Ryan Nielsen got a front-row seat to Deone Walker’s rookie learning curve, and what he saw left a strong impression.
Now with the Vikings as a defensive run game coordinator, Nielsen was around for the Bills defensive tackle’s early “welcome-to-the-NFL” moments, including a tough matchup with Ravens running back Derrick Henry. But Nielsen said Walker settled in fast after that and showed the kind of response that can change how a young player is viewed inside a building.
“Second half, he went out and played his ass off,” Nielsen said of Walker, via The Athletic. “He was confident.
He knew he belonged. From then on, it was a different person between the lines.”
Nielsen didn’t stop there. He said Buffalo has something special in Walker and suggested the team should expect to keep him around for a while.
“They’ve got a special one there,” Nielsen added. “You’re going to see that guy sign multiple contracts at that place.
You don’t want guys like that to leave your building. He’s going to be the only person that holds him back because he can be one of the greats.
This kid can be as good as he wants to be.”
The Bills are also juggling a few injury situations heading into the week. Wide receiver D.J.
Moore and Keon Coleman are listed as questionable, with Moore dealing with a shoulder issue and Coleman with an ankle injury. Head coach Joe Brady said both will stay game-time decisions, along with defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who is dealing with a hip injury.
(Garafolo)
In New York, the Jets are leaning into the identity that has carried them to the league’s top-ranked defense through the first two weeks. Defensive tackle Jowon Briggs said the emphasis this season has been on going after the ball, not just chasing the quarterback.
“ There’s definitely been an emphasis on that [attacking the ball carrier] throughout the year, ” Briggs said, via Jack Bell of the team’s site. “For me, especially last year, one of my coaches made the point ‘you’re hitting the quarterback, but you’re not even being ball aware.’
And I just go back to know the vivid one in my head on the goal line. [Against Miami] Tua [Tagovailoa] winds up to throw the ball.
I’m in my rush. I’m going from behind, and I’m just thinking about hitting him, getting him down.
Right, I hit him. He throws the ball.
Still a touchdown.”
Harrison Phillips echoed that mindset, saying the Jets believe they can turn that aggression into something opponents feel every week.
“We feel like we can be a feared defense and a feared team,” Phillips said. “We’re attacking that football whether it’s through pass deflection or taking it out of runner’s hands, special teams included in that too, we’re always trying to attack.”
The Jets will be without tight end Mason Taylor in Week 3, according to head coach Aaron Glenn. (Brian Costello)
In New England, Jared Wilson’s pass protection came under the microscope in Week 2’s win over the Steelers, but Mike Vrabel isn’t worried about the Patriots center’s long-term trajectory. Vrabel said Wilson has room to grow in pass pro, while also pointing to the work he did in the run game.
“I think Jared, that wasn’t one of Jared’s better games yesterday,” Vrabel said, via PatriotsWire. “There were some times where we have to hold up in the middle and pass rush, but I also know that sometimes, when we break those runs and he’s at the second level and getting guys covered up, that he’s at the point of those attacks as well.
So, I think he can protect better. I know he can protect better.
I’ve seen him protect better. But they also had a lot of really good, nice blocks when we ran the football, broke through there and were able to get to the second level.”
In Other News...
Bills Could Have A Real Edge If Marvin Harrison Jr. Talks Heat Up
The buzz around Marvin Harrison Jr. is exactly the kind of long-shot speculation that tends to follow a team looking for another jolt on offense, and Buffalo has a small but interesting connection that makes the idea linger a little longer than usual. The Bills new receivers coach, Drew Terrell, and special teams coach, Jeff Rodgers, both spent time coaching in Arizona, giving them some familiarity with Harrison and, at minimum, a better sense of what kind of player he is and how he might fit.
Still, there has been nothing from the Bills or from NFL insiders to suggest a trade is actually in motion, which is why this remains more curiosity than something concrete. Even so, the presence of coaches who know the Cardinals side of the equation adds an extra layer to any discussion, because when a player of Harrisons profile comes up, teams are always looking for edges, and Buffalo may have one tucked into its new staff. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Allen Is Chasing Rare NFL History Against The Chargers
Josh Allen has opened the season looking every bit like the centerpiece of Buffalos offense, piling up big numbers through the air and on the ground while keeping the Bills moving with the kind of dual-threat balance that makes game plans miserable for defenses. His early work has also been a showcase for the rushing attack around him, with James Cook helping give Buffalo another layer of stress for opponents to handle.
The next test comes against the Chargers, and it carries a little extra history with it. Allen has a chance to join a very small NFL club by rushing for two touchdowns in his first three games, a mark only a handful of players have ever reached. For Buffalo, it is another reminder that the Bills are not just leaning on Allen to distribute the ball, they are counting on him to keep turning broken plays and designed runs into the kind of edge that can swing a game. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Playmakers May Have To Carry More Than Expected Vs Chargers
The Bills head into their meeting with the Chargers with a familiar sort of pressure on the offense, because the margin for error looks thinner than usual. Khalil Shakir and Joshua Palmer are among the key names to watch, and Buffalo may need both of them to do more than just fill roles if the passing game is going to keep pace with what Los Angeles can bring.
On the other side of the ball, the Bills also have some defensive questions to sort through, with DeWayne Carter and Christian Benford among the players whose availability and recent form matter as the matchup approaches. Add in the teams records and the way both offenses have been trending, and this game shapes up as one where Buffalos most reliable playmakers could end up carrying an even bigger load than planned. [Read more 🡒]