With the uncertainty surrounding the Buffalo Bills linebackers, there's openings for players to step up, especially since Tremaine Edmunds left in free agency after five seasons with the team.
Bills linebackers Dorian Williams and Travin Howard took steps in the right direction during Saturday's 23-19 home win over the Indianapolis Colts in the preseason opener if they're going to see meaningful playing time in the regular season.
Williams, a third-round rookie out of Tulane, led Buffalo with seven tackles. Howard, a fourth-year linebacker and Super Bowl champ, had two tackles, one of which was a thudding hit that stopped Indianapolis from scoring on a two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter.
For Bills coach Sean McDermott, Williams' play showed potential and things that can be built on.
"He was very physical," McDermott said. "Like all of our players and our team, myself included, we have plenty to work on as does Dorian but I thought he did a good job in playing fast [and] playing physical. You can build off of things like that."
In Williams' final season at Tulane, the versatile linebacker had a career-high 132 tackles, 8.5 of which were for a loss. He also set career-bests in sacks (5), interceptions (two), passes defended (seven) and forced fumbles (two).
Buffalo took Williams in the third round with the No. 91 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Howard spent the first three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams before signing a one-year deal with the Bills this offseason. Howard played sparingly in 2020 and 2021, but multiple injuries limited him to just one game last season.
His tackle in the fourth quarter kept Buffalo ahead by more than a field goal, and wounded up being the final play for the defense. The Bills offense was able to run out the clock to end the game.
"We try and celebrate those areas that are really good, and that was a key moment in the game," McDermott said. "A big play for a young player. Then the energy it brought to our football team, we come back and the offense goes and seals the game in a four-minute drive."
McDermott went on to praise Howard for some of the unteachable attributes he's been bringing.
"He brings a lot of energy to our football team. He seems passionate about playing football and no matter what group he's run with since getting here, he's been the same person and same player and I appreciate that about him."
If Williams and Howard can maintain their high level of play, whether it's being all over the field or making big plays in key moments, they can help solidify a Bills linebacker room that has questions surrounding it.
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