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Buffalo Bills 2021 Preseason Week 1: Starters’ reps still undecided

We’re just a few days away from live game reps!

During an appearance on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football,” Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott suggested that some, but not all, starters will hit the field as the Bills take on the Detroit Lions this Friday. Exactly who has yet to be determined with McDermott stating “We’re in the process of figuring that out.”

Of course we’d all love to know who we’ll see and who we won’t, so let’s take a brief glimpse into the past to see what the McDermott-era Bills have done in the past. Before we do though, a couple of disclaimers. The last preseason games were in 2019. With two years of change, some of the players who were on the team might have a different “status” by now. Additionally, with one fewer game to play during the preseason, it could impact playing time decisions.

With all that said...

The Buffalo Bills hosted the Indianapolis Colts to kickoff the preseason on August 8, 2019. For the most part it was a straightforward strategy from McDermott with most starters playing two series. This applied to both the offense and the defense.

Before you get excited to see Josh Allen playing again, please note that LeSean McCoy was rested for the game. McCoy was joined notably by Micah Hyde, Mitch Morse, Jerry Hughes, and Lorenzo Alexander. It’s possible that the “new” team leadership that gets a rest game could include Allen, Stefon Diggs, Tre’Davious White, and more.

Fun fact, it was on that date that Christian Wade had his first NFL carry; a 65-yard touchdown run that set afoot Wade-Mania.