Tag: Duke Williams

Bills 53-man roster projection following 2nd week of training camp

Buffalo Bills 53-man roster projection for second time in 2020 training camp.

As far as onlookers are considered, Buffalo Bills training camp has come to a close. On Sunday, the team had their final offseason practice which allowed reporters to be in attendance. Now we’re back to regular season standards where there’s… pretty much next to nothing seen.

But behind closed doors for the next few days, the team will still hit the practice field. Many players who are on the roster bubble are still battling for those spots prior to Saturday’s 4 p.m. cut down deadline.

But as our eyes have now exited the Bills’ practice field before we see them slash players off their roster, let’s take another swing at the team’s final roster. Here’s a 53-man roster projection for the Bills after that first week of practice:

Bills quarterback Josh Allen. (James P. McCoy/Buffalo News via AP, Pool)

QUARTERBACK (3)

Josh Allen, Matt Barkley, Jake Fromm

Cuts: Davis Webb

Over the past few roster projections we’ve released… we haven’t seen much movement in the slightest at the quarterback position. Those circumstances will remain the same once again (sorry).

Under a normal offseason, this move could have gone very differently. Earlier this offseason the Bills were in a position to potentially keep two quarterbacks… and in two different scenarios. Davis Webb was probably always going to be cut. Then there’s two other situations where one can envision Matt Barkley being cut and the other where Jake Fromm is released.

In terms of Barkley, he’s no longer really a “veteran” mentor to Allen, games played wise. Allen has 27 starts to Barkley’s seven. Cutting Barkley could also save the Bills $1.5M against the salary cap. But with COVID-19’s entrance into the offseason, this idea exited. There’s no way the Bills could run with Fromm as their backup when there’s no preseason games under his belt… aka having a No. 2 without any experience, period. But coronavirus also should make the Bills think twice about a strategy they’ve done the past few seasons: Keeping only two quarterbacks.

The 2018 season was one which saw the Bills start four quarterbacks. That year also didn’t involve a pandemic. Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott should refrain from getting cute here and trying to sneak Fromm on their practice squad. Just keep three, Bills, especially since you stuck by Fromm after his racially-charged texts from his past surfaced.

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Stock up, stock down following start of Bills training camp

Stock report following the start of Buffalo Bills training camp 2020.

The Bills are pretty much fully underway into their 2020 training camp slate. The Bills can hold a maximum of 14 padded practices during the 21-day contact integration period ahead of the start of the 2020 regular season. Just a few of the several curve balls the COVID-19 pandemic has sent us this offseason.

Of those 14 practices, we’re about halfway through them. With still a nice chunk of work left to do before the Bills meet the Jets for their season opener on Sept. 13, let’s check in with the roster’s stock report.

Here’s the latest stock up, stock down for the Bills from training camp:

Stock up

Bills Gabriel Davis. (James P. McCoy/Buffalo News via AP, Pool)

WR Gabriel Davis

Let’s start with the star of training camp. For years the Bills have coveted two things, a No. 1 wide receiver that’s going to knock your socks off and a big-bodied target that can’t be stopped. Nobody just really expected to get both of those via two players in Stefon Diggs and rookie wide receiver Gabriel Davis.

Diggs has impressed in camp in his own right, yes, but could his stock get any higher? Probably not. As the season unfolds, Davis might be getting more and more reps in the Bills offense as he’s already flashing an ability to box out defenders all throughout training camp.

Isn’t it nice to see all the eyes on a depth wide receiver for once who… actually seems legit?

Bills defensive end Bryan Cox Jr.. (James P. McCoy/Pool Photo via AP)

DE Bryan Cox Jr.

The defensive side of the ball has their Gabriel Davis as well and it’s Bryan Cox Jr. He’s more of your typical “depth wide receiver” type of guys who’s definitely on the bubble at this time, but he’s certainly making things interesting on the edge. Cox has notched several “sacks” on multiple days of training camp (they don’t actually tackle QBs at camp), even seeing some time against quarterback Josh Allen and the first-team offense. Jerry Hughes, Mario Addison and AJ Epenesa are your roster locks at defensive end, but if the Bills see Trent Murphy as an expendable player, could Cox be the team’s No. 4 defensive end? Or could the team even keep five?

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Bills 53-man roster projection following first week of training camp

A Buffalo Bills 53-man roster projection with seven days of training camp practices in 2020 in the books.

We’re a little off on the days, but hang with us.

The Bills have taken time off, so it’s been a little over a week now, technically. Well, actually, the start of training camp was weeks ago with a bit of an extended walk-through start to it.

But the total number of training camp practices the team has had so far with pads? Monday marked the seventh. So there’s our week.

To celebrate the first week of camp actually happening with the ups and down the COVID-19 pandemic have caused the team this offseason, here’s a 53-man roster projection for the Bills after those first seven practices:

Bills quarterback Josh Allen. (James P. McCoy/The Buffalo News via AP, Pool)

QUARTERBACK (3)

Josh Allen, Matt Barkley, Jake Fromm

Cuts: Davis Webb

Earlier this offseason the Bills were in a position to potentially keep two quarterbacks and cut Matt Barkley. He’s no longer really a “veteran” mentor to Allen, games played wise. Allen has 27 starts to Barkley’s seven. Cutting Barkley could also save the Bills $1.5M against the salary cap.

But that was ages ago now and the world as we know it, is no longer the same. Part of that picture? No preseason games in the NFL. It still might’ve been a bit of a bold prediction, but could the Bills have entered the season with two quarterbacks? Namely Josh Allen and Jake Fromm? It was possible. Was. But with no exhibition games under his belt, there’s no way Buffalo will enter a season with that scenario now. Not only does that save a roster spot for Barkley, but through training camp practices, Barkley’s probably been the QB that’s stood out the most, Allen included. Of course, he does typically play against the second-string defense, but still nice to have confidence in a No. 2, which he certainly is. Davis Webb could be considered a fourth-string “quarantine quarterback” on the practice squad

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Winners, losers from first week of Bills training camp

Naming winners and losers from the first week of Buffalo Bills 2020 training camp.

The Buffalo Bills’ first few practices of this weird preseason is finally in the books. It looks like we’re going to get football after all since things went relatively smoothly across the NFL landscape during the opening portion of training camps despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The real test will come when teams travel, though. But let’s keep this one light. On Saturday, the Bills won’t practice, and even though reporting on workouts this offseason has been constrained by the team and league, we still saw a few interesting nuggets of information squeak out of Orchard Park which can help up peg some good and bad from Week 1 of camp.

With that, here are some winners and losers from the first week of Bills camp:

Winners

Bills offensive Linemen Cody Ford. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

OL Cody Ford

Early in training camp, Cody Ford is certainly is getting his run of play. Bills head coach Sean McDermott previously had wanted to keep Ford at right tackle, but on at least two occasions, we’ve seen him getting reps at right guard. Regardless, its appears Ford’s going to be on the team’s offensive line, we’ll just figure out where later.

DE AJ Epenesa

A second-round pick is usually an exciting prospect, but you’re even more under the spotlight when the team selecting you doesn’t have a first rounder at the draft. Rookie AJ Epenesa is taking that in stride. There was video of him beating guard Brian Winters with power, but The Athletic also mentioned Epenesa’s speed when  facing “weaker opponents.” Furthermore, Epenesa isn’t just playing at defensive end, the rookie and McDermott both discussed this week that Epenesa is being used on all four spot on the D-line early in camp. Sounds like he could have a big role.

WR Duke Williams

No wide receiver has stood out more this week than Duke Williams. He’s had such good performances that the team has felt obligated to event tweet out videos of two of his catches this week. In fact, Williams made such good grabs that Bills Wire was fooled. We dubbed the first early in the week the “catch of training camp,” only for Williams to… have a better one later in the week.

The big question with Williams is special teams, though. If he can find a way to contribute there, it seems like he’s certainly going to find a roster spot.

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Did Duke Williams already have the best catch of Bills camp?

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Duke Williams’ highlight reel catch made in training camp 2020.

The Bills are many days into their 2020 training camp, but because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, their schedule is completely flipped on its head. This new slate has only seen the team take the practice field in pads two times. Everything else prior to that has been other work.

With a sizable chunk of practices still left, wide receiver Duke Williams might have already stolen the show.

On Tuesday during Day 2 of training camp, Williams made a ridiculous catch. That’s even an understatement. The unfortunate victim on the play was rookie UDFA cornerback Ike Brown.

Second-string quarterback Matt Barkley tossed a pass that was a little underthrown. Truthfully, Brown wasn’t in bad coverage (although he didn’t really get his head around to find the ball on the play) but it didn’t really matter. Williams went up and made an All-Pro catch:

Williams is in a tough spot on the Bills roster and he’ll need plays like this to help his status. The catch was nothing short of fantastic. However, under the surface, Williams will need to do even more to secure a roster spot.

In Buffalo’s wide receiver room, the top four spots are likely locked in via Stefon Diggs, John Brown, Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis. That leaves multiple guys fighting for limited roster space. In the past, the Bills have kept as few as five receivers on their post-training camp roster. Could this year see Sean McDermott & Co. keep six? Maybe seven? What could convince them to do so is special teams. There, Williams really hasn’t shown he’s an impact-maker. If that changes during this year’s training camp, Williams certainly has a look at a roster spot with catches made like this.

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3 takeaways from Day 2 of Bills training camp practices

Takeaways and observations from reports of Day 2 Buffalo Bills training camp practices.

The Bills have finally hit the field with pads on in 2020.

After a delay to their offseason schedule due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Bills players finally have started to get on the field and hit each other. With preseason games still canceled, each day of practice held in Orchard Park is that much more important before the team’s season opener against the Jets on Sept. 13.

Tuesday saw the second day of such physical practices. With that, here are three main takeaways from Day 2 of Bills training camp padded practices:

Bills safety Micah Hyde drops into coverage during training camp.

Micah Hyde picks off Josh Allen

The big storyline from Day 1 of training camp was the way that it ended. Quarterback Josh Allen chucked a ball deep down the field, found wide receiver John Brown for a long score with Tre’Davious White in coverage. Flash forward and the highlighted effort via various outlets on Tuesday was from the defense, and specifically, Micah Hyde.

During team sessions, Hyde reportedly intercepted Allen during 7-on-7 work. Syracuse.com indicates that the pass was intended for Stefon Diggs.

Even with the strong talent the Bills have added on offense as of late, the team’s bread and butter is still going to be their defense in 2020… and leading that defensive effort? The secondary, just as it has since Sean McDermott took over in 2017. The group probably took things very personal following that prior mentioned Brown score, too. WGR-550 radio reports that practice on Tuesday ended on a defensive stop. The group celebrated, just like the offense did a day earlier at the end of practice when Brown scored.

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Bills no longer have any players on Reserve/ COVID-19 list

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Duke Williams is removed from Reserve/ COVID-19 list.

The Buffalo Bills are clear of COVID-19 related absences from their roster as of Monday morning. Over the weekend the Bills activated their final player that was on the list, wide receiver Duke Williams.

In a corresponding move, recently signed cornerback Akeem King was released by the Bills to make room for Williams on Buffalo’s roster. As things currently stand, the Bills have 81 players on their roster.

During the current offseason which features the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the NFL created a few new guidelines in their CBA with the players union. First, teams only carry 80 players during the current training camp (81 with roster exempt Christian Wade) and there’s the creation of the Reserve/ COVID-19 list. The designation does not mean a player had tested positive for coronavirus, it could mean they had to quarantine because they were in contact with someone who tested positive.

Regardless, Williams fell into one of those categories and then in order to come off  of it, he had to have multiple negative test results in order to join his teammates. Evidently that had happened and the Bills are currently clear of COVID-19 on their roster.

Players will still continue to be tested as training camp rolls on, though. Eventually testing goes from daily testing to every other day as per the agreement between owners and players. At one point, the Bills had as many as five players on the Reserve/ COVID-19 list.

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Winners, losers following Bills 2020 NFL Draft

Winners and losers on the Buffalo Bills roster following the 2020 NFL Draft.

As is with every draft, every player on the Buffalo Bills got some new teammates. But depending on who those players are… some incumbents from last season are feeling pretty comfy about things.

While others now have a young guy in their position group, potentially vying for their job.

If the 2020 NFL Draft is the fence right down the middle of things, one side of it has some winners while the other has some losers on Buffalo’s roster.

Here’s our list of winners and losers on the Bills roster following the recent draft:

Losers

Buffalo Bills running back T.J. Yeldon. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

RB TJ Yeldon

Both Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane said prior to the draft that they’d be fine with their backfield being Devin Singletary and TJ Yeldon.

It was their most obvious smokescreen to the rest of the NFL.

Everyone knew the Bills wanted a guy like Zack Moss. Bigger, more like Frank Gore and less like Singletary. Yeldon was not that guy. If Yeldon makes Buffalo’s final roster, he’ll likely be a candidate to be inactive plenty on game day once again like he was last year. There’s little chance he’ll see running back snaps next season unless injury strikes.

 

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State of the position: Bills wide receivers

The Buffalo Bills wide receiver room improved immensely this past year.

Here is Bills Wire’s position-by-position breakdown of the team’s roster, continuing with the wide receivers, including the season that was and projecting forward:

Buffalo Bills wide receiver John Brown. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

The Buffalo Bills wide receiver room improved immensely in 2019. The additions of John Brown and Cole Beasley gave the team a legitimate threat in the aerial attack. The free agent acquisitions provided quarterback Josh Allen with two sorely needed reliable targets to help with the young signal caller’s growth.

Brown came through with a 72-catch; 1,060-yard season with six scores, all career-highs. Beasley, the shifty slot receiver, finished second on the team with 67 catches and 778 receiving yards. He also set a career-high with six touchdown passes.

Beyond this duo, though, the remainder of the aerial attack distribution was thin. Isaiah McKenzie provided a threat of speed, and he was utilized in motion and on sweeps in games. He caught 27 passes for 254 yards and one touchdown receptions while adding eight rushes for 49 yards.

Duke Williams, an intriguing, big-bodied prospect who gave Josh Allen a large target out wide, dressed for only four games. In his limited time on the field, he did bring fans to their feet. However, he also struggled with some issues of consistently catching the ball.

Most of the contributions of Robert Foster and Andre Roberts were on special teams. Foster was used primarily on the coverage unit, while Roberts provided a spark in the return game, earning a Pro Bowl nod there. Foster, unfortunately, could not replicate his break out performances from last year, catching only three passes on the season. Roberts averaged 26.6 yards per kick return.

Let us not forget Zay Jones, who was traded after playing five games for the Bills. he caught only 7-of-18 targets.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Contract situation

Brown is under contract through the 2021 season after signing a three-year, $21 million contract this past offseason. Beasley will be in the fold a year longer, as he signed a four-year $29 million contract.

Roberts and Williams enter the final year of their respective contracts. Roberts will be the primary returner, as he has a reasonable $2 million cap hit.

McKenzie is a restricted free agent, while Foster is under exclusive-rights free agent status, so he’ll be back with the Bills, or else’ by rule, will sit out a season, essentially. Buffalo will have the first crack at re-signing these players in the offseason.

The future

Brown and Beasley are set in stone for the upcoming season. The duo combined for 139 receptions, and the Bills will do anything to upset the chemistry that the pair has made with Allen.

Roberts will come back as the primary returner for the team. He is a threat every time he touches the ball, so his presence is important in the special teams game.

While Williams, McKenzie, and Foster have flashed some promise in the past, there is no doubt that this group could use another game-breaking player.

McKenzie was an effective player who fit into several schemes on offense. However, the Bills could look to Roberts to fill the role that McKenzie occupied. It’s a speculatory option at this point.

Williams, for his part, gives Buffalo a physical receiver on the boundary. However, the team still sees that former CFL star has a little ways to go, as he dressed for only five games (including the playoff game). Williams’ playoff game participation ahead of Foster may give an indication into the Alabama product’s future on the roster.

Even with the improvement in the group this year, expect Buffalo’s brass to try and find another piece to upgrade this unit in the offseason.

The question is, could that be in free agency via another vet like AJ Green? Or this year’s draft class contains several wide receivers who could support the Bills’ need for an explosive player out wide. Players such as CeeDee Lamb, Laviska Shenault and Tee Higgins are just a few prospects that could be on Buffalo’s radar with their first-round pick at No. 22.

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11 takeaways from Sean McDermott’s season-ending press conference

11 takeaways from Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott’s end of season press conference.

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott spoke for the final time during the 2019 NFL season. With his team’s loss to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card, things will now turn to the 2020 year.

But before fully doing so, McDermott chatted with reporters to discuss all that was his team’s playoff ride in 2019.

Here are X takeaways from McDermott’s end of season press conference:

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, left, talks with offensive coordinator Brian Daboll during. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

How important is Brian Daboll returning?

While the fan base might be split on the job status of Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who interviewed for the Cleveland Browns’ head coaching vacancy, it appears his current team is not. McDermott like quarterback Josh Allen, want him back.

“I’m not going to talk about Brian with Cleveland… I’m going to talk about our football team and where we’re trying to go. At the end of the day, we all have to get better, and that starts with me. That goes right into the rest of my coaching staff and to our players. That continuity is important with Josh and our coaching staff but it’s also important in other areas of our team as well. We’ve got some thoughts on where we need to improve and certainty continuity is important, not just from coach to player, but from coach to coach and the list goes on. The more we’re around each other, the more continuity, and that’s where we talk about, as I said, keeping this team as in-tact as possible… that certainly helps you,” McDermott said.

While McDermott didn’t directly say “we want Daboll back,” he basically did.

 

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