Patrick Moran shares his firsthand observations from Day 4 of Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fisher University. Despite another rain-soaked practice, the Bills completed an extensive red-zone session featuring encouraging performances from Keon Coleman, Dalton Kincaid, James Cook and several rookies.

Patrick also examines the developing position battles, concerns surrounding the backup quarterbacks, the safety rotation following C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s injury and which players helped or hurt their stock.

Key Takeaways

    • Keon Coleman delivered his best practice of camp, catching everything thrown his way and beating Cole Bishop for a touchdown.
    • Dalton Kincaid continued his excellent start to camp and avoided a potentially serious injury scare.
    • James Cook appears headed for a larger role, particularly as a receiver out of the backfield.
    • Several rookies flashed encouraging potential, including the Bills’ second-round cornerback, a fourth-round linebacker and offensive tackle Jude Bowry.
    • The backup quarterback situation remains concerning, with Shane Buechele currently looking more reliable than Kyle Allen.
    • Damar Hamlin and Geno Stone rotated with the starting defense following C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s injury.
    • Michael Hoecht looks surprisingly strong in his recovery from a torn Achilles and could be ready for Week 1.

Full Episode Notes

Another Rain-Soaked Practice

Day 4 was dominated by miserable weather conditions. Three of Buffalo’s first four training camp practices have now been affected by rain, with Monday featuring steady precipitation, wind and unusually cool temperatures.

The weather created a difficult experience for fans and forced the Bills to exercise caution. Players were reportedly instructed to operate below full speed at various points to reduce the risk of injuries on the wet field.

The practice focused almost entirely on red-zone work, with most team periods taking place inside the 10-yard line. That eliminated opportunities for long passes, but it still produced several notable performances and position-battle developments.

Keon Coleman Has His Best Day of Camp

Coleman delivered what Patrick considered his best performance through the first four practices.

His biggest play came when he beat safety Cole Bishop by a step and caught a well-placed Josh Allen pass for a touchdown. Coleman also caught every catchable ball thrown in his direction, displayed dependable hands and looked sharp during individual receiver drills.

His routes appeared cleaner, and he showed encouraging quickness while receiving some work from inside alignments. Coleman’s blocking ability could also keep him on the field in one- and two-receiver formations, even if his receiving statistics do not make a dramatic jump.

The performance does not guarantee a breakout season, but Coleman looked like a reliable, physical receiver capable of contributing in several different ways.

Dalton Kincaid Continues His Strong Camp

Kincaid briefly created concern when he remained on the ground following a play and required attention from the training staff. He eventually returned to the offense, and it was later revealed that he had simply taken an accidental knee to a sensitive area.

Outside of that scare, Kincaid enjoyed another excellent practice. He caught a touchdown and continued to display the quickness, agility and soft hands that have stood out throughout camp.

Kincaid did drop one pass during an individual drill, but several players struggled to secure the wet football. Overall, he has put together four encouraging practices and looks healthy after dealing with knee problems previously.

Dawson Knox also had a productive day as Buffalo’s tight ends continued to make an impact in the red zone.

James Cook’s Role Could Become Even Bigger

One of the most important developments through four practices has been the increased involvement of Buffalo’s running backs in the passing game.

Cook caught a touchdown on a route out of the backfield and appears positioned to receive more opportunities as a receiver. Ty Johnson has also been involved, with Ray Davis seeing some passing-game work to a lesser extent.

Patrick believes Joe Brady views Cook as a legitimate offensive star and could increase his snap percentage, receiving targets and overall workload. After leading the NFL in rushing last season, Cook may be given an opportunity to become an even more complete offensive weapon.

For fantasy football players, Cook’s potential receiving volume makes him worthy of consideration among the top running backs available.

Encouraging Progress From the Rookie Cornerback

The Bills’ second-round rookie cornerback entered Monday without having made a significant push in the competition with Max Hairston. Hairston and Christian Benford remain the clear starting outside corners, and there has not yet been a legitimate battle for Hairston’s job.

However, the rookie produced his best practice of camp Monday. His length, athleticism and ability to stay attached to receivers were much more noticeable during the condensed red-zone work.

He still needs to prove that he can consistently run with receivers across the field, but this was an encouraging step after a relatively quiet opening three practices.

Rookie Linebacker Looks the Part

Buffalo’s fourth-round rookie linebacker continued to make a strong physical impression.

He already looks like an NFL linebacker and has displayed an intense, businesslike approach. He consistently finds himself around the football, hits with force during tackling drills and has stayed after practice to complete additional work.

That does not mean the rookie should immediately be declared the starter. Dorian Williams returned to a heavier workload and also performed well. With Williams getting closer to full strength, Buffalo could have a legitimate linebacker competition during the remaining camp practices.

Ray Davis Joins the Punt-Return Competition

Davis received his first opportunities catching punts during Monday’s special-teams period.

After leading the NFL in kickoff-return average last season, adding punt-return duties would increase his value and help the Bills avoid using a roster spot on a return specialist. Mecole Hardman and Keon Coleman also remain involved in the competition.

Hardman has received some first-team offensive snaps, but keeping him primarily to return punts might not represent the best use of a roster spot. Coleman appears to be a leading candidate, but Davis is now an intriguing alternative.

Safety Competition Following C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s Injury

With Gardner-Johnson sidelined for an undetermined period, Hamlin and Stone rotated alongside the starting defense.

Hamlin received the first opportunity before Stone took over during the following period. That suggests Buffalo could have a legitimate competition for the starting job if Gardner-Johnson misses significant time.

Stone offers better athleticism and coverage ability, while Hamlin is fundamentally sound, physical and dependable as a tackler. Based on the order of Monday’s rotation, Hamlin may currently have a slight advantage.

Jalen Kilgore Remains With the Third Team

Kilgore has been one of the most impressive young players through the opening days of camp. The fifth-round safety recorded multiple pass breakups and a diving interception during the first three practices.

Patrick expected Kilgore to receive more work following Gardner-Johnson’s injury, but he remained with the third-team defense. Sam Franklin continued to receive opportunities ahead of him despite struggling in coverage against Kincaid and Skyy Moore.

Franklin’s special-teams value is established, but his upside as a defensive safety appears limited. Kilgore may need additional development before facing starting-caliber receivers, although his early performance has earned him a chance to move up the depth chart.

Offensive-Line Winners and Losers

The competition between Austin Corbett and Alec Anderson continued, with both players rotating at guard. Corbett received the first starting opportunity Monday but struggled during several pass-rush repetitions.

TJ Sanders and Landon Jackson both beat Corbett, with Sanders producing multiple impressive rushes.

Rookie tackle Jude Bowry handled himself well in one-on-one pass-protection drills and could be gaining an advantage in the swing-tackle competition. Tylan Grable struggled and also received work at guard, suggesting Buffalo may be evaluating him at multiple positions.

Michael Hoecht Looks Ready to Contribute

Hoecht was one of the day’s most encouraging stories.

Despite recovering from a torn Achilles, he participated fully and produced strong pass-rush repetitions. He beat both Bowry and Grable during individual work and received extensive team snaps behind the starting edge rushers.

Hoecht does not look like a player still working his way back from a major injury. If he remains healthy and continues progressing, Patrick believes it would now be more surprising if he were unavailable for Week 1.

Backup Quarterback Concerns

Kyle Allen continued to struggle with accuracy and decision-making, including during drills without defenders. His performance through four practices has created legitimate concerns about Buffalo’s backup quarterback situation.

Buechele, meanwhile, enjoyed a better practice and delivered a well-thrown touchdown pass to Skyy Moore. If Buffalo is conducting a genuine competition for the No. 2 job, Buechele appears to be ahead—and possibly by a significant margin.

The Bills may still prefer Allen as the veteran backup while attempting to move Buechele through waivers and onto the practice squad. Based strictly on camp performance, however, Buechele has been the better quarterback.

Other Players and Battles to Watch

Seventh-round cornerback Dorian Strong Jr. surrendered multiple red-zone touchdowns and has experienced an inconsistent start to camp. He remains in a competition for the fourth boundary-corner position, but Buffalo could eventually add a veteran and attempt to place its younger developmental corners on the practice squad.

TJ Sanders had an encouraging day as a pass rusher, while Skyy Moore continued to make plays with the reserve offense.

Overall Camp Assessment

The first four practices have produced several encouraging individual performances, but camp has lacked memorable or explosive moments. The poor weather, absence of full pads and cautious practice tempo have all contributed to a relatively uneventful opening stretch.

Kincaid, Josh Palmer and Cook have been among the most consistent offensive performers. Kilgore and several other rookies have also generated optimism.

There has not yet been a dramatic difference between a Joe Brady-led camp and the practices previously conducted under Sean McDermott. That could begin to change once the Bills move into full pads and the evaluation of the offensive line and defensive front becomes more meaningful.

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