1. Diggs and Norman stand out on Day 1
Monday marked the first padded practice of Bills Training Camp. Several new players showcased why they were brought to the Bills, and some returned for their first day in pads after injury.
- Wide receiver Stefon Diggs made a handful of nice plays putting his route running ability and expertise on contested catches on display.
- Quarterback Josh Allen connected with John Brown for numerous completions. Brown ended practice by catching a 50-yard bomb from Allen.
- Rookie wide receivers Gabe Davis and Isaiah Hodgins made their presence known with impressive catches during the team portion of practice.
- Josh Norman notably produced a number of pass breakups. One happened on a pass from Allen to Brown, Norman knocked it away once it got to Brown’s
.@J_No24 is already fitting in. ?#BillsCamp | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/1GG8I4PejG
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) August 17, 2020
Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds loved the competition he felt in practice.
“That’s what we play this game for, is to compete,” Edmunds said. “I’m a competitor myself, so anytime stuff like that happens you love to see it. At the end of the day we are all one team. So when the offense has success out there obviously I’m going to be mad, but at the end of the day it’s helping this team. We’re helping each other out—offense and defense.
“We’re making each other better. That’s the goal of training camp is to make each other better so when we go out there on the days we play, we can just dominate. I think that’s the whole thing, we just want to compete. Just continue to strive for excellence and continue to see good things out of each side of the ball. I think we’re only going to be as good as we push each other.”
Prior to practice, McDermott announced CB Levi Wallace (back), G Jon Feliciano, DT Ed Oliver (hip) and TE Tommy Sweeney would not participate in practice. WR Isaiah Hodgins and LB Vosean Joseph wore red no-contact jerseys.
2. Phillips returns to the field; new defensive linemen impress
Bills defensive tackle Harrison Phillips returned to the practice field in full pads for the first time since his ACL injury in September of 2019. Phillips said today marked day 330 since he had been in pads. The defensive tackle came off the field and straight onto a Zoom call with media where he was gushing with happiness after his first practice since the injury.
“To gear all the way up–cleats to helmets and shoulder pads, and to go out there and not just selfishly be able to go play football again, which obviously is my biggest passion,” Phillips said. “But to go and be with my teammates, with the guys that I love, and the guys who played such a great season last year, put on all this offseason work finding a way to make sure that we’re all in shape and put ourselves in position to make a stretch and a run here.
“Just to be back out there with those guys and be in the huddle and look around at all my brothers being out there playing with them again. It’s the same reason that brought me into the game when I was 11 years old, going out there and playing football with my friends. To be out there and do that against truly a blessing.”
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].