The NFL made some big changes in order to try and get things going with the 2020 regular season just around the corner. Most of these are surrounding players on the fringe of the roster.
Late-round draft picks and undrafted rookie signings won’t get a chance to lineup against another team, head-to-head, since the preseason was canceled. That’s if they even make it that far, some Bills players might get cut before training camp practices start. Teams will only be carrying 80 players instead of the usual 90 as well. Buffalo currently has 88. Yikes for some guys.
But on the flip side, all of these changes could help others actually make the roster. Here’s a few players on the Bills that could be helped out by these changes:
CB Josh Norman
It’s well known that cornerback Josh Norman signed for some bigger bucks than expected this offseason and he’s going to be tossed right into the first of the No. 2 cornerback battle. Norman will faceoff against incumbent Levi Wallace, but EJ Gaines could factor into that situation as well. All three have had varying degrees of success while Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott‘s defensive scheme was in place.
But without preseason, this whole battle is going to be behind closed doors. While Norman is included in that bunch who’ve had success in Buffalo’s defense, yes, there will be no clamor about him if he’s lost a step or two. There’s practices and then there’s games. Guys give effort in practice, of course, but under the lights of the preseason against different competition than you’re used to, could Norman’s age of 32 catch up with him?
For the Bills’ sake, hopefully not, but, we’re not going to find out until opening day. You hate to bring up this name, but the name is all you’ll need to know… Vontae Davis? Please, let us be wrong here.