Bills camp observations: Coach Sean McDermott concerned about number of injuries
The Buffalo Bills returned to practice Sunday after a day off and had a training camp-high nine players unable to participate because of injury. Is head coach Sean McDermott concerned? Yes.
The Buffalo Bills returned to practice Sunday after a day off and had a training camp-high nine players unable to participate because of injury.
Is head coach Sean McDermott concerned? Yes.
“It’s hard to develop when you’re not on the field, but we’ll find a way through it,” he said. “(I have) full confidence in the medical staff to get those guys back as quick as they can. We’ll develop the guys who are out on the field.”
Bills tight end Dawson Knox sat out his first practice of training camp on Sunday with a groin injury. He expects to return on Monday. Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
The list of players who didn’t work: tight end Dawson Knox (groin/day off, first missed practice), receiver Chase Claypool (toe, sixth), running back Ty Johnson (right hamstring, fifth), offensive tackles La’el Collins (knee, second) and Travis Clayton (right shoulder, fourth), safeties Mike Edwards (hamstring, fifth) and Cole Bishop (shoulder, third) and linebackers Nicholas Morrow (groin, second) and Edefuan Ulofoshio (rib, first).
Knox said he will practice Monday and would have “absolutely” been able to play if a regular-season game was scheduled Sunday.
“I could have practiced (Sunday), but they said rest is better than pushing it and making it worse,” Knox said.
Before practice, McDermott had his first media availability since Bishop was injured last Tuesday and the Bills signed veteran safeties Kareem Jackson and Terrell Burgess. Bishop and Edwards remain week to week.
Asked how Bishop can keep pace without practicing, McDermott said: “It’s hard. You’ve got to do as much as you can mentally. It’s really hard especially when you don’t have background in the system.”
McDermott said during Saturday night’s staff meeting, they related Bishop’s absence to middle linebacker Terrel Bernard missing significant practice time last August. There was one key difference.
“(Bernard) had been in the system one year prior,” McDermott said. “It’s a challenge to develop those guys (who are injured) and it’s going to take some time.”
The Bills practiced in shells after four consecutive padded workouts. Here are some observations and notes:
Move-the-ball drill
The Bills ran a move-the-ball drill to end the team portion of practice.First up was quarterback Josh Allen, who started in Bills territory and under a minute remaining.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen capped his 11-on-11 work on Sunday with a 1-yard touchdown pass to receiver Keon Coleman.
Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
Over 11 snaps, Allen was 4 of 9 passing. He started with a completion to tight end Dalton Kincaid, but the next three plays were incompletion, scramble and throwaway.
With 26 seconds remaining, Allen hit receiver Mack Hollins on the right side. Cornerback Christian Benford pushed Hollins late out of bounds, then threw the football at Hollins. McDermott blew his whistle to give the offense a 15-yard penalty.
Following three consecutive incompletions from the 14-yard line, Allen threw 13 yards to Kincaid over the middle. On the next play, snapped at eight seconds, Allen delivered a dart to receiver Keon Coleman in the back of the end zone.
Started at the Bills’ 33-yard line with 32 seconds remaining, quarterback Mitchell Trubisky threw 9 yards to receiver Tyrell Shavers, but the drive was halted on a false start penalty by Ryan Van Demark, a throwaway and pass breakup by cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram.
Heavy 11-on-11 day
Even before the move-the-ball period, the Bills emphasized 11-on-11, running a total of 65 plays. Highlights prior to the hurry-up session:Allen: His second drive included a false start on right tackle Spencer Brown, but ended with a nice pass off play action to Shavers, who ran a crossing route with cornerback Taron Johnson grabbing the back of his jersey. … During the second 11-on-11 period, Allen was 4 of 5 passing over six snaps, completing passes to receiver Khalil Shakir, Kincaid, Shavers and tight end Zach Davidson (another strong practice for him). … Allen and Kincaid had the first of their two miscommunications on a pass to the sideline that should have been intercepted by Benford (he did pushups for the drop). … The drive wrapped up with a Davidson catch on a deep over route. … Allen was 3 of 5 passing over seven plays before the move-the-ball period, completing two passes to Shakir and a wink, wink touchdown to Coleman after a lengthy scramble.
Trubisky: His first drive ended with a near-acrobatic, one-handed catch downfield by fullback Reggie Gilliam. … Defensive end Kameron Cline gifted the offense 5 yards (offside penalty). … Trubisky was 5 of 6 passing during a six-play segment. … He was 2 of 4 over seven plays on a drive that reached the opponent’s 10-yard line, but got bogged down by a sack and two incompletions.
Shane Buechele: His final two plays of his first drive were a quarterback pressure by defensive end Rondell Bothroyd and a batted pass by defensive end Kingsley Jonathan. … Another rocky possession. After a rush by running back Ray Davis, it was incompletion and consecutive aborted plays on pressures by defensive tackle Branson Deen and defensive end Javon Solomon, who had an active pass-rushing day. … Buechele’s final drive of practice started with a nice pass breakup by rookie cornerback Daequan Hardy and ended with a false start penalty and would-be sack.
One 7-on-7 period
The Bills started out with a 7-on-7 period. Allen was 3 of 4 passing, Trubisky 2 of 4 and Buechele 2 of 2.Running back James Cook ran a good wheel route to catch a touchdown pass from Trubisky in tight coverage, and Davidson had three catches.
