‘Cook displayed those concerns once again on Wednesday, when he failed to hang onto a couple of passes thrown his way. Early during 7 on 7 drills, Josh Allen looked for Cook down the right seam and nearly connected with his target on a 30-yard pitch and catch. The trouble was that Cook, who initially got two hands on the ball, failed to complete the catch as cornerback Christian Benford, who was trailing the play, punched the ball free for an incompletion. Later, during 11 on 11 work, Cook failed to hang onto a low throw from Allen, coughing it up after safety Damar Hamlin made a play on the ball. The first drop took away a would-be touchdown, and the second may have been ruled a fumble.’
BillsBeat - August 8, 2024
Bills find practice offers enough preparation for Week 1 despite diminishing hits
‘It’s just an example of how competitive NFL practices can become, especially during training camp when players are fighting for a job. That’s also why, even as tackling has largely been eliminated and contact overall has been stripped down during practices, coaches don’t feel the need to play starters for long stretches during preseason games, if at all.’
Training Camp Takeaways: Josh Allen, Bills offense starting to find which plays work best
‘Offensive coordinator Joe Brady says the playbook is mostly installed, with a few adjustments and tweaks done throughout the season based on personnel and opponent. Allen and the Bills offense seemed comfortable to start Wednesday’s practice after getting bested by the defense Monday for the first time during training camp.’
Josh Allen Explains Reasoning Behind His New Mustache at Bills Training Camp
‘”It wasn’t really a choice,” Allen said about his mustache. “Whatever my center [Connor McGovern] asks me to do, I’m going to try to do. Him and Dave Edwards were going ‘stache only, so they asked me to join them, so I did.”‘
Bills' darling rookie not listed as starter on first depth chart
‘Mack Hollins and Curtis Samuel are listed as the boundary starters, while Khalil Shakir is the starter in the slot. Rookie Keon Coleman is listed behind Hollins on the depth chart.’
Bills Mafia may have to wait a bit longer to see Josh Allen in action
‘Allen played in the preseason in each of the last two seasons. Not seeing him on the field until September is obviously a possibility, but would come as a surprise given recent history with how the Bills go about giving their starters some reps in the summer.’
Bills release first depth chart as team gets set to wrap-up camp
‘At safety, while there are injuries to both Mike Edwards and Cole Bishop, Damar Hamlin is listed as a starter along with Taylor Rapp. Interestingly, although both Bishop and Edwards are considered week-to-week, Bishop is listed with the second team, along with Cam Lewis. But Edwards is behind him in the third pairing, with Kareem Jackson.’
Allen doesn't know how much he's playing in preseason
‘“Yes and no, it doesn’t really make a difference for me at this point of my career, so to get things rolling would be nice, but I understand not getting out there making sure that we’re being healthy and being protective, so it’s a double edged sword any way you look at it, so if I’m asked to play, I’ll play and if I’m told not to play, I won’t play.”‘
Beane: "I think transition is a fair word"
‘”There’s always change, right? No teams the same. I would say this year there was probably more eye opening names that we lost, either due to the business side of it, people got paid, or we moved on, or just Father Time, or whatever it is, we knew what we were walking into. This year was a little bit bigger year of a cap number we were prepared for it. Is it fun? No, it stinks to lose a lot of the names that have helped you set your foundation and been here for a lot of the success that we’ve had. So you know, it is time, and I think transition is a fair word.”‘
Not so Kha-'lil' Shakir anymore; Buffalo Bills wide receiver proving that consistency pays off
‘”He speaks so loudly to the quarterbacks with the way routes,” Brady added. “He continues to make plays and Josh has the utmost trust in him.”‘
7 Observations from the Buffalo Bills second last day of training camp
‘James Cook had two instances where he had the ball popped out of his hands on Wednesday.’
Allen, Bills offense embracing a new look
‘“I feel like we’ve found a sense of identity in what we are and what we want to do with the football,” Allen said. “We’ve got certain plays we like more than others, and those are the plays we’re going to run more than others. Just trusting what Joe (Brady) is calling, just trying to be an extension of him on the field. We’ve got a lot of guys that are smart, can play a lot of different positions, that you can move around. There’s a bit of unpredictability for us and that’s kind of fun as a quarterback.”’
DeWayne Carter gaining confidence during first training camp with Bills
‘“Confidence comes with reps,” Carter said after training camp practice Wednesday. “At first, you first get here, this is the highest league in the world. The best you can play. It’s almost a little intimidating at first. You come in spring ball and OTAs, kind of, I don’t want to say timid, but with a lot of questions. So you got those answered throughout camp and I feel like my confidence is continuing to grow each day.”’
Bills wrapping up training camp; starters' playing status uncertain for preseason opener
‘”It’ll be fun to see them in action in the preseason. I’m not sure if I’m playing, if I’m playing at all— I guess we’ll find out— but I know that they will be,” Allen said. “We’re excited to go see them perform at a high level.”‘
'Happy with what we got': Allen ready to utilize new targets in wake of Diggs' departure
‘He’s been working hard on making a connection with all of his new pass catchers, but Wednesday, he was asked if he’s been missing Stefon Diggs, his former favorite target who left for the Texans in the offseason.’