The Buffalo Bills are making some moves in the starting lineup this week, trying to jump start the progression of a pair of rookies. Fifth round pick Wyatt Teller and undrafted free agent Levi Wallace have both been given the nod against the New York Jets.
Wallace is the more surprising of the two. Not only has the former member of the Alabama Crimson Tide never started a game, he’s never played a snap in a regular season game. He was released by the Bills at roster cut time and has spent the first two months of the season on the team’s practice squad. When Buffalo cut Phillip Gaines after his monstrous performance against the Chicago Bears, they promoted Wallace, who went undrafted in April. He starts over Ryan Lewis, who has started games for Buffalo this season.
The change on the offensive line was more expected, as Teller received snaps with the first-team offense last week at both left guard and right guard. He steps in to replace Vlad Ducasse, and with the Bills’ o-line struggling this season, this type of move makes sense.
Buffalo already has several starts and playing time from rookies this year. Quarterback Josh Allen is the team’s top pick and would be in the lineup if not for injury. Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds returns to the starting lineup this week after missing the last game with a concussion. Defensive tackle Harrison Phillips has played nearly 40% of the team’s defensive snaps. Cornerback Taron Johnson has played more than 55% of the snaps at the team’s slot cornerback. Now on injured reserve, rookie Corey Bojorquez was the team’s punter for the first half of the season.
With the Bills sitting at 2-7 already, the future is now it would seem.