The film doesn’t lie, and the truth recently about Jerel Worthy has been all positive.
According to ProFootballFocus, Worthy ranked as one of the top two interior defensive linemen during the second week of the NFL preseason. Although the folks at PFF note that Worthy had only one quarterback pressure, he was in on seven tackles (four solo), and was a constant force in the run game. He was assignment-sound, and he did a solid job eating space, helping the Bills hold New York to 166 total yards (including a 67-yard Bobby Rainey scamper).
Worthy was a second-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in the 2012 NFL draft. The Buffalo News outlined the odyssey that has been his NFL career, with stops in Green Bay, New England, Kansas City, and Detroit preceding this year’s opportunity in Buffalo. Worthy had a stellar career at Michigan State, notching 27.5 tackles for loss over three years.
If he continues to play as he has, the combination of talent and opportunity may finally have broken Worthy’s way, as he looks to have as good a shot as anyone to begin the season as one of the three starting defensive linemen in Rex Ryan’s 3-4 base scheme. Even when Marcell Dareus returns from suspension and rehab, Worthy figures to be part of a defensive line rotation that should include Kyle Williams, Corbin Bryant, Adolphus Washington, and Dareus.
Also of note from the PFF article was Corey White’s inclusion on the Team of the Week. Senior analyst Sam Monson wrote, “White had by far the highest grade of any corner this week. He was thrown at four times, and had two pass breakups, but also broke up another pass with a hit on a slant route, and forced a fumble.”