PITTSFORD — Dorian Williams or Kaleb Elarms-Orr? Experience or upside?
That's what the assumed competition was supposed to be as the Buffalo Bills searched for an inside linebacker to pair with Terrel Bernard. Elarms-Orr was getting most of the first-team reps early in camp as Williams slowly worked his way back from bilateral knee fractures, while Williams has been with the first team over the last three practices.
Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard didn't shy away from the idea of a competition Thursday, but he also acknowledged there won't necessarily be a winner and a loser.
The Bills have rotated the three linebackers liberally throughout 11-on-11 sessions, as Bernard is still ramping up from offseason ankle surgery. But the Bills have also shown different looks with their linebackers.
Buffalo has played 3-4, nickel, dime and even a five-man front with one linebacker as they gradually dig deeper into Leonhard's playbook. And it's nothing new for Williams, who frequently played on the line of scrimmage on third downs for Sean McDermott over his first three seasons.
"There's going to be roles for all of them," Leonhard said. "They can all play and they have a little bit different skill sets. It's exciting to see them go more. … They want to go. They don't want to leave the field. They want to get as many reps as possible."
Bernard acknowledged the Bills are still in the infancy of Leonhard's playbook. We haven't seen any exotic blitzes or players lined up in places offenses don't expect — and likely won't — during training camp.
That includes outside linebacker Michael Hoecht, who is expected to be used in different packages, but has played sparingly in 11-on-11 sessions while recovering from Achilles surgery.
But Leonhard has drawn strong reviews from players in his ability to explain what the Bills are doing and why. Part of that is his ability as a coach, but also has 10 years of NFL experience as a player.
"Him having that background as a former player and understanding what we're going through and the challenges of what we do, I think that's a big help with our mindset," Bernard said. "And then obviously he's been coaching a long time now, so there's that aspect of it too."
Leonhard, meanwhile, praised the communication skills of his top three linebackers. In McDermott's defense, Bernard frequently directed traffic, but the safeties were also a big part of the communication.
For Leonhard's defense, the linebackers do most of the communication. Bernard struggled at times with that last year as former coaching staff had a large menu of checks based on the offense and calls were sometimes delayed into the huddle.
The new coaching staff love Bernard's ability to see the field and communicate what he sees to coaches after the play. He's already earned enough respect to speak his mind freely and chats with Leonhard 15 minutes per day before practice.
"He's been in this position long enough as a vet that he can come back to the sideline and tell me, 'Hey, man. This doesn't feel right,'" Bills inside linebackers coach John Egorugwu said. "... He's earned that type of respect. It's great having him around because I can also bounce ideas off of him. … He has a great perspective being on the field to articulate back to me."
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Five days after fearing a torn Achilles tendon, safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson returned to practice Thursday.
Although he declined to confirm it, Gardner-Johnson was reported to have a low calf strain, a diagnosis that usually keeps a player out multiple weeks. Gardner-Johnson missed only two practices and was a full participant in practice, returning to his place on the first-team defense.
"I think it's more being mature," Gardner-Johnson said. "Understanding it's early in the year. It wasn't no season-ending injury, so just really staying focused."
Gardner-Johnson did take time to address Buffalo's Week 1 opponent, the Houston Texans. He was released after three games with the Texans (all losses) last year amid reports he clashed with teammates.
Gardner-Johnson reportedly had a verbal exchange with Texans safety Kamari Lassiter after a late Week 3 touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also had a verbal altercation with cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.
After Gardner-Johnson was released, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said it was "in the best interest of the team."
"They released me because I wasn't gelling with the team and I didn't fit well," Gardner-Johnson said. "Well, why the hell didn't the coach spoke up about it? ... After the loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, they decided I didn't fit well. We was already starting 0-3, so how can it possibly be on one person?"
Gardner-Johnson and Cole Bishop were the first two safeties during 11-on-11s. Geno Stone came in for dime packages. Stone had been rotating with Damar Hamlin on the first team during Gardner-Johnson's absence.
Wide receiver Keon Coleman had a pair of drops. One came in one-on-one drills, where Coleman beat cornerback Christian Benford down the sideline but couldn't catch the ball. He also beat rookie cornerback Davison Igbinosun over the middle during 11-on-11s, but he couldn't snag a Josh Allen pass that was slightly behind him.
Receiver Joshua Palmer and Igbinosun briefly got into a shoving match.
Receiver Mac Dalena missed practice with an undisclosed injury. He was the only player missing Thursday.
The Bills signed linebacker Otis Reese IV and released Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles with an injury settlement. Reese played for the Tennessee Titans in 2023 and 2024 before being released last year. He spent two weeks on Buffalo's practice squad from Sept. 23, 2025, to Oct. 7. He spent the remainder of the season on the New England Patriots' practice squad.
