Cornerback Tre White went down and out for the season with an ACL tear last week, leaving a significant void for the Bills to fill on defense.
It’s going to take a team effort as well as a solid performance for whoever plays in his absence to keep the teams’ defense at the high-ranking performance level they’ve played at this season.
“It is next-man-up, regardless,” head coach Sean McDermott said via the Bills website this week. “But I think collectively as a team, we’ve got to take our game another level.”
That “next” player for the Bills is none other than second-year CB Dane Jackson, a seventh-round 2020 NFL draft selection from the University of Pittsburgh, taken at 239th overall.
“I think Dane Jackson is one of those guys who will step up,” defensive coordinator Frazier said to the press. “He’s the next man up and he’ll do a good job for us. But to say that he will play at the level of Tre’Davious, that would be, misleading for sure.”
Early returns on Jackson have been promising, however. In limited action over five games as a rookie, he had two starts, one interception as well as a fumble recovery to go with 15 tackles.
This season he’s played in every one of the Bills’ 11 games and on a total of 18% of their defensive snaps this season. That has included experience stepping in for White in the game against the Saints, as well as for starter Levi Wallace against the Dolphins when he was injured in Week 2.
Jackson caught the eye of the Bills front office and coaches during draft scouting on account of his physical style of play in defending passes as well as the run, and experience in man and zone coverage as a three-year starter at Pitt.
“He’s always been a guy, coming from Pitt, that has had our DNA in terms of gritty, resilient, player that’s tough, and he’s up for the challenge, I know that,” McDermott added. “We have a lot of confidence in Dane Jackson.”
The head coach wasn’t alone in his confidence in Jackson, as Frazier threw more support behind him as well.
“Even the game on Thursday night, when he stepped in, he has real good poise and a good feel for the game,” Frazier said. “And I think that helps him not to get overly concerned or to stress himself out to where he’s not playing to the level that we expect him to. So just that overall composure and that confidence that he has, and he’s a talented guy as well.”
As opposing QB’s may target him, Jackson will aim to hold his own across from starter Levi Wallace, who also received an encouraging assessment from his DC.
“We just want him to continue to play at a high level like he’s been playing,” Frazier added. “He’s been playing really well for us. He doesn’t really have to change and really get out of body, just be himself and continue to approach things the way he has.”
Second-year cornerback Cam Lewis, who has spent time inactive and on the practice squad and also filled in for White playing 47 snaps in the Bills win against Houston, will be next up on the depth chart behind Wallace and Jackson. The team also signed corners Tim Harris and Greg Stroman to their practice squad, they’ll join a CB depth chart mix that includes Taron Johnson, his backup in the slot Siran Neal, and undrafted rookies Nick McCloud, and Olaijah Griffin.
Jackson will have a trial-by-fire in the coming weeks including two matchups against the New England Patriots coming up starting with this week’s Monday Night Football game, as well as against Tom Brady and the Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Sean McDermott was straightforward in regards to the challenge that lies ahead for Jackson during Thursday’s media session as well.
“We’ve got a lot of confidence in Dane. But, look, he’s going to get tested. That’s just the reality of the situation.”
[lawrence-related id=92547,92576,92582]
