Only one Buffalo Bills player was absent from the team’s first mandatory minicamp practice on Tuesday. Depth offensive lineman Jamil Douglas has the dubious distinction, but he’s been in attendance at voluntary OTAs.
Several Bills veterans haven’t been to Orchard Park at all for Organized Team Activities, or were there for just one week, but everyone has now been in town.
DE Jerry Hughes, DT Star Lotulelei, DT Vernon Butler, and DE Mario Addison in addition to RB Taiwan Jones all made their first appearances of the offseason. It’s a bit of a surprise for Hughes, whose wife is due to give birth in Texas any day now and has a built-in excuse.
“Great to have the team here. Great to have everyone here,” said head coach Sean McDermott on Tuesday. “I certainly appreciate everyone’s participation. This is how you build a team. It’s hard to build a team when you’re spread throughout the United States or other parts of our country and different countries if you will. That’s no way to build a team, a good team and that’s what we’re trying to do. I appreciate everyone being here.”
RB Zack Moss and OL Cody Ford did not practice due to their ongoing injury rehab. TE Jacob Hollister, RB Matt Breida, and DT Star Lotulelei all did not participate in team drills. DE Bryan Cox, Jr. left practice on a cart after being helped off the field with a leg injury.