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The Buffalo Bills have a couple of ways they can fill in for tight Dawson Knox.
Knox, who was in the midst of a breakout year, broke his hand. He’s reportedly going to miss a few weeks.
At the tight end position, next in line is Tommy Sweeney. The Bills aren’t going to flinch at all with the untested player in the huddle on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.
“Full confidence, yeah, full confidence in Tommy, and I know the players feel the same way, as do the rest of the coaches,” Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott said via video conference.
Like McDermott, Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs dusted off the same words. Just with his own flare.
“I have 100 percent confidence in T-Sween,” Diggs said via video conference. “He brings that route running, that technician, that hard worker, that blocker. He brings that mindset that we love on offense and just on our team in general. I love me some T-Sween.”
While Diggs might be pumping Sweeney’s tires with McDermott, observers of the team might be hesitant to.
In his career, Sweeney has 12 catches for 118 yards and a touchdown (which he only just scored in Buffalo’s last game).
Such a stat line looks more like Diggs in one game.
But the Bills still want Sweeney to do well. He’s come a long way.
“We’re happy for him. Albeit at someone else’s expense, seeing a guy go down in Dawson. That’s not what we want, but it’s next man up,” McDermott said.
In his response, McDermott referenced how Sweeney worked to get back to full health. Due to COVID-19 complications and myocarditis, he missed the entire 2020 season.
It’s a rare and serious heart condition but now Sweeney is good to go and chomping at the bit.
Perhaps most importantly, Bills quarterback Josh Allen feels he can trust Sweeney, too.
“He’s awesome to be around. He’s one of those guys that just consistently worked, kept his head down, never complained. Doesn’t have a whole lot of opportunities in the passing game, but when his number’s called, he usually ends up making the play,” Allen said on Wednesday.
Time will tell how much Sweeney is used in the playbook this week.
While he certainly could be a viable option, the Bills could also lean more on wide receivers like Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis.
Regardless of which route Buffalo goes, that’s a lot of things keeping the Dolphins on their toes.
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