competition.
While his 2022 season was hampered by injuries that forced him to miss game action, McDermott has liked what he's seen out of Benford and how he may contribute to the secondary going forward.
"He's done some good things," he said. "He's very quiet, doesn't say a lot off the field. Here's a [sixth]-round pick from Villanova, and he just comes in and does his job. He's prepared, and he's done a good job to this point."
A handful of players did not take part during Thursday's practice in Orchard Park. This list included Bernard, guard Connor McGovern, quarterback Matt Barkley, wide receiver Khalil Shakir, running back Jordan Mims and linebacker Dorian Williams.
McGovern had left the practice field early on Wednesday with a knee injury, but never actually went into the locker room for further evaluation. McDermott is quite not sure of the timing for McGovern's absence from the field.
"We'll see how it goes," McDermott said. "Right now, it's too early to tell just how he's gonna come back from it. We'll see how he does here."
Hear more from McDermott's meeting with the media available in the player below: