The Buffalo Bills will be without two starting defensive players as they kick off their practice week ahead of their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Coach Sean McDermott has announced that cornerback Taron Johnson and linebacker Terrel Bernard will not play in Week 3 due to forearm and pectoral injuries, respectively. The team has not yet placed either player on injured reserve as they continue to assess their recovery.
Baylon Spector will step in as the starting middle linebacker for Bernard, who was injured early in the Bills’ Week 2 victory over the Miami Dolphins. He’ll play alongside second-year linebacker Dorian Williams at weak-side linebacker.
“This is a chance for Baylon and Dorian to collaborate, similar to how they did during most of the game against Miami,” McDermott stated.
In Bernard’s absence, Spector had a significant impact against the Dolphins, recording 10 total tackles—his highest for a season so far.
This will be Johnson’s second consecutive game missed after sustaining his injury in the first half of the Bills’ season opener.
McDermott confirmed that defensive ends Dawuane Smoot and Javon Solomon will return to practice this week, but he did not specify whether they would be available for the game against Jacksonville.
