If healthy I’m guessing he would have beat out Hamlin in the offseason, but McDermott basically never shuffles around the starting lineup once it’s been set unless due to injury.
I’m kinda surprised they didn’t “platoon” safety to start the year like they did with some Oline positions in the past. Maybe they didn’t think he was far enough along, or maybe he just hasn’t been “process” oriented enough right from the start.