One benefit of having veteran players missing training camp practices is that it allows younger players the opportunity to take reps with higher units. That was the case on Monday for the Buffalo Bills, as several veterans missed practice, affording some younger players the chance to run with the ones.
With veteran defensive end Marcus Stroud sidelined, rookie third-round pick Alex Carrington took first-team reps as a five-technique defensive end. Carrington had been getting steady second-team work, but leap-frogged veteran John McCargo for the right to run with the ones.
On a much more interesting note, undrafted rookie free agent Cordaro Howard - himself recently returned to the practice field after missing much of last week - was the first-team right tackle in place of Cornell Green. Howard opened training camp as the second-team left guard behind starter Andy Levitre, and most scouts consider the 6'4", 314-pound Georgia Tech product a best-fit at guard. Howard got the nod over Kirk Chambers, who has played at both tackle and guard to this point in camp.
Andre Ramsey continued to spell Eric Wood at right guard, and when he left the field on Monday, Christian Gaddis stepped in. The Bills have another practice this evening at 7:15 PM in Growney Stadium.