MONDAY PREVIEW
Bills at Jets
■ When: 5:15 p.m. Monday (ESPN)
■ Line: Bills -2; total 45½
■ Bills player to watch: RB James Cook. The potent Josh Allen-led offense continues to look for ways to get the backfield more involved. Now it’s Cook’s turn to take over in the lead role in a game that features his older brother, Dalvin, on the other sideline. James Cook, a 2022 secondround pick out of Georgia, is regarded as more of a dual-threat running back in filling the starting job following Devin Singletary’s departure in free agency.
■ Jets player to watch: QB Aaron Rodgers. Acquired from Green Bay in April after 18 seasons with the Packers, the four-time NFL MVP makes his regular-season debut with the Jets. Rodgers raised expectations for the franchise and the fan base when he said he expects to win in New York and pointed out during his introductory news conference that the Jets’ only Super Bowl trophy from the 1968 season looks “lonely.” He gives the Jets their most accomplished quarterback since Brett Favre, who was acquired from Green Bay in 2008 — clearing the way for Rodgers to become the Packers’ signal caller.
■ Key matchup: Bills secondary vs. Rodgers. Safety Micah Hyde is back in his starting role after missing most of last season with a neck injury and CB Tre’davious White has had an entire offseason to regain his edge as Buffalo’s top pass-defender after being eased back in to close last season after missing nearly a year recovering from knee surgery. Hyde, White and starting safety Jordan Poyer have been together since 2017.
■ Key injuries: The Bills are relatively healthy entering the season with the exception of top pass rusher Von Miller missing at least the first four games while on the physically unable to perform list after having knee surgery in December. … Hyde’s status bears watching after a back issue flared up this week. … Backup S Damar Hamlin is expected to play for the first time since going into cardiac arrest and needing to be resuscitated on the field on Jan. 2 at Cincinnati. … Jets RBS Breece Hall (knee) and Cook (shoulder) will be worked into the offense early. Hall’s promising rookie season was cut short when he tore the ACL in his left knee in Week 7. Cook had offseason shoulder surgery and just recently started practicing after signing with New York late in training camp. … LT Duane Brown missed almost all of camp while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.