Marcell Dareus, Manny Lawson, Alan Branch report to Bills mandatory minicamp

Three players that were noticeably absent from many of the Buffalo Bills OTAs over the last several weeks are back in action today for the start of the team's mandatory minicamp.

Marcell Dareus is back after two weeks away from team headquarters, a decision made by Dareus himself and head coach Doug Marrone following Dareus' second arrest in the month of May. Dareus has two pending court dates for those arrests, and the team told reporters on Tuesday that they'll shield their star defensive tackle from reporters eager to pepper him with questions about those legal situations.

Manny Lawson and Alan Branch, the only two players that did not report to voluntary team activities this offseason, are also in Orchard Park for this week's mandatory minicamp, according to WGR 550's Joe Buscaglia. The two 2013 free agent signings also missed voluntary work last offseason (both men stayed home with their wives and newborns). Both emerged as key cogs in previous coordinator Mike Pettine's defense, and while both will also have role changes working under Jim Schwartz, they'll have an easier learning curve picking up the new scheme, as well.

This week's mandatory minicamp is the last of the Bills' full-team offseason activities before training camp begins on July 20.