Injuries have begun to pile up for the Buffalo Bills as they approach their preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday.
Head coach Sean McDermott announced a pair of injuries on Tuesday while speaking with the media prior to the final practice of 2019 training camp at St. John Fisher College; those being LaAdrian Waddle’s season-ending quad injury and E.J. Gaines’ groin injury. Waddle was placed on injured reserve, while Gaines, who missed the last two days of practice, is expected to miss “a number of weeks,” according to McDermott.
Levi Wallace appears to have secured the second-starting cornerback slot opposite of Tre'Davious White, and with Gaines’ injury, Kevin Johnson is pretty much the definite No. 3 cornerback.
However, Gaines’ injury could affect players lower on the depth chart as well.
“It’s an opportunity for some players that were behind E.J. to step up and show us what they got,” McDermott said. “I do like some of the possibilities with that group.”
While playing mostly on special teams in the past, Pitts is taking the increased workload in stride. As he enters his fifth NFL season and third with the Bills, Pitts is finding a way to manage all that’s been thrown at him over the last few days.
“I just have to balance things by taking it one day at a time and one play at a time,” is how Pitts said he's been handling things lately. “The coaches put me in, I have to go and perform at the best ability I can and just hopefully everything goes well. Like I said, just playing, doing what the coaches ask me to do, and just being a team player.”
As far as the cornerbacks group as a whole, Pitts said that they’re dealing with Gaines’ absence as best they can, and despite the injury, the group is still coming together fairly well.
“Things are coming along pretty well,” Pitts added. “We’re just trying to take it a day at a time. Trying to get better, just working on communication and coming together as a whole unit so we can put the best product out on the field.”
Opening kickoff for Thursday night’s game is set for 7 p.m. from New Era Field in Orchard Park.
You can listen to the game, along with pre-game and post-game coverage on the flagship station of the Buffalo Bills – WGR Sports Radio 550.