Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott announced Friday that center Mitch Morse will return to the starting lineup on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. Morse was active but did not play in the game against the Arizona Cardinals prior to Buffalo’s bye. He suffered the fifth documented concussion of his career in Week 8 against the New England Patriots.
For two weeks, questions have surrounded Morse. He was cleared from the concussion protocol and dressed for the game against Arizona, but Buffalo kept him on the bench with McDermott saying they liked the “momentum” of the current starting five OL, despite giving up seven sacks against the Seattle Seahawks the week before and having no run game of which to speak. It’s more likely they were giving Morse some time between his injury and his return to the lineup, but McDermott called it a “coaches’ decision”, muddying the waters.
Morse’s return comes at an opportune time for the Bills’ offensive line. McDermott also announced Friday that starting guard Cody Ford would be out for the rest of the season with a torn meniscus in his knee. Jon Feliciano, who had been snapping the ball as Morse’s replacement, will be free to slide to left guard in favor of Ford’s replacement, Ike Boettger, or right guard to replace the struggling Brian Winters.
McDermott did not clarify who would be starting at each guard spot come Sunday.