Shawn Springs started at free safety for Saturday night's preseason game against the Buffalo Bills.

Leigh Torrence moved into the starting lineup at cornerback, opposite Fred Smoot.

Springs was inserted into the lineup at safety due to a shortage of available defensive backs.

LaRon Landry, the usual starter at free safety, remained sidelined due to a hamstring injury.

Vernon Fox was also not available for Saturday's gamed due to a personal matter.

Springs played most of the first quarter and had one tackle. With the Bills threatening to score early in the contest, Springs nearly intercepted a pass in the end zone, but he could not hold on and the ball fell incomplete.

Springs has seen some action at free safety during training camp as Landry recovered from his injury.

Moving to safety is something that Springs has discussed in the past. He thinks it could help prolong his NFL career.

Landry and Doughty are the projected starters at safety, and Fox is the primary reserve. Rookies Kareem Moore and Chris Horton add youth to the defensive backfield.

Springs, 6-0 and 207 pounds, has the versatility and experience to transition to safety. He has played cornerback his entire 12-year NFL career.

Meantime, Carlos Rogers sat out Saturday's game as he continued to rehab his knee injury. Rogers has increased his practice workload in recent weeks, however.

First-year player Byron Westbrook and rookies J.T. Tryon and Matteral Richardson got the bulk of action at cornerback once starters left the game.

Before the game, the Redskins announced that H.B. Blades (knee), Stephon Heyer (knee), Erasmus James (knee), Malcolm Kelly (knee), Rocky McIntosh (knee) Devin Thomas (hamstring), Todd Wade (ankle) and Rian Wallace (hand) would not play in the game.