Bills notebook
Roster spot could be around the corner for Youboty
Buffalo Bills cornerback Ashton Youboty made another play Sunday night to help his bid to stick on the team’s 53-man roster.
Youboty made a nice, leaping interception of a Quinn Gray pass in the end zone early in the third quarter.
The Colts faced a third-and-7 play from the Bills’ 11. Youboty was lined up on the Colts’ slot receiver but had zone coverage on the play. Youboty left the slot receiver to cover tight end Dallas Clark, who was running toward the corner of the end zone.
“I was inside in the nickel defense, and he [the slot receiver] ran a lower route to make me bite,” Youboty said. “I read the eyes of the quarterback. . . . It was a concept we practiced all week. It was a common red-zone route.”
Youboty also had an interception against Washington and had a sack against Pittsburgh. He’s making a strong case for the Bills to keep six cornerbacks (one more than some teams carry) on the 53-man roster.
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Rookie left tackle Demetrius Bell, a seventh-round draft pick, has seen more extensive action than is common this preseason due to the Bills’ injuries at his position. He played 2z qu 1/2 rter 1/3 against the Colts and seemed pretty solid.
“I guess I shouldn’t say it but I will anyway, he has come along faster than we thought,” Jauron said. “He’s playing pretty well. We believe he’s got the ability to play in this league. He’s athletic. He’s tough. He studies. He fits in well with our guys. Hopefully he can keep getting better. He’s one of those guys who gives you the feeling that he will.”
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Rookie running back Xavier Omon has the distinction of scoring the first touchdown in Lucas Oil Stadium. He leaped over the pile at the line of scrimmage for a 1-yard score in the second quarter.
“One of the refs asked me if I wanted to keep the ball,” Omon said. “He gave it back to me after the touchdown.”
Finding the end zone is nothing new for Omon, who scored 98 touchdowns in his college career at Northwest Missouri State. Omon said he never saved any balls after those scores.
“But I have the one after I got my fourth straight 1,500-yard season,” Omon said.
