The Buffalo Bills are a few days away from their second preseason game of the year. Buffalo will take on the Chicago Bears, but first, they will have a joint practice with the Bears on Friday.
Usually, a handful of teams will hold joint practices with another organization before their preseason game. Teams should have practices together rather than play in a game since the coaches can control the environment. The first team gets a handful of reps in joint practices, which means a handful of the starters won’t participate during Sunday’s preseason game.
The preseason game will be a good way for players fighting to make the roster to show off their skills. Rookies and even veteran players are trying to make the 53-man roster.
Buffalo Signed Linebacker Shaq Thompson
One veteran player who’s looking to make the team is linebacker Shaq Thompson. The 31-year-old is entering his 11th season after playing for the Carolina Panthers for the last ten years. Thompson played under the Bills’ head coach Sean McDermott when he was the Panthers’ defensive coordinator.
It’s been a long time since McDermott coached Thompson, but the connection between the two is there. The veteran linebacker is only on a one-year contract, so it didn’t hurt bringing him in.
The only issue with Thompson is that he has only played in six NFL games over the last two seasons due to injuries. Since he hasn’t played much, there is a chance that there is nothing left in the tank. So far through the preseason, it seems like Thompson could be the odd man out in the linebacker room.
Bills Urged to Trade Thompson
Buffalo already has linebackers Matt Milano, Terrel Bernard, Dorian Williams, and Joe Andreessen, who should make the 53-man roster. There’s a good chance Thompson will be cut in the next few weeks. But Jaleel Grandberry from Fansided thinks the Bills should try to trade the linebacker.
“Thompson just came to Buffalo in June, signing a one-year deal with the team. After an impressive college career at Washington, he was drafted in the first round by the Carolina Panthers in 2015, and that’s where he spent his first 10 years in the league. Now, on a new team for the first time, he’s trying to make a new home,” Grandberry wrote.
“While Dane Jackson and Thompson’s history with the organization is different, their current standing is the same. They are both veteran depth players on the defense. While they could stay around in those roles, the Bills are also pretty set in their respective positions. Since that’s the case, it would make sense to see if any teams are willing to send a late-round pick for one of the defenders,” Grandberry added.
It wouldn’t hurt for the Bills to try to trade Thompson and see what they can get in return. There have been a few teams out there looking for linebacker help, and adding a veteran with Super Bowl experience on a friendly contract wouldn’t be the worst idea.
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