Tag: Zach Davidson

Full list of Bills players not participating in Week 3 of OTAs

Full list of #Bills players not participating in Week 3 of OTAs:

The Buffalo Bills hit the field again for another slate of organized team activities (OTAs) early in June this week. While observers of the team would appreciate full attendance, that’s usually not the case.

Some players decide not to show up… and it’s important to note that doing so is OK. All such workouts prior to mandatory minicamp are voluntary.

There is no penalty for missing them… even if you’re Stefon Diggs, who has been the lightning rod for attention this offseason due to posts on social media and other circumstances.

For those curious, here’s a rundown of players that were not attending OTA practice on Tuesday, the first day of the second week of the workouts, according to WGR-550 radio:

Bills finalize practice squad with three players from other teams

#Bills finalize practice squad with three players from other teams:

The Bills made their initial cuts down to 53 total players to begin the 2022 NFL season. Then came waivers.

Of all 25-plus players released by the team, four were picked up by other squads on the wavier wire. Another vet in OJ Howard ended up signing with the Texans.

The Bills went on to sign 13 players they previously cut to their practice squad. That left space for three more and those spots were filled by players previously cut by other teams in the NFL.

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That trio can be found below:

Kirk Cousins sees ‘high ceiling’ in one Vikings backup tight end

Cousins is comparing one Vikings backup tight end to Tyler Conklin.

Kirk Cousins isn’t tossing and turning in his sleep after losing one of his best offensive weapons, tight end Irv Smith Jr.

Quite the contrary, the Minnesota Vikings quarterback is also intrigued by the other options at the position, particularly second-year standout Zach Davidson.

The former fifth-round draft pick is beginning to show up as a playmaker on the practice field, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for a Vikings team mulling over the decision of sticking with what they already have at tight end or signing a veteran free agent.

“Zach is really exciting because I see a lot of ability in him, and so you see a high ceiling and a desire to work and get better,” Cousins told media members. “And so it’s exciting to work with a guy like that, where you see all of this potential down the road, similar to how I felt about Tyler Conklin three or four years ago.”

That Conklin comparison is sure to turn heads considering he was the one that served as the much-needed insurance option when Smith went down with a knee injury last season.

But keep in mind, Cousins is talking about potential for a player that’s showing signs of a second-year leap. That’s a big difference from Conklin entering his fourth and final season with the Vikings, before landing a more lucrative contract with the New York Jets.

But potential clearly matters, and there could be a glimmer of hope with Davidson.

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Leftover notes from Vikings’ first padded training camp practice

Some leftover notes from Monday’s first padded practice.

The pads came on for the very first time to kick-start the second week of training camp practice for the Minnesota Vikings, and things were certainly more physical than what we saw from the team on Saturday.

This was the first real practice to get a sense of where players are at in their preparation for the regular season, whether that’s longtime veterans or rookies in their first NFL year. There’s no better simulation of real football than a padded practice.

The Vikings clearly have some work to do with a couple of trouble spots, such as tight end and the interior offensive line, continuing to show up as possible concerns for the team.

But there were obviously major positives to take away as well, most notably the contributions from many of the new faces in the locker room.

Here are some leftover notes from Monday’s practice.

Vikings 2022 offseason preview: Where does Minnesota stand at TE?

An improved Irv Smith Jr. could take the offense to new heights

The Minnesota Vikings never got to show everything under the hood offensively with Irv Smith Jr. going down with a torn meniscus before the season even started. So there’s some genuine excitement to see what the tight end position looks like in a Kevin O’Connell-coached offense.

But things aren’t quite as certain with this skilled group as they are at running back and receiver. A move of some sort is likely coming considering they have multiple players heading into free agency, along with the fact that Smith is coming off a season-ending injury.

The opportunities at tight end should be plenty with the bevy of offensive skilled weapons already on the field for the Vikings.

Here are where things stand at the position right now.

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PFF reveals Vikings’ highest- and lowest-graded rookies in preseason

Which Vikings rookie are you the most optimistic about for the future?

Minnesota was winless in the 2021 preseason, but the Vikings still had plenty of rookies thrive when given a chance with their new team.

Take A.J. Rose Jr. for instance. Rose, an undrafted free agent, ran through NFL defenses to finish as PFF’s top graded Minnesota rookie during the preseason slate. He earned an overall grade of 75.9 for his efforts.

Michael Renner of PFF wrote:

“Rose went into camp knowing there likely wasn’t going to be a roster spot for him, but that didn’t stop him from balling out anyway. He rushed for 151 yards on 37 carries for two scores with seven broken tackles. It was enough to land him a practice-squad position for the Vikings.”

Unlike Rose, Zach Davidson struggled during the preseason. Davidson, seen as a raw prospect coming into the league, finished with a PFF grade of 40.5.

Now, both Davidson and Rose are on the Vikings’ practice squad. Rose has a chance to find a roster spot either with Minnesota or another NFL team, and possibly contribute in 2021. Davidson is a project who could pay off down the road. Overall, both offer something to the team, regardless of how they did this preseason.

Vikings take Central Missouri TE Zach Davidson in the 2021 NFL draft

The Minnesota Vikings are attempting to shore up the tight end position by taking TE Zach Davidson in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Next season, the Vikings’ tight end room will look a little different.

That’s because the team released Kyle Rudolph this offseason. Rudolph has been with Minnesota for the past 10 seasons.

The Vikings have tight ends Irv Smith Jr. and Tyler Conklin as obvious candidates to step up and take more reps. It doesn’t hurt to get more depth through the draft, though.

Minnesota nabbed Central Missouri TE Zach Davidson in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL draft on Saturday. Davidson could be an athletic receiving threat at the NFL level. He just needs to work on the fundamental aspect of his game.

Minnesota lost Hale Hentges, in addition to Rudolph this offseason. Hentges announced his retirement from the league. So there are spots on the tight end depth chart up for grabs. Maybe Davidson can land one of them.