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'We're looking' - Bills head coach Sean McDermott has blunt response when asked about the current state of the safety room
© Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

If you asked Bills Mafia what area of the team needs the most improvement, you'd get one consistent answer: safety. Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott left nothing to the imagination with his response on the current state of safety on the roster.

"We're looking for that other safety to play alongside Taylor Rapp," McDermott said.

Cole Bishop and Damar Hamlin struggled

After Cole Bishop was finally healthy enough to get some preseason reps , he struggled at times while paired with Damar Hamlin. The defense, while starting a majority of second- and third-stringers outside of Bishop against a Caleb Williams-led first-team offense, was gashed. Despite it only being the preseason, there's a sense of urgency at One Bills Drive for that position.

It wasn't all bad, though, and McDermott wants to make that clear.

"There's been really good moments for all of those guys back there," he added. "Young and some of the more veteran guys that are back there and have played for us."

Lone bright spot goes down with injury

One of the lone bright spots in the blowout loss to the Chicago Bears was rookie Jordan Hancock. His raw talent was on full display as he flashed throughout the contest. Still, there were moments when he looked a little lost in coverage. He performed much better than expected, but it didn't last long. It was a rough day overall because Hancock, despite flashing at times, had to leave the contest with a reported shoulder injury.

"I think we're still looking to find who it is going to be and how consistent can they become, and how quickly can they grow if they're a younger player?" McDermott said about the safety room.

Remembering the good ol' days

Buffalo had been spoiled during the past few seasons with an All-Pro tandem of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer. Admittedly, it wasn't a position many even thought about because they were the cornerstones of that unit. Since their departure, it's been a struggle to find a cohesive unit that can stay healthy and succeed.

McDermott wasn't happy with the current group's performance, and it looks to be an open competition for that spot next to Rapp. We previously reported that Justin Simmons was an available free agent target. Whether it's Simmons or someone else, it's clear that they are working on a problem, and the solution might not be on their current roster.

With one preseason game remaining, there isn't a whole lot of time to figure this out.

Be part of the A to Z Sports community and vote in our latest Buffalo Bills poll as the preseason gets underway.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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