Buffalo Bills WR Isaiah McKenzie opens scoring vs. the Tennessee Titans.
The Buffalo Bills got on the board against the Tennessee Titans with some trickery. Isaiah McKenzie took a sweep handoff from quarterback Josh Allen and beat every defender to the corner of the end zone.
But even though he scored, McKenzie didn’t stop there.
Running through the end zone, McKenzie kept going… and ran all the way though the tunnel.
Check out the score here, which tied the game at 7-7 in the first quarter:
Pro Football Focus has the Bills receiving corps ranked as the fifth best in the NFL, which is a pretty big jump from where the unit was even just a season ago. The Bills are just days away from breaking down their roster to 53 players. Cut-down day …
Pro Football Focus has the Bills receiving corps ranked as the fifth best in the NFL, which is a pretty big jump from where the unit was even just a season ago. The Bills are just days away from breaking down their roster to 53 players. Cut-down day in the league is slated for Saturday at 4 p.m. Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane has some tough decisions ahead of him.
With a position group built through free agency, trades and the draft, here’s a breakdown of the position, player-by-player:
Duke Williams
Duke Williams caught the Bills attention thanks to a strong showing in the Canadian Football league. He demonstrated big-play potential during the 2019 preseason after signing with Buffalo and is a big target at 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, who may work his way into a role on offense.
Entering his second year with the team, the 27-year-old Auburn product had the two biggest catches during camp so far, muscling one in coverage on a pass from quarterback Matt Barkley and making an even more impressive one-handed haul in amidst multiple defenders on a throw from rookie QB Jake Fromm. The biggest problem with Williams is his lack of production on special teams, something several other depth options have.
Growing up around the Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald seems to have made an impression on Hodgins. The 6-foot-4 rookie out of Oregon State dubbed the Bills’ ‘biggest draft steal’ by Draft Wire had 86 catches for 1,171 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns last season for the Beavers. Like Diggs, he’s known for his route running and was described by The Draft Network as having “the most natural hands in the class.” It will be interesting to see if he can make his way into the receiver group in his first year as a Bill, but could another team claim him of Buffalo’s practice squad if he ends up there?
Buffalo Bills players who could be surprise trade or cut candidates as 2020 training camp ends.
The Buffalo Bills are entering the final days of their 2020 training camp, even if it seems like it just began. In less than two weeks the club welcomes the New York Jets to Bills Stadium for their season-opening contest in front of no fans.
Even sooner is training camp cut day. The Bills have until Saturday at 4 p.m. to get down to 53 players. In order to get there, some guys will but cut, while others could be interesting trade options. Perhaps some of these moves could be considered surprises, too. Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane hasn’t been shy about making bold moves in recent seasons, which has included swinging players for draft picks.
With that, let’s look at a few surprise cut and trade candidates as the Bills enter the final week of training camp:
Bills running back T.J. Yeldon. (James P. McCoy/The Buffalo News via AP, Pool)
RB TJ Yeldon
TJ Yeldon potentially not making this roster comes down to one other player: Antonio Williams. The Bills re-signed Williams this week, reportedly. He was with the team earlier this offseason. If Williams impressed enough in the final few days of camp, could Yeldon be expendable? Williams was once a highly-touted Ohio State prospect. He transferred closer to home and played in a loaded backfield so his numbers were never eye-popping enough to get him drafted out of UNC. But having said that, it’d certainly be considered a surprise to see Williams stay and Yeldon go.
The veteran has been around all offseason and he provides some veteran depth behind the youthful starting duo of Devin Singletary and Zack Moss. Williams was likely signed this week due to injuries at the position over the past week.
Takeaways from Day 8 of Buffalo Bills training camp 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.
On Tuesday, the Bills saw a friendly reminder of what they traded for this offseason. With that, here are three takeaways from Day 8 of Bills training camp practices:
Bills cornerback Cam Lewis. Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
UB product update
Recent headlines out of Bills training camp bode well for former undrafted rookie free agent Cam Lewis. On Tuesday, he showed he’s taking that seriously. WGR-550 radio specifically mentioned two big plays out of the depth corner on the day. The unfortunate victim of his good play was wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie. Lewis recorded a pass breakup on McKenzie, who could certainly find his way on the Bills final 53-man roster himself. But then there was another play against McKenzie, potentially a damming one for the wideout, as Lewis forced a fumble.
As mentioned, there might be a route for Lewis onto the final roster if he continues such strong play. First, we’re unsure how long cornerback Josh Norman will be out. From the sounds of it, his hamstring could be healed by the season opener against the Jets on Sept. 13. Still, there’s a need of depth just in case with a hamstring injury to a 32-year-old player early in the year. Furthermore, depth cornerback Ike Brown surprisingly decided to retire from football on Monday. Brown was a guy that Lewis was directly battling for a roster or practice squad spot, but the former Bull doesn’t have to worry about him now.
Which Buffalo Bills players need a big training camp following the 2020 opt-out deadline.
NFL training camps are barely underway and things are already all over the place for the Buffalo Bills during this crazy, COVID-19 pandemic offseason.
In recent weeks, the Bills and teams around the league have had to endure cutting their rosters to 80 players, flipping guys on and off the Reserve/ COVID-19 list, players deciding to opt out, and not to mention… injury. There’s a lot to unpack, and here’s a remainder: The Bills really haven’t even gotten to a real, actual practice just yet. Pads won’t go on for another week or so.
But when they do, the recent slew of moves made by the team has increased the importance of these practices for some members of the Bills. Here are six players that need a good showing at training camp:
Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Harrison Phillips. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
DT Harrison Phillips
Western New York collectively held their breath for a few hours, but finally exhaled as cornerback Tre’Davious White eventually decided to play next season. In lieu of White being the “biggest” name on the Bills’ list of guys opting-out, the No. 1 will instead be defensive tackle Star Lotulelei.
Without Lotulelei in the middle of Buffalo’s defensive line, Harrison Phillips has a big opportunity. The top-two options to replace Lotulelei are Phillips and Vernon Butler. However, Butler recently signed with the Bills this offseason, so he’s likely to stick around, as will Phillips in the rotation Sean McDermott runs on Buffalo’s defensive line, but the starter role is certainly up for grabs.
In terms of taking that job, Philips has to do two things. First, show he can do it. Some pegged Phillips as a better 3-tech defensive tackle (Ed Oliver’s job), but now in this role, he’d be tasked with the space-eater job of Lotulelei. And… is he healthy? Phillips was a forced at the start of the 2019 season, but his year was cut short due to an ACL injury. If Phillips puts it all together, the Bills could even find themselves an upgrade here.
Five members of the Buffalo Bills who could be helped by the canceled 2020 preseason.
The NFL made some big changes in order to try and get things going with the 2020 regular season just around the corner. Most of these are surrounding players on the fringe of the roster.
Late-round draft picks and undrafted rookie signings won’t get a chance to lineup against another team, head-to-head, since the preseason was canceled. That’s if they even make it that far, some Bills players might get cut before training camp practices start. Teams will only be carrying 80 players instead of the usual 90 as well. Buffalo currently has 88. Yikes for some guys.
But on the flip side, all of these changes could help others actually make the roster. Here’s a few players on the Bills that could be helped out by these changes:
Washington cornerback Josh Norman. Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
CB Josh Norman
It’s well known that cornerback Josh Norman signed for some bigger bucks than expected this offseason and he’s going to be tossed right into the first of the No. 2 cornerback battle. Norman will faceoff against incumbent Levi Wallace, but EJ Gaines could factor into that situation as well. All three have had varying degrees of success while Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott‘s defensive scheme was in place.
But without preseason, this whole battle is going to be behind closed doors. While Norman is included in that bunch who’ve had success in Buffalo’s defense, yes, there will be no clamor about him if he’s lost a step or two. There’s practices and then there’s games. Guys give effort in practice, of course, but under the lights of the preseason against different competition than you’re used to, could Norman’s age of 32 catch up with him?
For the Bills’ sake, hopefully not, but, we’re not going to find out until opening day. You hate to bring up this name, but the name is all you’ll need to know… Vontae Davis? Please, let us be wrong here.
Who are the most underrated players on the Bills roster?
After making the playoffs two of the past three seasons, the Buffalo Bills aren’t hiding anymore. Everyone knows this team has some very talented players that make the wheel go round on the process.
Tre’Davious White is finally an All-Pro, Tremaine Edmunds is a Pro Bowler, Stefon Diggs is just a beast.
But in a sport like football that requires so many players on a team’s rosters, plenty of players will be overlooked and could be considered underrated in the eyes of many. The Bills certainly have plenty of players like this.
With that, here are five underrated Bills on the 2020 roster:
Buffalo Bills cornerback Levi Wallace. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
CB Levi Wallace
Unfortunately for Levi Wallace, he now falls in this category because of his own team’s actions this offseason. Wallace has been the No. 2 cornerback for the Bills, across from Tre’Davious White, for a good while now. Over a year and then some. However, the Bills brought in Josh Norman and EJ Gaines to compete with Wallace for that spot.
If Wallace wants to keep his job, he’ll have to beat out two guys who are good. Not only good, two guys who have played well in Sean McDermott’s defense already in their careers. Wallace is being a bit overlooked, but shouldn’t be. He’s underrated because of that.
Wallace actually had a solid season in 2019. Wallace recorded his first two interceptions of his career a year ago with nine passes defended. Overall, Pro Football Focus ranked him the 42nd best cornerback in the NFL last season. PFF is taken with a grain of salt, but that’s about the range you’d love your No.2 cornerback to be at.
Buffalo Bills WRs John Brown, Isaiah McKenzie show of backflips.
A few years back the NFL loosened up and decided to change the mantra of the league being known as the “no fun league.” Celebration-related rules were lightened up and players were allowed to have some fun again.
Recently a video surfaced of some potential celebrations that some Bills wide receivers might dust off during 2020, or least it’d be really cool to see. Wideouts John Brown and Isaiah McKenzie nearly bounced right out of their shoes in this one.
Over the past few weeks, plenty of Bills players from offense met down in Florida to workout together. While there, videographer Joe Croom caught a bunch of the action. He’s since shared some on social media.
Among the workouts were a couple of backflips and springs the two receivers pulled off. Think they could have some touchdown celebrations in the making?
Buffalo Bills OL Dion Dawkins beat WR Isaiah McKenzie for a catch in practice.
We knew already that a group of Buffalo Bills players have gathered together in South Florida to workout together over the past few days. We also already knew that offensive lineman Dion Dawkins has some hands.
Dawkins already has scored twice in his NFL career as a big man. But while working out with teammates, Dawkins showed he’s got plenty of wiggle, too.
And wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie learned that the hard way.
While the teammates were conducting some workouts, Dawkins lined up as a wide receiver and McKenzie attempt to cover Dawkins as a cornerback. McKenzie failed and the cameras were rolling.
Dawkins posted two videos on his social media page on Instagram and showed the work he put in on McKenzie. And while McKenzie is a wide receiver, he was Buffalo’s “emergency” cornerback in the past, lining up a few snaps on defense before when the team was depleted with injury.
Check out Dawkins’ moves right here via Bills Wire’s Bradley Gelber:
NFL Free Agency has been underway for over a month this off-season. Georgia Bulldogs are headlining some of the league’s intriguing moves.
NFL Free Agency has been underway for over a month this off-season. Georgia Bulldogs are headlining some of the league’s most intriguing moves.
In a surprising decision, the Los Angeles Rams have released Todd Gurley. Gurley has signed a one-year $5-million deal with Atlanta Falcons. He was the engine of Los Angeles’s Super Bowl offense in 2018. It’s a dream come true for Falcons and Georgia fans.
Oct 20, 2019; Atlanta, GA; Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley catches a touchdown pass in front of Atlanta Falcons defensive end Vic Beasley. Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago Bears have released outside linebacker Leonard Floyd. Floyd signed a one year deal with the Los Angeles Rams. Chicago originally selected Floyd with a first round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
New York Jets outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins is returning to the Jets on a one-year $5M prove-it deal. He was New York’s sack leader in 2019.
