The Bills needed a multi phase effort to overcome several offensive turnovers, and the team’s new-look defense ultimately did their part to answer the call.
New defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard got contributions from Buffalo’s veterans, as well as their new additions from this offseason from free agency and the NFL Draft, in an electric Bills comeback from a messy first half to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 24-16.
That included a notable effort by rookie cornerback Davison Igbinosun.
The second-round pick has been worked into the Bills corner rotation in all three of Buffalo’s games to start the season. He took the field on 10-snaps in Week 1 against the Houston Texans, and on 15-snaps in Week 2 against the Detroit Lions.
The design is deliberate, Leonhard explained, so a young corner’s first real action never comes purely out of necessity.
“You don’t want a guy’s first opportunity to play to be when he has to,” he said.
That statement resonates further considering starting cornerback Christian Benford went down with a toe injury in the club’s Week 3 win over the Chargers.
Igbinosun answered, playing and increased 29 total snaps with five tackles and a pass breakup in man coverage against 6-foot-3 receiver Quentin Johnston.
“He’s gotten some snaps the first two games, he’s learned from it, and he stepped up,” Leonhard added. “He played huge and tackled really well.”
Buffalo head coach Joe Brady credited the second-round pick out of Ohio State for a tackle during Sunday’s contest against the Los Angeles Chargers that directly prevented a Bolts first down after the Bills had fallen behind 10-0 early on.
“Some critical plays getting off the field,” Brady said. “There’s one play of IGB that stands out, a tackle on the sideline. We’ve been saying all along, just getting those guys opportunities. There’s gonna come a time we’re gonna need that.”
Brady and Leonhard’s defensive unit might need IGB to step up again in Week 4, as the Bills host the New England Patriots and head coach and Sedona, Arizona resort patron, Mike Vrable, for Buffalo’s first AFC East matchup of the season.
Whether filling in for Benford or in the rotation, the rookie will continue to get opportunities.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Bills’ Joe Brady, Jim Leonhard highlight standout rookie vs. Chargers
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