Buffalo Bills rookie recap: preseason Week 1, Minnesota Vikings

The preseason is all about evaluation and last night’s preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings did not give us much to evaluate when it comes to the Buffalo Bills 2017 rookie class. When rewatching the game, the coaches will likely take note of the strong performance Nathan Peterman and not much else. While Peterman managed to stand out, most others had a quiet night at New Era Field.

CB Tre’Davious White

The Bills first-round pick was one of the players who had a quiet evening, which isn’t a bad thing when you are a cornerback. It appeared that good coverage on the back-end forced Sam Bradford to check the ball down several times, which White was most assuredly a part of. He was credited with a single tackle on the stat sheet.

WR Zay Jones

The rookie wide receiver also had a forgettable night. Tyrod didn’t appear to looks his way much and Jones was not credited with any catches as a result. Sammy Watkins was the focus of the passing game.

OT Dion Dawkins

Dawkins saw snaps at right tackle with the second team and did not look out of place. He did not give up any sacks. The team did not end up running his direction very much so it was hard to get a handle on his run blocking prowess.

LB Matt Milano

The Vikings offense in the second half was mostly predicated on short to intermediate throws which allowed Milano to demonstrate his coverage chops against tight ends and running backs. He performed adequately in taking away the occasional target but did not make any noteworthy plays. He was credited with a single tackle.

QB Nathan Peterman

Peterman was the star of the show last night and demonstrated why he was so well thought of during the draft. His final stat number of 13 completions on 25 passing attempts for 112 yards and one TD belies how impressive he was under center. (That’s not to mention his four runs for 26 yards.) Compared to backup QB T.J. Yates, Peterman showed much better poise, accuracy, and pocket presence. He wasn’t timid with his throws either, he made some aggressive downfield attempts. He also managed to keep drives alive with his legs. Overall it was a good first step for Peterman, that will no doubt cause Bills fans to clamor for him to replace Yates.

LB Tanner Vallejo

The Boise State alum injured his shoulder in the second quarter of the game and did not return. No prognosis has been given for his return.

UDFA notes

Daikiel Shorts was tied for the team lead in receptions (4) and was second in total yardage (37)... Brandon Reilly had the longest reception of the night, an 18-yard completion... Austin Rehkow was 1-for-1 on extra points... Marquevius Lewis led the team in tackles (4) and added a sack...