The Buffalo Bills entered the season with a question mark next to linebacker Matt Milano’s spot on the depth chart. Young linebackers Terrel Bernard and Tyrel Dodson competed for the starting spot throughout training camp, with the former ultimately winning out.
Bernard played well alongside Milano but continued to find success once the star suffered a (seemingly) season-ending injury. In nine games, Bernard has recovered three fumbles, caught two interceptions, and found two sacks. He has been a stabilizing factor in the middle of Buffalo’s defense fraught with injuries.
Now, he too is hurt. Bernard exited Sunday’s 24-18 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals with a head injury and remains in concussion protocol.
The Bills expect to remain strong at the linebacker position with Dodson filling in for Bernard. Assistant head coach Eric Washington spoke on Monday about the depth he provides.
“When the decision was made for Terrel Bernard to be the starter, Tyrel handled that with unbelievable class and professionalism,” Washington said. “He kept himself ready.”
Dodson was a key factor in the Bills’ run defense on Sunday, posting eight tackles while being thrust into a full-time role. It wasn’t enough to stop Cincinnati but the performance was encouraging nonetheless.
“As soon as the decision was made to incorporate him into a starting role he had to move in due to attrition, he gives us physical play, he has experiences,” Washington said. “He moved from Will to Mike, from one linebacker position to the other one. So for him to be able to do that during the course of the game says a lot about his preparation to go to a communication role.”
Dodson had been seeing part-time reps as a weak-side linebacker, at times seeing his spot filled by safeties in dime packages. The Bernard injury demanded that he take on a significant role in Buffalo’s defense, and he looked the part.
The fourth-year veteran has quickly found himself in the middle of a defense that needs to step up to make a deep playoff run possible. At 5-4, tensions are rising and neither side of the ball has turned into a dominant unit. His play, though, can give Bills Mafia some optimism that Buffalo can remain competitive in spite of its injuries.
“There’s a lot of enthusiasm,” Washington said. “He’s ready when we call him. He’ll continue to elevate his level of play for our defense.”
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