Bills shuffle line again

One Bills Drive - The regular season opener is less than three weeks away.  And the Buffalo Bills are looking for an answer at left tackle.

That's not a good situation for an NFL team.  But when the Bills returned to practice at One Bills Drive Monday afternoon, one time starter at guard, Andy Levitre, was getting the first team reps at left tackle.  Demetrius Bell, the starter at LT for the first two preseason games, split the reps with Levitre.

"My job is to get the five best (offensive linemen) on the field," said Head Coach Chan Gailey after Monday's workout.  "And maybe that's our five best-with Chad Rinehart at guard and Andy Levitre at tackle.  We're going to take a look at it."

Just last week, Levite got locked into a competition with Rinehart for the left guard position.  Levitre had started at left guard for every game in his first two years on the Bills roster.

"I think the coaches are trying to see what depth they have for all the positions,"  Levitre told News 4 Sports.  "I know the offense so I feel like it shouldn't be too hard to pick up on.  They are just some technical things that I am not used to working at guard that I'll need to do at tackle."

Gailey said he's looking for more consistency from Demetrius Bell, who started all 16-games at left tackle in 2010.

"Consistency--that's the bottom line," Gailey said.  "You have to be consistent up front.  You don't have to be great or perfect but you do have to be consistent."

Gailey also updated the status of several players injured Saturday night in the preseason loss at Denver.

Running back Johnny White, the rookie from North Carolina, was on the sidelines for Monday's practice and he's not likely to play again in the preseason.  Gailey says both White and wide receiver Donald Jones, who suffered an apparent concussion in the Broncos game, are expected to be ready for the regular season opener September 11th.

Linebacker Shawne Merriman was back on the practice field after missing most of last week with a slight groin strain.