In the final week of training camp, the Buffalo Bills welcomed back former starting right tackle Seantrel Henderson -- following a lengthy absence due to medical issues. Henderson, who started 26 games in two seasons for the Bills, is now in a battle with Crohn's disease and at the same time, is trying to return to the playing form the team knew from him in 2014.
Henderson went as far as playing in the team's third preseason game -- a contest on the road against Washington. The right tackle took about half of the team's snaps on offense after just a handful of practices, but that was the last we've seen of him.
Since then Henderson hasn't participated in either practices or in the team's fourth preseason game due to what the team termed a "medical issue." That was, until Tuesday at One Bills Drive.
Henderson returned to practice in a full capacity, and it's a significant step for him in the eyes of the Bills. As the right tackle missed a whole week of work, his immediate future became unclear -- but those worries have subsided for the time being.
Joe B's Take
Henderson getting back to the Bills on Tuesday was fantastic news, but don't expect the former starting right tackle to get back to that role anytime in the immediate future. Jordan Mills has started all through the summer, and even if he hasn't looked like an ideal starting option next to right guard John Miller, Henderson isn't anywhere near the starting lineup at this point.
When pressed about Henderson, head coach Rex Ryan said that he doesn't even know if they'll have the offensive tackle active on Sunday in Baltimore -- and with how little he's practiced, logic would indicate that Cyrus Kouandjio would be the activated backup offensive tackle for the Bills.
That said, as long as he doesn't have any setbacks, don't rule out Henderson making some noise on the starting lineup at some point in the season. Mills has been the weak link of the offensive line for the Bills since being inserted into the starting lineup, and if those struggles continue in 2016, it wouldn't hurt to try Henderson at right tackle.
Some will ask about Kouandjio, but the former second-round pick is a more natural fit at left tackle and has had his fair share of struggles on the right side as well. Of course, with something as complicated as Crohn's disease, you never can really be prepared for potential twists and turns. But if Henderson keeps improving and practicing, it's not so far off to think he can help the Bills at some point in 2016.
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