Buffalo Bills: Preparing for the Worst With Reggie Ragland
By Paul Taylor
As Reggie Ragland prepares to get a second opinion on his knee injury, the Buffalo Bills need to prepare for the worst-case scenario in respect of the rookie linebacker.
Most NFL teams will probably make this claim, but it sure seems like the Buffalo Bills have suffered more than their fair share of injuries so far in training camp. In fact, it’s at the stage now where it’s getting ridiculous.
As if to illustrate this point, look no further than the knee injury Reggie Ragland sustained on Friday. More specifically, consider that it was a non-contract injury, suffered while Ragland was attempting to chase down Reggie Bush during practice.
Understandably, there is a lot of concern surrounding the 2016 second round draft pick, who has been projected to go straight into the starting lineup, as an inside linebacker. Now, you can throw uncertainty into the mix, after the results of the MRI were inconclusive.
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As such, Ragland will get a second opinion, once the swelling in his knee goes down. He originally scheduled an appointment for Monday, but ESPN’s Mike Rodak reports that more could be known about the severity of the injury, as soon as Sunday.
Bill head coach Rex Ryan admits he’s less optimistic, after initially claiming the 22-year had avoided ligament damage. Speaking to Rodak and the rest of the media, Ryan said: “I guess I was just so hopeful there’s not going to be ligament things.
“My understanding is that as you get going, your leg is so tight, they’ll fight it – you don’t really get a true look of that…I know every Bill fan out there is hoping for the best, and that’s certainly what we’re doing, but there is concern.”
Obviously, losing Ragland for any amount of time will be a blow to the Bills defense. With Shaq Lawson and Manny Lawson already injured, the last thing Ryan needs is another loss to the front seven.
Depending on the severity of the injury, Ryan currently has two options he would consider, to step into the starting lineup, next to Preston Brown: “I’d rather not think about it, but we’re in capable hands.
“We have a couple of pretty good inside ‘backers, guys that are doing well right now — Zach Brown and Randell Johnson — so one guy would have to step up.”
The Bills will reportedly bring in free-agent linebackers to work out on Sunday, although Rodak’s source did not disclose any names. This course of action makes even more sense, when you consider insider linebackers Kevin Reddick and Jamari Lattimore are also currently absent through injury.
Ultimately, Ryan and the team will hope for the best in respect of Ragland’s second opinion. However, they are doing the right thing, by preparing for the worst case scenario.
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How concerned are you about the potential long-term absence of Ragland. Does it matter significantly, or do you anticipate the Bills adjusting without too much trouble? Let us know in the comments section below.