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Bills TE Dawson Knox is having the type of breakout season some have speculated and many have hoped he’d have in his young career.
A 2019 third-round pick out of Ole’ Miss, he spent his offseason working with Tight End University and a vision specialist, looking to take the next step in his progression.
With career highs in catches (31) as well as receiving yards (415) and six games remaining in the regular season, he’s been productive, to say the least. Last night alone, he hauled in two of QB Josh Allen’s four touchdown tosses.
One which came in the first quarter while facing a small mob of Saints defensemen at the goal line, and a second on a 24-yard pass in the third quarter that ended with a short hop hurdle of a defender into the endzone.
With that second TD, Knox achieved a milestone by becoming the franchise leader for touchdowns in a single season by a tight end with his seventh score on the year.
Back for seconds. 😏
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) November 26, 2021
📺: @nbc pic.twitter.com/g0gYkYkM7q
With the first score, he had joined a four-way tie (6) with past Bills TE’s Pete Metzelaars (1992), Jay Riemersma (1998), and Scott Chandler (2011-2012.)
Knox even added what would have been a third one on the day when he caught a seven-yard pass with 22 seconds left in the second quarter for a TD that got nullified by a penalty on G Ike Boettger. It would have helped the offense too, considering Josh Allen’s first red-zone interception of his career came on the play that followed.
“Thankfully I didn’t celebrate too much,” Knox said while addressing the media, “because turning around and seeing the flag, that’s always frustrating. But it’s just something that happens. We’ve got to bounce back from it.”
The 25-year-old has made the leap this year from a development talent that occasionally flashed some big-play potential to an impact player on the Bills offense. He credits his game preparation as a key to his success on the field.
“Just doing whatever you’re asked to do every week whether it’s one catch or ten, whether it’s zero targets or ten, ” Knox added. “With the quarterback that we have, the players that we have like there’s gonna be opportunities every single weekend and you just gotta be ready when it comes your way.”
Coach Sean McDermott was in high spirits after the game and had some fun fielding questions about what’s been different for Knox this season.
“I think he’s using different hair products this year than he did in the years before,” McDermott said during his press session. “He’s just confident. I think over half this game is mental and I think his confidence is where it needs to be this year, he’s had success and he’s been able to bounce back from some moments where he needed to reset and I think that shows how mentally tough he is.”
Knox responded with a laugh when told of his coach’s quip about his hair. “That’s funny,” the TE replied. “He really said that? You think he’s jealous?”
As for the TE, himself? He was plenty thankful after the game.
God’s glory 👆🏼
— Dawson Knox (@dawson_knox) November 26, 2021
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