The Buffalo Bills lost their preseason opener to the Minnesota Vikings 17-10 but who really cares about the score? I watched five players and if you saw the ones we were watching, you probably liked their performance..
WR Sammy Watkins
Watkins looks to be back on track following his foot injury. He ran a couple comeback routes where he created about 3 or 4 yards of separation. Watkins reeled in 4 catches from Tyrod Taylor for 39 yards. All four receptions were short to intermediate routes, they’ll save the deep balls for the regular season. Overall, he looked about as good as you can for playing just a quarter of football.
OT Jordan Mills
The good thing for Jordan Mills is, you didn’t hear his name called. He looked like his usual self in the run game and continues to do a good job getting to the second level of defenders. Mills held his own in pass protection as well, he wasn’t overly dominant but he wasn’t blatantly getting beat off the ball like we have seen before. This game was a step in the right direction for Mills to keep that starting right tackle job.
CB Tre’Davious White
Like Mills, you didn’t hear White get called. He was targeted a couple times and he even let up a reception but little damage was done. On a third down play, White dropped just past the marker into his zone and forced Sam Bradford to check the ball down to his running back. White then came up and made the tackle with Ramon Humber. White wasn’t tested too often but when he was he held his own.
LB Reggie Ragland
Although Ragland faced the second- and third-team offense of the Vikings, he played well. Against the run he was better than good but that is where he is the most comfortable. Ragland recorded 6 tackles, 4 of them being solo. Seeing how he handles playing in space will give a better idea to where he is in terms of understanding his assignment and getting comfortable with his surgically repaired knee.
DE Eddie Yarbrough
After the first preseason game, I am extremely close to buying an Eddie Yarbrough jersey. He was everything everyone was hoping for and lived up to the training camp hype surrounding him. On a third down against the first-team offense of the Vikings, Yarbrough came up with a sack on Bradford and forced them to punt. His motor doesn’t stop, he came close to getting another sack at least 2 more times and was in the mix on run plays. If Yarbrough didn’t earn himself a spot yet then I don’t know what will.