Training camps have kicked off around the NFL, and our team reporters are on the ground each day following all the action. The Buffalo Bills’ camp is taking place in Pittsford, New York, and Bills reporter Alaina Getzenberg has the latest intel on standouts, highlights, position battles, depth chart movement, cut decisions and of course the quarterback room.
What follows is everything we are seeing and hearing at camp. We will file the latest updates. Who are the breakout playerss to watch, especially for fantasy football? And which players on the roster bubble could make the final 53?
Let’s get into it all, and be sure to keep checking back for more information until the first full week of the preseason begins on Aug. 7.
Camp updates for all 32 teams
Latest news from Bills camp
Sunday, July 27
The Bills finished Sunday’s practice with a red zone period, and on the final play, wide receiver Tyrell Shavers made a touchdown catch with rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston in coverage. Hairston made slight contact with Shavers at the end of the play. Shavers rolled to the ground and then was visibly in pain, grabbing his right ankle. Athletic trainers quickly surrounded Shavers with much of the team joining as he was evaluated. Shavers was taken off the field on the back of a cart. A source said that Shavers is “doing fine” and has a low ankle sprain.
“[Shavers] ran an under shallow route,” Hairston said. “That’s just us competing. Me being a corner, not trying to allow the receiver to catch the ball.”
Shavers, who was on the team’s practice squad last season, was putting together a strong camp, competing for a 53-man roster spot. Hairston said that cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae communicated with him after the play to “just be smart. We know we’re in practice, but at the end of the day we’re competing, but this our teammates. Just to be smart on the finish.”
Wide receiver injuries are among the early camp themes. Curtis Samuel missed practice with a hamstring injury. Samuel started Friday’s practice participating but then sat out a good amount of the session. Receiver Elijah Moore is also dealing with general leg soreness.
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Linebacker Terrel Bernard also missed Sunday’s practice with a hamstring injury.
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Nickel corner Taron Johnson had a veteran rest day.
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DE AJ Epenesa (ankle) returned to practice on Sunday after missing a couple days.
Friday, July 25
Ahead of Buffalo Bills practice on Friday, defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said that “in two days we have one takeaway — which we are not happy with.” Babich was also wearing a hat with the phrase, “Take It Away” on the front.
Starting safety Taylor Rapp changed that in a big way with an interception during 7-on-7 drills off quarterback Josh Allen and another off Allen during the team period.
“[Rapp’s] gonna lay his body out,” cornerback Tre’Davious White said. “As you guys can see, he don’t give a damn. He’s gonna hit, he’s gonna talk and he’s gonna be there each and every play. Definitely a resilient guy.”
Free agent addition defensive end Michael Hoecht noted that it is still early in camp and limitations on what defenders can do make turnovers at this time difficult, however, emphasized there are no excuses. And for a Bills team that was third in the league in takeaways last season, “[Takeaways are] going to be an emphasis and it’ll be an emphasis the entire season,” Hoecht said.
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Three new players did not participate in Friday’s practice — DE AJ Epenesa (ankle), LB Dorian Williams (calf) and WR David White Jr. (excused for personal reasons). Epenesa and Williams left practice early the day prior. Both were in attendance at the sessions with Williams wearing a short boot on his right foot.
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OL Alec Anderson left practice early after being involved in the first skirmish of camp with DE Hayden Harris.
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WR Curtis Samuel did not participate in a good portion of practice after starting the day participating. He spent time talking to athletic trainers.
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The backup right tackle competition continues with Spencer Brown sidelined with a back injury. Tylan Grable and Ryan Van Demark are exchanging periods with Grable often getting the first first-team reps.
Thursday, July 24
Through two days, the presence of “Hard Knocks” is visible all over training camp and has certainly been noted by players and coaches. Quarterback Josh Allen, who is watching some of what he says, said he’ll “try not to cuss as much. I mean, I know it’s HBO, so I’m sure it goes on there. At the same time, you know, just making sure that, you know, my mom, anything that I say my mom would be OK with it.”
Left tackle Dion Dawkins has welcomed the extra attention the show will bring when it premiers on Aug. 5, saying on Thursday that he loves having the cameras around.
Coach Sean McDermott also noted the positives of bringing the extra attention in. “They see us on game day, now they get a chance to see that what we do on Sunday is exactly what we do Monday through Saturday,” McDermott said. “And I think that’s the cool piece about it. The increased noise, if you will, is maybe in some ways good practice for us to really hone in and focus and get our focus where it needs to be.”
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DE AJ Epenesa and LB Dorian Williams left practice early with injuries. The severity is unclear on both.
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Epenesa was also involved in a brief moment when he punched the helmet of rookie tight end Jackson Hawes when Hawes was continuing to push defenders after the completion of a play and with Dawkins having fallen to the ground. There was no retaliation or larger fight from the punch.
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Wide receiver Keon Coleman had an improved second day of camp after a tough first day in largely red zone periods. Coleman caught a number of passes in the middle of the field from Allen on an improved day from the offense overall during 11-on-11 periods. His continued progression over a longer stretch is something to monitor.
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DE Joey Bosa did not participate in team drills on Thursday as the team works on keeping him healthy for the long haul.
Wednesday, July 23
The Bills’ first training camp session notably featured a fully-participating running back James Cook thus continuing his trend from mandatory minicamp. Cook seeks a contract extension as he is in the final year of his rookie deal. General manager Brandon Beane did not provide an update on any negotiations, but re-affirmed the team’s “love” towards Cook.
“Sometimes you can’t get on the same page or sometimes you’re trying to fit it in. There’s times guys have left here that we really wanted. We just couldn’t make it work. But I can tell you, I’m hopeful, when we’re sitting here at next year’s training camp that James Cook is out there practicing and still representing the red, white and blue.”
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Wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. did not participate in practice due to a lower leg strain.
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Defensive end Joey Bosa said his calf injury that limited him during the offseason work is “no issue anymore.” Bosa added that “I was feeling good weeks ago, so I was able to get a full offseason in and train really hard.”
Tuesday, July 22
Bills veterans reported to camp Tuesday ahead of the team’s first practice Wednesday. As players underwent physicals, a number of transactions were made. Tight end Dawson Knox was placed on the non-football injury list, while right tackle Spencer Brown and offensive lineman Sedrick Van Pran-Granger were placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, meaning all three will miss some practice.
With those injuries in mind, tight end Matt Sokol was signed to the roster, in addition to wide receiver David White Jr., while punter Jake Camarda and wide receiver Kelly Akharaiyi were released. The only punter on the roster is Brad Robbins.
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Running back James Cook did report with the team’s veterans on schedule as he said he anticipated doing during minicamp. His attendance comes amidst a desire for a contract extension. Cook fully participated in the team’s mandatory minicamp.