‘Tuesday afternoon, we learned that not only did Dawkins test positive for COVID, he was hospitalized for four days.’
Archives for August 2021
Josh Allen continues hot training camp
‘At one point it appeared some defensive players were getting visibly frustrated with not being able to stop Allen and the passing offense, which wasn’t full of big plays, but just hit completion after completion down the field.’
Buffalo Bills LT Dion Dawkins was hospitalized for four days with COVID-19
‘According to Dawkins his conditioning took a hit, something that head coach Sean McDermott addressed Sunday, stating that he is “not close to where he needs to be.” But, Dawkins said he knows that is part of it and he is feeling more and more like himself each day.’
From defense to special teams, Bills DE Darryl Johnson working to be consistent and provide value
‘”When I see him at practice I tell him, ‘Every day you come out here, come out with a chip on your shoulder’,” defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier added. “You need to show people you deserve to be here. He’s practiced that way, he’s held his own, and has done a really good job each year.”‘
PSE Spokesperson: Renovations not an option at Highmark Stadium
‘Wilkinson says there is an unrealistic myth that somehow the existing Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park could be renovated. He says that is far from the truth, after an independent architecture firm, DiDonoto Associates, hired by Erie County found several glaring and expensive issues with the current structure.’
Bills LT Dion Dawkins opens up about being hospitalized for Covid-19
‘“If there’s a checklist for it, it was everything. It was shortness of breath, it was the hot and cold, it was the cough, it was everything. Like the dehydration like all of the body stuff,” Dawkins said on Tuesday after practice.’
Dawkins reflects on bout with COVID-19
‘When he was diagnosed, he had both COVID shots when he contracted the virus, but was a couple days short of being considered fully inoculated.’
‘It was one of the lowest points I’ve ever been’
‘ ”Honestly, man it was one of the lowest points I’ve ever been,” Dawkins said. “I never even thought I could even get that low because I’m so animated. And that hit hard. Even with the mental stuff, it hit every part of me, and I was shocked that it could even hit that. Being in the hospital was probably the hardest part because I was like man, I’m in the hospital and my team is out there working. And I’m here. I’m not helping if I’m not present.”‘
How Star Lotulelei has been a ‘bright light’ for the Bills’ defense since his return
‘“Some of why he didn’t play in that ballgame is some of the good things we’ve seen in practice,” Frazier said Monday. “That was enough that we’ve seen to tell us it wasn’t necessary to put him out there during that ballgame, that we could wait another week and continue to evaluate some other players who weren’t able to see. He’s had a really good camp. We were all wondering what it would be like when we got him back and boy, he’s been a bright light for us in a lot of ways.”’
Observations: Josh Allen sees value in preseason games, but status for Week 2 is up in the air
‘“We know ‘Stef’ and ‘E’ when they get back and when they’re ready to go, they’re going to go out there and do what they always do,” Allen said Monday after the 14th practice of training camp. “That’s why they’ve played in this league for so long. But getting some reps with these other guys and just seeing what they can do, feeling their body language, throwing different types of balls to them and just figuring out what best suits their game … it’s been good.”’
Buffalo Bills third-round pick Spencer Brown learned under tutelage of ex-NFL star Joe Staley
‘“It was awesome,” Brown, the Buffalo Bills third-round draft pick, said recently following practice at One Bills Drive. “Joe just blew the door off the hinges from a knowledge aspect. UNI really gave me a good base to go off of and understanding things, and then Joe came in and he started fine tweaking everything. It was insane.”’
Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier says position flexibility is vital
‘“That’s what you’d like,” McDermott said. “The more you can do, that’s true for all of us. I think it has evolved, yes, like the game has evolved. I think certain fundamentals and the core of football will always be there, but it’s a space game and that’s why these positions on defense, we’re seeing the evolution of some defenses because of what’s happening on offense.”’
Bills camp Day 14: Greg Rousseau with another sack; Josh Allen’s got jokes: Jake Kumerow favorite WR?
‘With veteran Mario Addison set for a reduction in snap count – he played roughly 57% of total snaps last season – the starting left defensive end spot could be there for the taking for Rousseau. If he can win that job, Addison can become the situational pass rusher that could help unlock some additional production.’
Three bold predictions for Bills in 2021: Buffalo will win the Super Bowl
‘The Bills defensive roster is deeper than in 2020, particularly up front, which is the lifeblood of McDermott’s schematic philosophy. Last year, Buffalo registered the fourth-most quarterback pressures in football but only the 16th-most sacks. Logically, Beane selected two defensive ends with his first two picks, youngsters with high-end traits and, you guessed it, impressive sack productivity in college. Gregory Rousseau famously recorded 15.5 sacks as a redshirt freshman at Miami in 2019 before opting out, and Carlos Basham had 19.5 sacks in his final three season at Wake Forest.’
Bills’ Allen hasn’t been told if he’s playing Saturday in Chicago.
‘If it were up to Allen he’d play. He said, “I love playing and I want to be out there with my teammates, but again, if I don’t I get to, I’ll sit back and watch my teammates make some plays.’