The Buffalo Bills are nearly done with training camp, and on the final day of closed practice at St. John Fisher College, there were some positive development after a rough stretch of practices.
O-line injuries: Long, Feliciano return
Locked in a competition for the right guard spot, they couldn’t stay off the field forever. Both worked with the second team and look to get back to the first-team reps on Tuesday,
LaAdrian Waddle reportedly has a torn quadriceps muscle and is done for the year but Mitch Morse was on the sideline working agility drills on Monday.
Cody Ford got his second straight day as starting right guard, but he wasn’t as solid as he was Sunday, He’s easily capable of displaying his power but still needs work on his feet.
Ed Oliver causing problems
Sure, it’s against Russell Bodine, but Ed Oliver has been causing problems in the Bills’ backfield since the pads went on. Oliver got too close to Josh Allen on Monday and the second-year quarterback banged his throwing hand into Oliver’s helmet.
Oliver played his way into the starting lineup and it’s hard to see him leave it anytime soon unless it’s to give Bodine, Allen, and company a break from the relentless beatings.
Passing game back on Monday
After poor performances the last few days, Josh Allen was accurate and decisive on Monday. His connection with John Brown was back, and the pair found each other in multiple areas of the field. Allen found Andre Roberts in the back of the end zone for a 17-year touchdown after a scramble to buy time to end practice and his arm strength was on full display with the throw.
We didn’t expect Allen’s development to be a straight line up, but it’s good to see it trending back that way after a couple down days.
Odds and ends
- Ike Boettger was the second-team center with Bodine taking first-team reps. Morse was out and Long and Feliciano were limited.
- Josh Allen may be coming for EJ Manuel’s hard count crown. He drew Lorenzo Alexander and Ed Oliver offside during team work.
- Hamstrung tight ends Dawson Knox and Jason Croom were doing agility training, indicating that they could return to the lineup soon. With the upcoming game against the Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo will probably rest them until after the game as they work their way back.
- Devin Singletary continues to impress the media.
- Siran Neal received two-on-one work from head coach Sean McDermott and safeties coach Bobby Babich for 20 minutes before practice. Neal is taking over as the team’s Big Nickel safety.
- Duke Williams and David Sills V were “sprinkled in” with the second-team offense according to Sal Capaccio and Williams was better on Monday, says The Athletic. Still, they both have a long way to go to crack the roster.
- Buffalo practiced the end-of-game multi-lateral play during Monday’s practice.