ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Bills conclude organized team activities this week with voluntary on-field sessions ahead of next week’s mandatory minicamp that will wrap the team’s offseason training program.
Here are some takeaways from Tuesday’s practice that was open to reporters, and media sessions with the Bills coordinators.
Taking attendance
With the MVP on his honeymoon, quarterbacks Mitchell Trubisky, Mike White and Shane Buechele got extra reps. The offense did not hum with the same efficiency that it normally does with Josh Allen in command, though each of the QBs found comfort with tight ends Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox and Zach Davidson.
Top running back James Cook continued his absence, purportedly displeased with negotiations for a contract extension. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady maintained Buffalo’s unbothered stance on the situation.
“That’s stuff that’s besides me,” Brady said. “I don’t make those decisions and whatnot. But he was obviously huge for us last year, and I’m excited when he is here to be able to get with him.”
Cook’s quasi-holdout has provided opportunities for Ray Davis, Ty Johnson, Darrynton Evans and Frank Gore Jr. to take bigger bites from Buffalo’s “everybody eats” offense.
Davis in particular, coming off his rookie season, “you can see him just kind of taking another step to his game, both in the run game and in the pass game and it sure makes life exciting for me,” Brady said.
Defensive back Cam Lewis was not in attendance Tuesday, while offensive tackle Spencer Brown and safety Damar Hamlin joined injured pass rusher Joey Bosa as a non-participant. Hamlin was wearing a protective shoe on his right foot.
Cornerstones
Buffalo brought back cornerbacks Tre’Davious White and Dane Jackson to compete for playing time in the secondary. But as veterans of the Bills system, they can both help first-round draft pick Maxwell Hairston reach his full potential.
“Those are two guys that would influence rookies and are influencing rookies in a positive way,” defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said. “They’re selfless, they want to see young guys prosper in the same way that maybe a Tre White helped a Dane or going back to it, Dane helped a (Christian Benford), right So it’s just an intertwined deal, and those guys are awesome. They’re Bills-type players, and it’s great to have them back, and they are an absolute asset to that room.”
White mentioned Kyle Williams and Lorenzo Alexander, veterans from his rookie season, in discussing his OG status with the Bills.
“It’s just each one teach one,” White said. “I just remember being in that similar position, being a first-round corner, coming here to a whole new atmosphere, just everything, but just trying to find somebody that could pretty much teach me the way along the way this league, because being a young corner in this league, it’s a lot of pressure, especially being a first-round pick.”
Numbers game
Jackson is now wearing jersey No. 23, previously worn by Micah Hyde, and held open last offseason while the defensive captain was contemplating retirement. Jackson wore No. 30 in his previous stint with the Bills, but switched to No. 23 last season with the Panthers. He sought out Hyde’s approval to keep the number in his return to Buffalo.
”That made me feel good,” Jackson said. “I had to check with big bro first.”
Time for reflection
Brady spoke publicly for the first time since the Bills came up just short in the AFC championship game.
“I say I’m not a results guy, but you know, when your season ends, the result is the result, right,” Brady said. “When you’re the offensive coordinator, your job is to outscore, score one more point than the opposing team, and we didn’t get that done. So that’s what, obviously, makes it hard. That’s what is tough. You walk away and you’re like, hey, you know what, I didn’t do a good-enough job.
“Without getting into specifics, that’s really the thing. Our guys know, I try to pride myself on, when the guys come out of the game, they know that I put them in the best position. I don’t think any of our guys would say I didn’t, but my job is to say, ‘hey, we didn’t win the football game. We didn’t get to where we needed to get to. I didn’t do a good-enough job.’ I prefer it when it falls on my shoulders and not my guys.”
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.