Ron

Brooks

After playing in the shadow of Patrick Peterson, Morris Claiborne and Tyrann Mathieu, Brooks had a limited role in college but the talent is definitely there. As a top high school recruit, Brooks has tremendous athleticism but his skills need to be refined. Brooks has the physicality to stay with receivers down the field and burst to close in zone. A tremendous special teams asset, Brooks is a project worth investing in.

Brooks is the pick the Bills received for trading Lee Evans to the Ravens. A good-sized nickel or dime corner with 4.37 jets, Brooks is billed as a special teams demon after starting just three games at LSU. The Bills love his punt-blocking ability and coverage skills.

McGee was expected to kick inside in the nickel last season, but missed significant action due to hamstring and knee injuries. McKelvin barely played the slot last season, but has been used there “a good deal” in spring practices. Rogers and Brooks have impressed this offseason and are heavily in the mix. The four-man competition figures to run well into the preseason.

However, aside from some occasional sub-package reps, Brooks is expected to be limited to special teams as a rookie. Brooks saw limited snaps in LSU’s loaded secondary as a senior.

Players designated for return are like those on the reserve/PUP list in that they must sit out at least six weeks. Brooks, a fourth-round rookie, was expected to be sidelined at least that long after undergoing foot surgery in late August.

The fourth-round pick suffered the injury in Tuesday’s practice. BuffaloBills.com believes Brooks could be the club’s candidate to be placed on injured reserve with the possibility of being recalled. Despite a strong preseason, the majority of Brooks’ snaps were expected to come on special teams.

Expect Brooks to practice Wednesday afternoon for the first time since breaking his foot in August. The fourth-round pick, who was slapped with the injured reserve “designated to return” tag, isn’t eligible to play in a game until Week 9.

Brooks was placed on injured reserve at the start of the season and designated as the player to return to the active roster. He isn’t eligible to return to practice with the team until six weeks have elapsed, which would be October 17th, and can’t be added to the active roster for a game until October 31st, making the Bills’ Week 9 game in Houston the first game he’d be eligible to dress and play.

Brooks played just 10 snaps in Week 1 as UDFA Nickell Robey came on as a nickel corner. It’s a concern for a Bills’ secondary that was already without both Jairus Byrd and Stephon Gilmore.

With Stephon Gilmore (wrist surgery) also out for at least the next month, the Bills are awfully thin at cornerback. Brooks worked as Buffalo’s dime back in Week 1. The Bills are currently not planning to place Brooks on I.R.