Some good news on the Terrel Bernard front. The Bills linebacker isn’t expected to land on injured reserve, according to Sean McDermott (per Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic). While the head coach admitted that he can’t say anything definitive, he felt the Bills wouldn’t have “to go in that direction.”
[RELATED: Bills LB Terrel Bernard Suffers Pec Strain]
“Don’t know anything else right now,” McDermott said when asked about a potential IR stint for Bernard (via ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg). “I don’t think so, but still I can’t make that statement with 100% certainty right now. But I feel like we won’t have to go that direction.”
Bernard exited Buffalo’s Week 2 win over Miami after getting into only 14 defensive snaps. The linebacker fortunately avoided the worst-case scenario, with his pectoral injury proving to be a strain vs. a full tear. McDermott later confirmed that Bernard would miss multiple weeks. The team was afforded some extra time to determine any IR machinations considering their 11-day break between Week 2 and Week 3. Before today’s encouraging news, Bernard had already been ruled out for Monday night.
The former third-round pick had a breakout campaign in 2023, finishing with 143 tackles and 6.5 sacks. The Bills intended to be especially reliant on the third-year pro in 2024, as Matt Milano is sidelined indefinitely with a biceps tear. A four-week absence for Bernard would stress the team’s LB depth, although it sounds like they’ll only have to temporarily deal with a depleted depth chart.
Former seventh-round pick Baylon Spector stepped in for Bernard last Thursday and ended up playing a position-high 62 snaps while compiling 10 tackles. Dorian Williams will also help to soak up many of the snaps at linebacker, with the likes of Nicholas Morrow and Joe Andreessen representing the team’s depth at the position.
I don’t think that most people outside of Buffalo truly appreciate Sean – heck there are still Bills fans that want him fired.
But look at how good he is at developing players. Losing Edmunds? Fine. We’ve got Bernard.
Poyer and Hyde were not all pro playing prior to coming to Buffalo. He is getting good contributions from Rapp and Hamlin.
Milano was a mid round pick who also became an all pro. If it wasn’t for the sheer volume of injuries at LB last year that caused them to call AJ Klein – Its mot crazy to think the Bills beat KC last year.
Tre White goes down? He had Benford ready to go. (Missed on Elam though)
He is always a top defensive team year in and out.
Look at the players he coached in Carolina and Philly.
He gets production even when pass rush is mediocre too.
He really knows how to motivate and prepare guys. He has flaws for sure, but he is severely underrated as a HC.
I think Sean and Josh will get at least 1 together. If they had not existed together in Patrick Maholmes prime, they might already have one. The Bills are the Ravens existing with Tom Brady. ( with a better QB)