Bills' Justin Zimmer doesn't want one play to define career

It’s a team game, but defensive tackle Justin Zimmer made a game-saving play for the Buffalo Bills last season.

An under-the-radar player, Zimmer forced a fumble from New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton late to secure a Bills victory in Week 8, 24-21. The Pats were driving up until that point but Zimmer’s play halted everything.

However, Zimmer does not want that to be the thing he’s remembered for. The journeyman found his way into the Bills’ lineup last season and had positive moments like that.

Zimmer wants to add to his list.

“It was a good play, but there’s always things you can improve on,” Zimmer said via press conference. “And I try not to focus on that play too much just because I don’t want one player to define my career.”

Impressively so, Zimmer not only re-watched that play this offseason… he watched every single one he was on the field for last year, taking notes and making adjustments.

“When I was getting off the ball well, I was making plays, playing better,” he said. “And when my get off was inconsistent, I played inconsistent, and that was the biggest thing. And just working on redefining my pass rush moves, just getting more comfortable, knowing the situations, things like that.”

Even after a solid 2020 season, Zimmer has an uphill battle to make the Bills’ final roster out of training camp. The defensive line is the area where the team added the most this offseason.

Not only are the Bills’ top-two rookies, Greg Rousseau and Boogie Basham, versatile edge defenders, defensive tackle Star Lotulelei returns from opting out.

If you trust the judgment of defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, Zimmer is not a player you should sleep on. A guy who has bounced around the NFL in his career, Zimmer has Frazier’s attention this summer.

“He’s not forgotten in my eyes,” Frazier said earlier in training camp. “He did a terrific job for us a season ago.

“He epitomizes what you look for in a football player. The way he works. The way he approaches every single practice, every meeting. He’s a lunch-pail guy. He did a great job for us.”

Zimmer’s potential spot with the Bills might come down to him vs. Harrison Phillips. But the Bills could opt to keep a heavy supply of defensive linemen on their roster considering how much rotating the team does along the defensive front during games.

Either way, the upcoming preseason which begins on Friday against the Detroit Lions could prove to be critical for Zimmer.