Cam Lewis is ready to take a starter's role at the most demanding position in the Bills' defense

ORCHARD PARK — For most, Cam Lewis is known for one play. Nov. 13, 2022.

It was fourth and 18 and a stop would have sealed a Buffalo Bills win over the Minnesota Vikings. Quarterback Kirk Cousins heaved a pass 32 yards down the right sideline. Lewis saw the pass coming right towards him and jumped to get both hands on the ball.



But Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson leaped in front of him and snatched the ball away with one hand and tumbled to the ground. Minnesota didn’t score on the drive, but it was the first of an unthinkable series of events that led to the Vikings winning 33-30 in overtime. That was the last time Lewis started a game.

That’s all going to change Thursday. Bills coach Sean McDermott ruled out All-Pro slot cornerback Taron Johnson for their Week 2 matchup with the Miami Dolphins after injuring his forearm eight plays into the season opener against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, placing Lewis back in the lineup. Lewis says that play against the Vikings left his mind two days after it happened, feeling the last season and a half have proved that one play won’t define his career.

“I feel like I’m a better player since the 2022 season,” Lewis told the Gazette at his locker Monday. “My football IQ has gotten better. My confidence level is high and I’m just going out there and playing my game.

I’m not worried about what everybody else says. The only people I’m worried about is my teammates and not letting them down.” Although Lewis has started only started for NFL games and none since that game against the Vikings, his value to the Bills has only grown since Week 10 of 2022.

Lewis was active for six of the last seven weeks that season, but played just eight defensive snaps and his future seemed bleak after being signed and released nine times before making the active roster out of training camp in 2022. Starting last season, though, Lewis became a valuable part of the roster. Lewis has become a utility player in the secondary, playing slot cornerback, safety, and if the Bills really needed him to do so, he can play outside cornerback, see action in all 17 games of 2023.

That also means Lewis has to prepare for each of those positions every week, along with his special teams duties. Of his 144 defensive snaps last season, Lewis played 77 at slot cornerback and 67 at safety. “It’s tough for a mental space to prepare for everything,” Lewis said.

“But it kind of makes it easier that we all meet together — the safeties meet together, the corners meet together. We all know the same language, we all know the game plan together so it makes it a little simpler when you get thrown in to make those adjustments and play well.” Now Lewis has to prepare to replace Johnson — McDermott did not place a timeline on his injury — who has become perhaps Buffalo’s most important defensive player.

The slot cornerback in the Bills’ defense required to cover receivers and tight ends, along with serving as a hybrid linebacker against the run. On top of his job requirements, Johnson was Buffalo’s most reliable defensive player. Not only was Johnson the only Bills defender to appear in every game over the previous two seasons, but he played 95.

6% of the snaps, playing 47 consecutive games dating back to 2021. At 5-foot-9, 183 pounds, Lewis played all over the place at Consortium College Prep in Detroit and then played a little slot cornerback for the University at Buffalo, primarily as a blitzer on passing downs. Known is one of the top pound-for-pound tacklers on the team, Lewis is now getting the full slot experience and made a career-high 10 tackles in 55 snaps after spelling Johnson.

“The expectation doesn’t change from player to player. There’s no cop outs,” Bills defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said. “.

.. Next guy up, let’s go.

We’ve got a standard here and we’re going to meet the standard. Obviously we’re going to miss Taron, he’s a heck of a football player. But we’ve got some other pretty good football players on this team.

” NOTES: In addition to Johnson, defensive end Dawuane Smoot (toe) did not practice and is likely out against the Dolphins after missing Week 1. Quarterback Josh Allen (left hand) has been cleared to play. Running back Ty Johnson (knee) and defensive end Javon Solomon (oblique) were both limited Monday.

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