PITTSFORD -- The expected competition at middle linebacker for the Buffalo Bills has been one-sided thus far.

Through the first four practices of training camp, it's been all Preston Brown with the starters. That has meant second-year veteran Reggie Ragland, who missed all of his rookie year after suffering a torn ACL last summer, has lined up with the second-team defense.

Monday morning, coach Sean McDermott explained why.

"There's a plan for every player. Reggie's a ... second-year player coming off a knee injury," McDermott said. "Really, this is his first year, so acclimating him to practice tempo -- he missed most of the spring -- acclimating him to the system and putting him in position, like we try to do with all our players, to have success. Success early and success in the long term.

"I liked what he did the other day, the second day of pads. I saw a physical aspect of his game, an emotional aspect of his game that we need on our defense. A lot of work remains for all of us, including Reggie at this point."