The Buffalo Bills offensive line has been a unit that’s been turned on its head in recent weeks after a big injury to Jon Feliciano. Last season Feliciano started every game for the Bills at right guard, but it was announced that he suffered a chest injury which will keep him out for an extended period.
Currently it doesn’t seem like a likely move, but could second-year pro Cody Ford be moved from tackle to guard to help fill in for Feliciano? Chatting to the Buffalo News, Ford gave the answer many would expect of a player that was drafted by Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane. Simply put: Yes.
“I’m good with whatever the team needs,” Ford told the BN. “I’ve never been a ‘me’ guy before, so I’m not going to be a ‘me’ guy now. If they need me to play inside, I’ll play inside.”
Moving Ford’s position was one of the first ideas that likely popped in the minds of many observers of the team when Feliciano’s injury was announced. That’s because prior to the 2019 NFL Draft, where the Bills traded up for Ford in the second round, many analysts pegged the Oklahoma product as a better guard than tackle in the pros. It’s not an uncommon move for offensive lineman to make. However, the Bills front office has continued to push Ford’s play to the right tackle spot. At times, he’s been spotty there, but did see extended playing time there when veteran Ty Nsekehe went down with an ankle injury last season. The two had been splitting playing time there prior to that, but Ford also dealt with a few injuries as a rookie himself.
But only hours after Feliciano’s injury, reports surfaced that the Bills had signed Brian Winters. The former Jet played Feliciano’s position over the course of his seven-year career. While Winters does have to earn that role, as McDermott claimed it’s “next man up,” he does appear to be the front-runner. In putting Winters there, it’d also allow the Bills to keep Ford at tackle as well.
Health is never a given, though. Many things could still happen between now and the end of the upcoming season. But as far as we know, if needed, Ford will be open to the move to guard if the Bills need it. For right now, Winters will have to battle guys such as Evan Boehm, Daryl Williams and perhaps even Nsekhe to secure a starting spot in place of Feliciano.
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