Why ‘gadget guy’ nickname doesn’t bother Bills WR Isaiah McKenzie

Call him whatever you want, #Bills WR Isaiah McKenzie just wants to produce:

Whatever a “gadget guy” is, go ahead, call Isaiah McKenzie it. The Buffalo Bills wide receiver has not problem with that, even if he’s staring a big opportunity in the face.

With Cole Beasley departing the Bills this offseason, McKenzie re-signed. He faces competition in his efforts to replace Beasley in the starting lineup via Jamison Crowder and rookie Khalil Shakir.

However, McKenzie has emerged as the early favorite.

Even Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott said McKenzie has a “potential full-time role” ahead of him.

That’s a stark difference than the past few years, even just last season. Previously he was viewed as a bit player, or someone called a that “gadget guy.”

While something that one could take as a slight, McKenzie said at Bills training camp that just is not the case for him. Instead, he’s open to any and all nicknames.

“‘He’s just a gadget guy, whatever,’ but I go out there and I do my thing at wide receiver,” McKenzie said. “It doesn’t bother me at all, I know what I’m capable of.”

“I got to get open, you know, man-to-man coverage, zone, I got to be in the right position, in the right space,” McKenzie added. “And I feel like that’s evolved. I’m getting open for (QB Josh Allen) when he needs me open. I’m sitting in zone when he needs me to be there, and it’s been awesome so far.”

For more from McKenzie on the nickname and potential future ones that come his way. see a clip from his latest video conference via WIVB-TV below:

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