After Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Ike Boettger returned from the Reserve/COVID-19 list, there was some hope that left tackle Dion Dawkins wouldn’t be far behind.
Evidently, that was not the case.
According to Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott, Dawkins and Boettger are trending down difference paths. Dawkins might not make it out on the field for full workouts for some time despite Boettger doing so already.
“He’s not close to where he needs to be to play and help us,” McDermott said Sunday via press conference. “He’s got a long road here. He’s going to control what he can control and so are we. He’s going to continue to work hard to get himself back. This is Week 4 of training camp, so he’s missed a lot of time.”
As Boettger and Dawkins arrived to training camp, per safety protocols, they were tested for COVID-19. The pair were then placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
On Aug. 2, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane said that he expected both players to return to practice that week. After the GM said that on a Monday, Boettger did return a couple days later.
It took Dawkins 10 days later to finally be activated.
Dawkins, 27, remaining on the sideline due to COVID for such an extended time, even despite returning to individual workouts, is curious. It also shines light on the uncertainties society has regarding the virus.
But considering how long Dawkins took off practicing and heavy workouts, the Bills and McDermott could be acting with precaution to get him back to full workouts. That could also be the smart plan as well.
The Bills’ next two preseason games are the next two Saturday afternoons on the calendar, Aug. 21 against the Bears and Aug. 28 versus the Packers. There appears to be a chance that the Bills might wait until the second of those two games to finally get Dawkins on the field for a preseason game.
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