The Buffalo Bills might be without their new-ish look offensive line against the Miami Dolphins.
After having last week off due to their bye, when the Bills (4-2) returned to practice this week, rookie tackle Spencer Brown wasn’t there. He has missed time due to a back injury.
On Friday via WGR-550 radio, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott did not rule Brown out of playing on Sunday. However, not practicing for most of the week is not a good sign.
If Brown can’t go, the easy guess would be Cody Ford heading back into the lineup.
When the Bills did change around their O-line, Ford was sent to the bench. Brown began starting.
Considering that, if it is Ford that takes starting reps for Brown pending his health vs. the Dolphins (1-6) on Sunday, there does appear to be some confidence in the benched player.
McDermott acknowledged that Ford is “fighting for his job” and the coach added that there has been improvement in Ford’s game.
Here’s what McDermott said on Friday:
Sean McDermott says if Spencer Brown can't go Sunday the #Bills may need to do some shuffling on the offensive line.
Who knows where Cody Ford stands in that decision, but I asked McD generally how Ford's handled being benched.
"He's trying to fight for his job." pic.twitter.com/09Ktj9T6LT
— Jon Scott (@JonScottTV) October 29, 2021
We might not know about the decision on who starts until just prior to kickoff. If Ford does play, we will see if his improvement in McDermott’s eyes is accurate or not.
According to Pro Football Focus, it might be easy to tell.
Overall, the football analytics outlet grades Ford as a brutal 41.1 mark so far this season.
Brown’s grade is an average one for PFF’s standards, but by comparison, is much better at 59.9.
In addition to Ford potentially playing, there could be movement in other places on the offensive line.
Ford could be put back into the lineup at guard, not Brown’s tackle spot. Doing so would move Daryl Williams to tackle.
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