Heavy on Bills | Heavy.com

Bills Rumors: Buffalo’s Chances at DeAndre Hopkins Becoming Clear

Nathan Dougherty — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 02:33:48 +0000

The Buffalo Bills were once the odds-on favorites to land DeAndre Hopkins, but appear to have fallen out of the race as the All-Pro wide receiver grows closer to a final decision.

The NFL Network’s Albert Breer reported back in May that the Bills and Kansas City Chiefs were the only teams to hold substantive trade talks with the Arizona Cardinals, but after the Cardinals opted to release Hopkins the race appears to have changed. ESPN’s Dianna Russini reported on June 20 that Hopkins was down to a final two, including one top rival of the Bills.

DeAndre Hopkins Mulling Over Options

Russini reported that Hopkins is considering offers from two teams that he had recently visited — the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler added that Hopkins isn’t in a rush to make a decision, and both the Titans and Patriots remain committed to landing him.

“There’s a lull in action right now. Training camp’s not for a month, not a lot of rush,” Fowler said, via Bleacher Report. “He met with the Titans, met with the Patriots. Both teams made clear that they have major interest in signing him. I’m told there is some mutual interest and respect between the Patriots and Hopkins, that something could go down, but they couldn’t get that deal done while he was on the visit.”

Adam Schefter (via the Pat McAfee show) just said it's possible that DeAndre Hopkins AND Dalvin Cook could end up on the Patriots 👀 MAKE IT HAPPEN #Patriots #NFL pic.twitter.com/fgXXKR3R9r

— DomThePatsFan 🏈 (@domthepatsfan) June 21, 2023

Fowler noted that the situation could still change, and the fact that Hopkins is considering offers from the Titans and Patriots doesn’t preclude another team from jumping back into the mix. He specifically called out one top AFC contender that had previously engaged in trade talks — though it wasn’t the Bills.

“You still have teams, like maybe the Chiefs, if they could clear up some money later, closer to training camp, then they could get involved,” he said. “There’s some contenders there but right now, he is staying put and waiting for the right situation.”

Though many pundits identified the Bills as a strong contender, general manager Brandon Beane also tempered enthusiasm when he hinted on June 5 that the Bills would likely be priced out of the race.

“It would definitely have to fit with how we would restructure the salary and all that, so never ruling it out,” Beane said in an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “I know he’s a good player and he’ll likely demand a decent contract.”

Bills May Have Another Move to Make

Though it appears the Bills have fallen out of the race to land Hopkins, some insiders believe they could still have one more big move left this offseason. They have been linked to Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook, who was rumored to be interested in Buffalo as well.

A June 1 report from Outkick’s Armando Salguero noted that Cook was intrigued with the idea of joining the Bills and playing alongside his younger brother or playing for his hometown team, the Miami Dolphins.

“Cook is from Miami,” Salguero wrote. “[He] has made it known through sources he’d like to play either for the Dolphins or with his brother James Cook on the Bills. And the Vikings have let it known Cook probably isn’t in their future.”

But adding any player would be difficult for the cash-strapped Bills, who would likely need to make some form of corresponding move in order to create the cap space needed to sign Cook or any other impact player.

Bills’ Jordan Poyer Speaks Out on Controversy With His Charity Event

Nathan Dougherty — Sun, 25 Jun 2023 14:31:31 +0000

Buffalo Bills safety Jordan Poyer is speaking out after a backlash over his charity golf event led him to cancel it.

Poyer had panned to hold his Celebrity Open golf tournament in July at the Blue Monster at Trump National Doral Miami, a course owned by former President Donald Trump’s company. After Poyer received criticism and the event’s beneficiary decided to pull out, he took to Instagram on June 24 to announce that it was canceled.

Poyer expressed regret over the turn of events while offering some criticism of politics in New York state versus his now-home state of Florida.

Jordan Poyer Explains Cancellation

The Bills safety noted that a number of people complained to the Erie County Medical Center, which had been the beneficiary of his tournament’s earnings. Poyer said the pressure campaign worked, and ECMC decided it would not partner with Poyer’s charity effort.

“ECMC decided they can no longer take the pressure from up top, from the people above them and it probably has nothing to do with ECMC at all,” he said.

As the Buffalo News noted, Poyer had received criticism almost immediately after the event had been announced. Poyer, who lives in Miami during the offseason, said the course was one of his favorites in the area.

But in canceling the event, Poyer noted that politics were at play. Many fans had criticized his decision to play at a course owned by the former president, with several pointing to his role in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol building.

“I’m not naïve. I understand where they are on the political spectrum, where New York is on the political spectrum,” he said. “Do I agree with a lot of it? No, I don’t. I’m sorry, but I don’t. … I say the quiet part out loud a lot and some of you don’t like that. My bad. I still went and put my ego aside and went to go help those who needed help or needed a laugh.”

"I'd be lying if I said we weren't extremely disappointed," Poyer wrote on Instagram. "This country needs to change. https://t.co/8vTOmx9BYA

— The Buffalo News (@TheBuffaloNews) June 24, 2023

Poyer also offered an apology to the celebrities and athletes who planned to take part in the tournament, but vowed to continue his charitable efforts.

“Am I stressed about it? Not even the slightest bit,” he said. “Am I upset about it? A little, but I’m not even upset about the tournament being canceled. I’m upset about this is where we are in America.”

Jordan Poyer’s Return to Buffalo

While he expressed disappointment in some fans and took aim at the politics in New York in his statement, Poyer has also shown some love for the Bills fans and noted that their support was a major factor in his decision to return to the team. Poyer had been expected to leave in free agency this offseason, but instead re-signed on a two-year deal.

Poyer said that after some deep contemplation, he decided that coming back to Buffalo was what he wanted the most.

“It was one of the things my wife was telling me, ‘What is going to make Jordan Poyer happy? Because whatever makes you happy, will make everyone else around you happy.’ And so being here was going to make me happy,” Poyer told reporters in March.

Heavy Sports AFC East Live Divisional Debate: Jets Versus Bills [WATCH]

Paul A. Esden Jr. — Sun, 25 Jun 2023 11:42:07 +0000

Who is going to win the AFC East in 2023?

The Buffalo Bills have won three crowns in a row and are the prohibitive favorite to win it a fourth time this upcoming season.

Bet MGM has released the AFC East division winner odds ahead of 2023:

Buffalo Bills (+130)
New York Jets (+250)
Miami Dolphins (+275)
New England Patriots (+750)

Gang Green has been the team of the NFL offseason after acquiring Aaron Rodgers in a blockbuster trade with the Green Bay Packers. Could the Jets win the divisional crown for the first time in 21 years?

Well, that is exactly what we are going to debate about live on Tuesday, June 27 at 4:30 pm ET. You can watch the show right here on the article page [link at the top].

Paul ‘Boy Green’ Esden will represent the Jets and Emily Bicks will defend the Bills. They will go back and forth debating the merits of each squad.

Throughout the live show and during the lead-up to it, fans can comment and ask questions in our comment section below.

For a chance to be featured on the show, you must send your commentary in the comment section of this article. Load up the comment section ahead of time with all of your questions about the Bills and Jets.

Is there a certain weakness on either squad you want to be addressed on the show? What is your most pressing question? Heck, you can share your opinion on who you think is going to win the AFC East in 2023 and you can explain why!

Bills Fans Share Strong Opinions on Sean McDermott’s Big Extension

Nathan Dougherty — Sat, 24 Jun 2023 01:49:50 +0000

Sean McDermott helped the Buffalo Bills break their 17-year playoff drought and turned the team into a perennial Super Bowl contender, and now his future in Buffalo is locked down for at least four more years.

The team announced on June 23 that McDermott — along with general manager Brandon Beane — had both signed contract extensions that keep them in Buffalo through the 2027 season. As the team noted, McDermott has the best win percentage in franchise history and is third in all-time wins, behind only Marv Levy and Lou Saban.

The news was met with praise from many Bills fans but skepticism from others, as some have assigned blame to the head coach for the team’s failure to get over the hump in a competitive AFC.

Bills Fans React to Head Coach’s Extension

While McDermott may have few outright detractors among Bills fans, several expressed mixed feelings about the long-term extension he received. Some saw the move as premature given the team’s inability to win the AFC despite having one of the consistently best records over the last four seasons.

“Yes let’s extend our coach who has come up short of a Super Bowl 4 years in a row with a top roster and has had colossus failures in the post season,” one fan tweeted. “Nothing should go wrong here. Should’ve waited another d**n year”

Others believed that both Beane and McDermott should still be under pressure to perform, with the team needing to break through to the Super Bowl sometime in the near future.

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐨!! 🤩

We’ve signed Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott to contract extensions through 2027: https://t.co/x0PSVTT9WH pic.twitter.com/rO2NxZvjsO

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) June 23, 2023

But other fans agreed with the decision, pointing to the extended success that the team has had under McDermott’s leadership.

“For everyone who thinks McDermott being extended is a bad choice, please tell me who you would want instead and why you think he would win us the Superbowl???” a fan tweeted. “If we lost McDermott he would be signed by another team in .2 seconds. Yall are ungrateful and spoiled.”

Sean McDermott’s Future Safe in Buffalo

While the extension itself seems to put to rest any ideas that McDermott could be on the hot seat in Buffalo, NFL.com reporter Chris Trapasso spelled out exactly why his future would be safe. Countering the arguments from fans that McDermott could be replaced if the Bills continue to fall short of the Super Bowl, Trapasso noted that he has been able to turn around the franchise when a series of other coaches failed to do so.

Trapasso added that Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula know all too well how difficult it is to find a good coach, having failed with a high-profile hire in Rex Ryan and suffered through a series of ineffective coaches with their other franchise, the Buffalo Sabres.

“Should Bills’ realistic goal be to win a Super Bowl? Ab-so-lutely. But this extension cements that McDermott wasn’t on the hot seat,” Trapasso tweeted. “Is he perfect? No. Is he above any criticism? Of course not. But he’s proven to be a damn good HC in a league where those are hard to come by.”

Ex-Bills WR Earns Top Honor After Breakout Season in USFL

Nathan Dougherty — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 02:23:14 +0000

After a football career that began with a first-round draft pick and included a very short stint with the Buffalo Bills, Corey Coleman finally found his home in the USFL.

The Philadelphia Stars wideout finished atop the league with 669 receiving yards, and on June 21 was named to the All-USFL Team for offense. Though his NFL career ended in disappointment, Coleman fulfilled his preseason goal of proving that he still has plenty of game left in him.

Introducing the 2023 All-USFL Team offense 👏

Which player on this list was your favorite to watch? 🏈 pic.twitter.com/hGEBf5vf8L

— USFL (@USFL) June 21, 2023

Record-Setting Season for Former Bills Player

Coleman had a record-setting season in the USFL, breaking the receiving record of 540 yards set by KaVontae Turpin last year. The USFL just completed its second season after being revived in 2022.

For Coleman, the USFL offered a chance to turn around a football career that had fizzled out in the NFL. Though he came into the league as a first-round pick with the Cleveland Browns, Coleman struggled with injuries and appeared in just 27 total games over his first three years.

Coleman left the Browns in a trade during the summer of 2018 sent him to Buffalo, but the Bills released Coleman less than a month later as the team made final cuts. Though he bounced around the league for a few more seasons, Coleman only appeared in eight more games, making five catches for a total of 71 yards.

While Corey Coleman never found success with the Browns, he has found new life in the USFL https://t.co/31IhEl2NaW

— The Browns Wire (@TheBrownsWire) June 22, 2023

Coleman appeared to embrace the opportunity in the USFL, telling Fox Sports that he was impressed with what he saw in the league.

“There is some talent in the USFL,” Coleman said. “There are some guys that can really ball.”

Coleman added that he was happy to have been selected by the Stars and given an opportunity to show that he could still play.

“I just really want to give thanks to them for giving me a chance,” Coleman said. “They gave me the opportunity to come in here and really show that I can still play this game at a high level.”

Return to the NFL in His Future?

After his breakout season in the USFL, Coleman could generate some interest from NFL teams. Cory Kinnan of USA Today’s Browns Wire speculated that the strong season could earn him another shot at an NFL roster, a path that several players have already taken. After the USFL’s inaugural season, several players earned contracts from NFL teams and a handful made it through final cuts to land on 53-man rosters.

One of the most successful was the player whose record Coleman just broke. After his strong performance in the USFL’s inaugural season, then-receiving leader Turpin earned a contract from the Dallas Cowboys and shined as a return specialist. He averaged 10.4 yards per punt return and 24.2 yards per kickoff return, earning a Pro Bowl spot as a kick returner.

Turpin got a personal call from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones delivering the news, though the USFL standout admitted he thought it was bad news at first.

“The first thing that hit my mind was ‘Dang I got cut,'” Turpin said. “Because most people don’t get calls from the owner, but that was the first thing that came to my mind. That I had gotten cut.”

“It brought me to tears,” he added. “It’s been a long journey the way I came into the NFL, and to have that individual recognition is a dream come true.”

Bills QB Josh Allen Blamed for His Role in Stefon Diggs Drama

Nathan Dougherty — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 16:29:57 +0000

The Buffalo Bills have seen plenty of drama from Stefon Diggs this offseason, but a new report suggests that Josh Allen may share some of the blame.

Diggs has been at the center of controversy dating back to the conclusion of last season, when he was seen blowing up on the sidelines during the team’s playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Diggs continued to stir drama through the offseason with a series of cryptic social media posts hinting at unhappiness and some very public recruiting from his brother encouraging Diggs to bolt Buffalo for the Dallas Cowboys.

The drama spilled over on June 13 when Diggs was absent for the first day of the team’s mandatory minicamp, though head coach Sean McDermott said the next day that it was an excused absence.

While both Diggs and the team have remained tight-lipped about the root of the problem, former NFL quarterback turned analyst Robert Griffin III believes that a strained relationship with Allen could be a major part of it.

‘Personal Thing’ Between Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs

In a June 21 episode of the “Rich Eisen Show,” Griffin reported that “some people close” to Buffalo believe there is some unresolved tension between the team’s two top stars.

“I think it’s clear this is a personal thing between Josh (Allen) and Diggs,” Griffin said.

🗣️ @RGIII

“I think it’s clear this is a personal thing between Josh (Allen) and Diggs.”

The ESPN analyst told us what he thinks is really happening in Buffalo between the star WR and franchise QB — truly wow stuff:#NFL #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/jTHkZreVFw

— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) June 21, 2023

Matt Parrino, a Bills beat writer with Syracuse.com, noted that Griffin’s explanation would make sense given some previous remarks from Allen about the need for better communication. Parrino pointed to the infamous incident from the Bengals loss where Diggs was seen yelling at Allen, who remained focused on the bench and did not appear to acknowledge the receiver.

“Very important little nuggets in here from RG3,” Parrino tweeted. “The one at the end about this whole situation potentially never reaching this level if Allen/Bills didn’t ignore Diggs as he was complaining in Bengals game is very interesting. Lines up with Allen’s organization communication quote.”

If the assertion is correct, it would represent a major shift in the relationship between Diggs and Allen. The pair have been tight ever since Diggs joined the team in a 2020 trade, remaining close both on and off the field and often sharing praise for one another.

In one viral moment last year, Diggs expressed his gratitude for Allen prior to the team’s Thanksgiving Day game against the Detroit Lions.

This moment between Stefon Diggs and Josh Allen 🥺❤️

(via @BuffaloBills)pic.twitter.com/GAUUU0FQII

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 1, 2022

“Happy Thanksgiving. I’m thankful for you. You’ll never know how much,” Diggs told Allen.

Stefon Diggs Trade Could Still Be in the Cards

Though Allen and McDermott have expressed optimism that the team will put the drama behind them and focus on the upcoming season, a new report indicates that the team could be open to the idea of trading Diggs.

In a June 19 episode of Broncos Country Tonight, NFL insider Benjamin Albright reported that the team would consider shipping Diggs if the circumstances were right.

“I talked to some people in Buffalo on the condition of anonymity and they said that, ‘Publicly, we’re not moving him. Privately, we would consider it under the right circumstances,’” Albright said.

New Report Suggests Bills ‘Privately’ Open to Trading Stefon Diggs

Nathan Dougherty — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 23:22:49 +0000

The Buffalo Bills have made public assurances that the situation with Stefon Diggs is under control, but a new report claims that team may be privately willing to consider trading the star wide receiver if the circumstances are right.

Diggs stirred up drama when he skipped out on the first day of the team’s mandatory minicamp on June 13, with head coach Sean McDermott saying he was “very concerned” about the situation. McDermott made an about-face the next day, saying that Diggs’ absence was excused and chiding reporters for blowing the situation out of proportion.

While some of Diggs’ teammates have downplayed the situation, the public disconnect sparked new rumors that the Bills may be open to the idea of trading Diggs. In a June 19 episode of Broncos Country Tonight, NFL insider Benjamin Albright said sources close to the team confirmed that the front office may now be open to the idea.

Bills Would Trade Stefon Diggs ‘Under the Right Circumstances’

While there are no solid reports that the Bills have engaged in any talks about trading Diggs or fielded offers, Albright noted that it is not out of the question.

It was not clear what circumstances would convince the Bills to trade Diggs, who has consistently been the top weapon for quarterback Josh Allen. Despite the tensions off the field, Diggs has not seen a dip in his performance on the field and has ranked in the top five in the NFL for targets, catches, yards and touchdowns since joining the team in 2020.

Source of Team Tensions Remains Unclear

In the days after Diggs missed the first day of minicamp, a number of players and coaches offered assurances that the team would be able to work through the issues with the start receiver. Center Mitch Morse stressed that he did not know the root of the tensions but was confident it would be resolved.

“I don’t know what’s going on so I can’t answer it, but I’m sure they’ll work something out one way or another,” Morse said, via a video shared on Twitter by reporter Dan Fetes.

Has Stefon Diggs been a distraction in the #Bills locker room?

Mitch Morse: "I got sh*t to do."#BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/plnzGA3nRa

— Dan Fetes (@danfetes) June 14, 2023

Exactly what is being worked out between Diggs and the team remains unclear. Neither Diggs nor the coaching staff has identified any specific issue, though the receiver did say he was unhappy with the way last season ended with a blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the playoffs.

Insider Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reported that the situation centers on Diggs’ role in the offense. Volin wrote that Diggs wanted to play a bigger part, with that discontent coming to a head during the playoff loss to the Bengals when Diggs was seen yelling in frustration on the sidelines.

“Diggs’s frustration is with his role in the offense and his voice in play-calling, per a league source close to the Bills’ locker room,” Volin wrote. “He was visibly agitated at Allen during the 27-10 playoff loss to the Bengals, stormed out of the locker room almost immediately after the game, and didn’t attend any voluntary workouts this offseason.”

Bills RB Clarifies Critical Tweet Is Not Shade Toward Stefon Diggs

Emily Bicks — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 22:57:52 +0000

The Buffalo Bills mandatory minicamp turned into a mini soap opera following Stefon Diggs‘ mysterious absence from the first day of practice and head coach Sean McDermott fueling the fire with his “very concerned” comment before completely flipping the narrative 24 hours later to say everything was “resolved.”

While numerous “nonsense” reports what led to the rift between Diggs and Bills organization have been debunked, speculation over what caused the situation to blow up continues to linger.

So, when Bills running back Nyheim Hines subtweeted on Wednesday, June 21 about players posting their workouts on social media, fans wondered if this was a shot toward Diggs, who’s shared several video clips of his intense gym routine on his Instagram Stories over the past few days.

Hines tweeted, “Just because you post yourself working doesn’t mean you’re out working everyone else😂 you just showing the world what you’re doing. Not everyone wants to post their work outs on social media 😂😭😭.”

Just because you post yourself working doesn’t mean you’re out working everyone else😂 you just showing the world what you’re doing. Not everyone wants to post their work outs on social media 😂😭😭

— Nyheim Hines (@TheNyNy7) June 21, 2023

One fan asked, “Diggs tweet?” and Hines was quick to shut down that narrative. The Bills’ return specialist tweeted back, “Lol I haven’t seen any videos of him… 2 why would I subtweet my teammate and someone who’s game I loved years before he was ever my teammate.. make it make sense 😂 that tweet was for younger kids.. Diggs already made it 😂.”

#Bills WR Stefon Diggs putting in the work…

Via @stefondiggs Instagram. #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/zXHqrnD6ue

— Ajay Cybulski (@AjayCybulski) June 19, 2023

With so many wild rumors swirling around Diggs, Hines made it clear there’s nothing to speculate when it comes his view of the three-time Pro Bowler’s work ethic. Hines’ sentiment is on the same page as Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who offered layered praise toward Diggs as a teammate during minicamp, as did edge rusher Von Miller and center Mitch Morse.

McDermott told reporters of Diggs last week, “He works extremely, extremely hard, as hard as any player I’ve been around to be elite in this league – and that’s what he is.”

Nyheihm Hines Took a Pay Cut To Stay With the Bills

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nyheim Hines🌪 (@nyghtmare)

Hines was initially considered to be a possible cap casualty ahead of the 2023 NFL season, as his contract allowed the Bills to release him without incurring any dead money on the books. The Athletic‘s Joe Buscaglia wrote, “Hines did make himself a valuable player as a kickoff returner, but that usually doesn’t equate to a nearly $5 million cap hit… The Bills could save more money by cutting Hines than on any other non-core player, and it isn’t close.”

Instead, the Bills restructured Hines’ contract before free agency started which secured his spot in Buffalo. NFL Network‘s Mike Garafolo tweeted in March that the Bills were converting “part of his base salary to a signing bonus to provide some cap relief. Incentives added give him the chance to earn more than his previously scheduled $4.79 million in ’23.”

One of the biggest criticisms toward offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey last season was his inability to utilize the 26-year-old running back after the Bills acquired him at the trade deadline. While his two kickoff return touchdowns against the New England Patriots in Week 18 were incredible, he had a total of 13 touches on offense in 11 game appearances.

SI‘s Tim Kelly suggested in April that Bills could lean into Hines’ talent as a receiver, as he’s tallied 240 catches for 1,778 yards and eight touchdowns over his five-year NFL career, however, that seems unlikely after the Bills traded up to land pass-catching tight end Dalton Kincaid in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

NFL’s New Kickoff Rule May Hurt Nyheim Hines’ Value in 2023

No one was catching Nyheim Hines (either time 😉).@ECMCBuffalo | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/Rln3zRqz6d

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 14, 2023

With Devin Singletary gone, James Cook is in line to be the Bills’ RB1, and Reggie Gilliam is set at fullback. However, the Bills added running backs Latavius Murray and Damien Harris in free agency, which may put a dent in Hines’ snaps.

The Buffalo News‘ Jay Skurski predicts the former fourth-round pick from the 2018 NFL Draft will make the team, but “the new kickoff rule that allows teams to call for a fair catch and start an offensive drive at their own 25-yard line makes it worth questioning whether Hines’ value, which is tied in part to his ability on special teams as a returner, is still worth a spot on the 53-man roster,” he wrote.

“The thinking here is that the Bills will give him every opportunity to prove that is still the case after trading for him last season,” Skurski noted. “Perhaps a full offseason to digest the Bills’ offense will give Hines a better chance at making more of an impact on offense. Murray gives the Bills veteran leadership and a good insurance policy in case something were to happen to Harris, who has fought injuries in recent years and was limited to 11 games last season.”

Bills Under Fire for Major Change to Sean McDermott’s Coaching Staff

Nathan Dougherty — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 20:53:09 +0000

The Buffalo Bills announced a significant change to the coaching staff, with defensive line coach Eric Washington earning a promotion to assistant head coach — a move that some fans found curious.

The team announced the move on June 21, noting that it was the second promotion for Washington in the last two years. He originally joined head coach Sean McDermott’s staff as a defensive line coach in 2020, and before last season took over as senior defensive assistant.

Washington is now second in command to McDermott, though his promotion faced scrutiny as the position he previously coached was seen as an area of weakness for the team.

We’ve promoted Eric Washington to assistant head coach/defensive line. 👏 #BillsMafia

Details: https://t.co/HNe1kSPzFg pic.twitter.com/rdbhrT54xl

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) June 21, 2023

Bills Fans Puzzled at Move

Despite a number of high-profile investments over the last few seasons — including a first-round pick on Greg Rousseau, a second-round pick on Boogie Basham, and a big free-agency move with the acquisition of Von Miller — the Bills have failed to establish a consistent pass rush.

As analyst Warren Sharp noted on Twitter, the Bills had a hot start to last season and had the league’s No. 4 pressure rate, but the performance dropped off significantly after Miller went out with a season-ending injury.

“[T]he Bills pass rush has fallen off substantially since losing Von Miller #4 pressure rate with Von Miller, and that was despite the 4th lowest blitz rate #24 pressure,” Sharp wrote, adding that the Bills had the No. 24 pressure rate after Miller’s injury despite increasing their blitz rate to the 13th-highest.

The Bills also had some misses on draft picks, with Basham coming under fire for his inconsistent performances. Basham had 19 total tackles with two sacks last year while adding an interception and a fumble recovery, and found himself at the back of the team’s defensive line rotation. The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia suggested that the Bills could trade Basham this summer.

Some Bills fans questioned why Washington earned a promotion given the inconsistent performance of the position group he led.

“Kind of puzzling considering how bad the line has been…” one fan tweeted.

“Interesting. Is there a unit on this team where this much capital has been invested that has underachieved more than DL? Yeesh,” another fan tweeted.

Big Changes to Sean McDermott’s Staff

The Bills have already made some other major changes to their coaching staff, especially on the defensive side. Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier decided to take a break from football in 2023, with McDermott taking over the play-calling duties.

McDermott shared enthusiasm for his new role, saying he was excited to once again work with players on a one-on-one basis.

“I love it, honestly,” McDermott said in a May 24 appearance on the Pat McAfee Show. “It feels good to be back with the guys. As a head coach, we coach but we don’t coach. A lot of the time is spent on things outside of coaching. It feels really good to be back in the weeds.”

McDermott added that he feels he can make a major difference in his new, hands-on role.

“To me, the head coach’s seat is a leadership seat and that’s all good, and I love that part of it. But what you miss the most is rolling up your sleeves, getting in with the players side-by-side and coaching and getting in that defensive room, in this case for me and really getting down to the details,” McDermott said. “So I missed that, and it feels good to be back doing that again.”

Insider Reveals Why Bills Were ‘Infuriated’ Before Cutting Matt Araiza

Nathan Dougherty — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 02:51:15 +0000

Former Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza is opening up about the allegations that derailed his career last year and the Bills are facing fresh criticism for their decision to cut ties with him, but one insider is shedding new light on the team’s controversial decision.

Araiza was named in a lawsuit by a woman who claimed that he assaulted her at an off-campus home near San Diego State University when the punter was a senior in 2021. The suit came to light last summer, leading the Bills to release Araiza before the final preseason game.

But as Araiza speaks out for the first time at length, insider Tim Graham revealed the real reason the Bills chose to abruptly release Araiza after the allegations first came to light.

Buffalo Bills ‘Infuriated’ With Lawyer’s Statement

In the months since the Bills decided to release Araiza, police decided not to press charges and a new report cast doubt on the allegations. The report from Yahoo Sports published on May 8 showed that police presented evidence in an interview with the accuser that Araiza was no longer at the party when the woman claimed he led her to a room where she was assaulted by more football players.

Speaking to HBO’s Andrea Kramer in an interview that aired on June 20, Araiza called the allegations a “lie.”

“I just didn’t see how people could do this. To make a lie, like that, about someone’s life, knowing the implications of it. I was in shock. And seeing everyone in the world believe it and knowing that they just completely got misled,” Araiza said.

The former college standout added that he felt helpless against the allegations.

“No chance to defend myself. No waiting for the police to back any of these statements,” he said “Not waiting for the trial for anything to be proven in court. There was a feeling that society was sure about this. They were 100-percent sure.”

In a roundtable discussion that was part of Tuesday’s broadcast, host Bryant Gumbel criticized the Bills for cutting Araiza so quickly. Graham, a longtime Bills reporter, noted that the criticism failed to address the real reason the team decided to part ways — what he called an inaccurate report from Araiza’s lawyer about the team’s knowledge of the allegations.

At the time, Araiza’s lawyer misrepresented the information that the Bills had about the case, Graham said. That played a major factor in the team’s decision to release him.

“The sentiment doesn’t take into account that in the 48 hours between lawsuit and release, Araiza’s attorney lied publicly about what the Bills knew. This infuriated the Bills,” Graham tweeted.

The “lie,” according to Graham, came when Araiza’s lawyer, Kerry Armstrong, said publicly that NFL teams were aware of the allegations before the NFL Draft.

“That, of course, besmirched only the Bills, who drafted him and gave him the job,” Graham tweeted.

Another Chance for Matt Araiza

While the Bills moved on and signed veteran punter Sam Martin, Araiza could have another chance at making the NFL as he landed a workout with the New York Jets in May.

The #Jets will work out former #Bills punter Matt Araiza today, pic.twitter.com/8LxMRQM3sZ

— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) May 24, 2023

As ESPN reported, the Jets did not end up signing Araiza, as they have made a significant commitment to veteran punter Thomas Morstead, but the tryout itself was seen as an important step in his attempt to make an NFL roster.

Bills WR Stefon Diggs Tweets Message Amid ‘Nonsense’ Reports

Emily Bicks — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 00:58:38 +0000

If the Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on Day 1 of mandatory minicamp that Stefon Diggs‘ absence from practice was excused instead of claiming to be “very concerned,” the team could’ve avoided the public drama that ensued.

Without knowing why Diggs needed “a break and some space” as McDermott later explained, outsiders can only speculate about what happened. While the Boston Globe‘s Ben Volin reported on Sunday, June 18 that three-time Pro Bowler’s frustration stemmed from “his role in the offense and his voice in play-calling, per a league source close to the Bills’ locker room,” that doesn’t explain how or why things went haywire at minicamp.

On Monday, June 19, Diggs shared a message on Twitter that appeared to respond to the swirling speculation over his rift with the franchise. “Lol now yaw just saying anything,” he tweeted before adding later that evening, “They can’t break me.”

Lol now yaw just saying anything

— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) June 19, 2023

Diggs has openly discussed his frustration with how the team’s offense played in the back half of the season and his sideline blow-up at quarterback Josh Allen during their playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals was seen live on national TV. So, the issues Volin mentioned were not exactly secret.

From @NFLTotalAccess: On #Bills WR Stefon Diggs, and why it’s best to follow Josh Allen’s words… pic.twitter.com/rA4ITPNWnH

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 20, 2023

NFL Network‘s Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday, June 20 that “most” of the speculation regarding the Diggs’ situation is “wrong” and at the end of the day, the receiver’s main concern is making sure the Bills are in the best possible position to win. “I also have no doubt this will be something that will be behind us when it’s time to get ready for the season,” Rapoport concluded.

Analysts Slammed ‘Nonsense’ Report Claiming Stefon Diggs’ Frustration Is Linked to Buffalo Not Signing DeAndre Hopkins

GettyBills star Stefon Diggs’ (L) and former Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins’ (R).

Earlier on Tuesday, Craig Carton of FS1’s “The Carton Show” said Diggs’ frustration with the team stemmed from the Bills asking him to restructure his contract in March, which cleared up nearly $5.4 million in cap space. Carton boldly claimed the 29-year-old receiver only agreed to do so if they used that money to go sign DeAndre Hopkins.

This report faced immediate backlash from several analysts. BuffaloDown’s Brandon Croce tweeted, “This makes no sense. Players wouldn’t have to agree to restructured deals unless void years were added which didn’t happen here. It doesn’t change their compensation,” while 13WHAM‘s sports director Mike Catalina wrote, “The only part of this that isn’t total nonsense is that Diggs is upset about something. The rest of it is just loud guy at the end of the bar stuff.”

Ther only part of this that isn't total nonsense is that Diggs is upset about something.
The rest of it is just loud guy at the end of the bar stuff https://t.co/NxrJ0Z996K

— Mike Catalana (@MikeCatalana) June 20, 2023

News 4 Buffalo‘s Nic Veronica tweeted, “C’mon, it’s not like Stefon Diggs took a pay cut to make this happen and then it didn’t happen. His restructure meant he got paid his money SOONER in a way that helps the team with accounting in the short term. Maybe he wants them to get DHop but not like he sacrificed $ for it.”

The Bills Need to Find a Way to Make Peace With Stefon Diggs

The $96 million extension Diggs signed with Buffalo last year makes an immediate trade or release nearly impossible, so the Bills and their No. 1 wide receiver need to find a way to make peace. With 108 receptions for 1,429 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns in 16 games last season, a motivated Diggs is vital for Buffalo’s continued to success.

From Stefon Diggs’ IG. All seems right in #Bills world between QB1 and WR1. pic.twitter.com/PetJh1YHXy

— Matt Parrino (@MattParrino) June 15, 2023

Diggs’ relationship with Allen appears to be fine, which is a great sign. Hopefully, when the Maryland alum addresses the media at training camp, Diggs expresses that everything is “resolved,” as McDermott claimed. Allen told reporters last week, “Stef, he’s my guy. I f****** love him… This does not work, what we’re doing here, without him.”

Much like the “13 seconds” debacle from two years ago, what caused of this dilemma to blow up may never become public information, which is fine if Diggs and the team get on the same page and move on. Yahoo! Sports Charles McDonald surmised on Tuesday, “The Bills and Diggs need to squash this and makeup because they’re going to need each other if they want to achieve their shared vision of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy after the season.”

Insider Predicts Bills Trade Underperforming 2nd Round Pick

Nathan Dougherty — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 23:04:47 +0000

The Buffalo Bills have made considerable investments into their edge rushers in the last several years, using high draft picks and taking a big free-agency swing to sign Von Miller.

With competition for roster spots at the position expected to be tight this summer, one insider predicts the Bills will sell off one of those recent investments.

The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia made his early prediction for the team’s final 53-man roster, which included some difficult decisions for the edge rushers. Buscaglia predicted that the recent acquisition of veteran Leonard Floyd gives the team some flexibility and will allow them to explore a trade for second-round pick Boogie Basham.

Boogie Basham’s Uneven Tenure in Buffalo

Basham came to the Bills as a second-round pick in 2021, a year when the Bills used their first-round pick on fellow edge rusher Greg Rousseau. Though Rousseau has shown steady growth as a disruptive force on the defensive line, Basham has endured a more uneven tenure, making 19 total tackles with two sacks last year while adding an interception and a fumble recovery.

The #Bills are loading up at edge rusher. @RapSheet reporting that the team is set to add veteran pass rusher Leonard Floyd on a one-year deal. More competition for A.J. Epenesa and Boogie Basham. Floyd reunites with Von Miller. https://t.co/n2pniNHnlm

— Matt Parrino (@MattParrino) June 5, 2023

Basham often found himself near the end of the team’s defensive line rotation, and Buscaglia believes the team could move on this summer if they are able to find a trade partner willing to pay the right price.

“The depth [at edge rusher] also allows the Bills to recoup a pick potentially on a draft investment who hasn’t panned out as they’d hoped,” Buscaglia wrote. “Boogie Basham still will carry some trade value with rebuilding teams around the league as a change-of-scenery high pick that can be had at a discounted price.”

Bills general manager Brandon Beane has shown a penchant for making late-summer trades, shipping marginal roster candidates for mid- to late-round draft picks. Others have already predicted that the Bills will explore a trade for Basham. David De Cristofaro of USA Today’s Bills Wire wrote before the NFL Draft that Basham could end up on the block if the Bills were looking to make a jump up the draft board.

Slow Start for Von Miller

Buscaglia also predicted that the Bills would take a careful approach with former All-Pro Von Miller, who is still going through rehab for an ACL tear suffered in last year’s Thanksgiving Day win over the Detroit Lions.

Buscalglia predicted that Miller would start the season on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list, with former Los Angeles Rams teammate Floyd penciled in as a starter until his return.

“The addition of Floyd gives them roster flexibility and a starter opposite Rousseau until Von Miller is ready to play,” Buscaglia wrote. “It also gives the Bills the depth and flexibility to save Miller from himself a bit and allow for a successful, long-standing return from a severe injury. Until Miller takes legitimate strides near the end of his projected nine-month rehab, the reserve/physically unable to perform list should remain a consideration to begin the year. Doing so would give Miller, at minimum, a four-week ramp-up period within the regular season without being allowed to play in a game.”

Bills Kicker Proposes to Girlfriend With Gorgeous Diamond Ring [PHOTOS]

Emily Bicks — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 00:38:33 +0000

The Buffalo Bills kicker is having the most successful offseason of his career. Not only did Tyler Bass sign a four-year, $21 million extension in April, but the former sixth-round pick from the 2020 NFL draft is now engaged to longtime girlfriend, Ryan Tuten.

Bass, 26, announced the exciting news on Instagram on Saturday, June 18. He posted photos of him getting down on one knee and wrote, “Forever with my best friend! I love you Ry & can’t wait for a lifetime of adventures! 🥂.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tyler Bass (@tbass_xvi)

Several of Bass’ teammates left comments on the post. Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs wrote, “❤️❤️❤️” while quarterback Matt Barkley commented, “Congrats you guys!!! 🙌🙌.”

Tuten, who’s been dating Bass since 2019, shared a separate post on Instagram to celebrate the occasion, which showed a close-up photo of the stunning radiant cut diamond on her ring finger. Tuten captioned the post, “Couldn’t imagine a better forever! I love you so much & can’t wait to be your wife🩵🥂

@ryantuten/InstagramBills kicker Tyler Bass and his fiancée Ryan Tuten toast to their engagement.

Bills general manager Brandon Beane’s wife Hayley commented, “Ryan!!!!!! OMG!!!! Now I don’t have to overstep and stalk Tyler! I love you guys! while Caitlin Morse wrote, “Omgsh congrats!!! So happy for y’all!!” Katie Boettger added, “I’m crying 😭🥹 so freaking happy for you guys!!🤍.” Josh Allen’s ex-girlfriend Brittany Williams, who recently served as a bridesmaid at Taron Johnson and Meg DiMarco’s wedding wrote, “Congratulations!!!! Ahhhh so happy for you🤍🤍.”

Ryan Tuten’s Father, Pro Bowl Punter & Super Bowl Champion, Played for the Bills in 1990

When Tuten first met Bass at Georgia Southern, she was already familiar with a football player’s lifestyle. Tuten’s father, Rick, was a punter who spent 11 years in the NFL and won a Super Bowl ring as a member of the St. Louis Rams in 1999, per the former college volleyball player’s student profile.

While Rick initially signed with Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent out Florida State in 1989, he spent the 1990 season playing for the Bills. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 1994 while he was a member of the Seattle Seahawks.

Rick died “unexpectedly” on June 13, 2017 at age 52, as stated in his obituary. According to Ocala.com, Rick was on vacation in Costa Rica with his wife, Jennifer, when he died.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ryan Tuten (@ryantuten)

Tuten commemorated the loss on Instagram. She wrote, “I am at a loss for words. Dad, you impacted my life and others in ways that I cannot express. Thank you for being my biggest fan on and off the court, always being there for me, and being my fishing partner. No one will ever be able to replace you. I love you more than anything and I’ll always be your little girl. Rest In Peace ❤️.”

Ryan Tuten Is Tyler Bass’ Biggest Fan

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ryan Tuten (@ryantuten)

Tuten, 25, is easily Bass’ biggest cheerleader and has been a regular at games since the Bills drafted him. After Bass’ new extension made him the fourth highest-paid kicker in the NFL, Tuten shared a photo of the couple at his contract signing and wrote, “10-year-old you would be screaming right now @tbass_xvi !! You’ve worked so hard to get here & are so deserving of this moment! I am so proud of you & lucky to be with you through this journey ❤️ Go Bills.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ryan Tuten (@ryantuten)

The kicker’s fiancée also shared a hilarious message on her Instagram Story. She posted a photo of Bass signing his new deal and wrote, “Screaming. Crying. Throwing Up. Proud is an understatement. Getting a front row seat to watch your dreams come true is the coolest thing.”

The appreciation goes both ways. Bass posted a birthday tribute to Tuten on Instagram in March that read, “Happy Birthday babe! So incredibly grateful for everything you do. I love you Ry!” Tuten must be good luck for Bass. Since becoming the Bills kicker in 2020, he’s made 85.6% of his career kicks and 97.5% of PATs, per ESPN.

Bills $20 Million Starter Reveals He Underwent 2 Offseason Surgeries

Emily Bicks — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 20:34:47 +0000

While Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen played through a UCL sprain last season, and safety Jordan Poyer battled through a rib injury, famously driving 15 hours to Kansas City in Week 6 because he wasn’t medically cleared to fly, little did we know, the team’s starting center, Mitch Morse, was pushing through serious pain, as well.

Morse, arguably the most important person on the Bills’ offensive line, revealed to The Buffalo News that he underwent two surgeries this offseason to fix an elbow injury suffered in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans and an ankle injury sustained in Week 11 against the Cleveland Browns.

Morse, who signed a two-year, $19.5 million extension with Buffalo last offseason, only missed one game for each injury but remained on the injury report for several weeks. The team captain first dealt with the elbow injury once the 2022 NFL season came to a close.

“They let the UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) heal itself because I’m not throwing anything – I’m just snapping it,” he said. “The bone fragments from the actual hit itself – there were chips around, so they just went in there and cleaned it out.”

Surgery on his ankle came next. “It just didn’t get better,” Morse explained. “I’ve rolled my ankle a thousand times and this one, it just would not go away. It got to the point (health-wise), where I could play, but it didn’t go away (completely). They went in there and found a few bone spurs and floating bodies – bone chips and cartilage – they took out and that was very nice.”

Mitch Morse Suffered His 6th Recorded Concussion in Week 15

Here's a look at Mitch Morse back at practice after clearing concussion protocol.

You can see Morse back to wearing the Guardian Cap for extra protection.#Bills pic.twitter.com/GoQi9YSFit

— Jon Scott (@JonScottTV) December 29, 2022

Learning Mose played through floating bone chips in his elbow and ankle is even more impressive considering those weren’t his only injuries. The 31-year-old veteran suffered a concussion during Buffalo’s 32-29 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 15. Morse’s head injury was deeply concerning because it was his sixth recorded concussion since he entered the NFL.

While fans worried this could lead to an early retirement, Morse, a former second-round pick from the 2015 NFL Draft, who spent the first four years of his career with the Chiefs, was cleared from concussion protocol after just one week. As Morse prepares to enter his ninth year in the NFL, he’s learned to absorb the benefits when forced to sit on the sidelines. During OTAs in June, Morse was a spectator while he recovered from his surgeries.

“You don’t like seeing people do your job,” Morse told The Buffalo News. “As good as it is to get the opportunity to rest your body, it is nice to get physical reps at times. Some of the best offseasons I’ve gotten in regard to conceptually understanding (the offense) have been when I’ve been out with an injury.”

Mitch Morse Expressed Concern Over His Super Bowl Window Closing

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mitch Morse (@mmorse61)

While quarterback Josh Allen has mentioned that he’s “never been more focused or locked in on football” this offseason, Morse told reporters at the conclusion of mandatory minicamp on June 14 that he shares that same level of dedication.

“I think in any not only personal career but as a franchise, there’s a window of opportunity and our chances are fleeting, no matter how big the window or small the window is, you never quite when it can end or when that opportunity is going to arise again,” Morse said.

“We’ve had some great fortune these past few years but when is that going to dry up? Whether it be from injuries, turnover, age. I mean, I feel it going into year 9. How may more opportunities do I have left personally? Selfishly? So, I think everyone is intrinsically having that talk to themselves. We’re just marching along and trying to advantage possible.”

Has Stefon Diggs been a distraction in the #Bills locker room?

Mitch Morse: "I got sh*t to do."#BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/plnzGA3nRa

— Dan Fetes (@danfetes) June 14, 2023

After learning what Morse has been personally dealing with the offseason, his comments about the Stefon Diggs situation make even more sense. “I don’t want to speculate on what’s going on in the building or out of the building without us knowing what’s going on… I love Stefon Diggs, but I got s*** to do! I gotta come out here and do my job.”

Insider Reveals Bills WR Stefon Diggs’ Frustration With Coaching Staff

Nathan Dougherty — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 18:27:06 +0000

After all the drama that built up over the postseason and came to a head at the start of mminicamp last week, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ frustration with the team boils down to a simple request — he wants the ball more often.

Insider Ben Volin of the Boston Globe shared insight on the friction that arose between Diggs and the team as the wide receiver missed the first day of mandatory minicamp. In a June 17 story, Volin revealed that Diggs was upset with his role and wanted to play a bigger role in the offense, which could become a bigger issue in the coming season.

Stefon Diggs Wants Bigger Role

Diggs had expressed frustration with the team dating back to the end of last season, when he was seen having an outburst on the sidelines during the team’s playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Diggs later said he was just unhappy with the way the team’s season was ending, but continued to stir speculation with some cryptic tweets that hinted at deeper frustrations.

When Diggs did not take the field with teammates at the start of mandatory minicamp on June 13, Bills head coach Sean McDermott said he was “very concerned” about the situation. But the next day, McDermott backtracked and said that it was an excused absence, and Diggs was back at practice for the next day before the team canceled the third and final day of minicamp.

Though McDermott said the situation had been addressed, Volin wrote that this was a “sanitized” version of the story and that Diggs was still frustrated with his role in the offense.

Globe NFL Notes: Delving into the very real issues between Stefon Diggs and the Bills (it’s not money), and how both sides still need each other in 2023 https://t.co/nb9jW3u8j9

— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) June 18, 2023

Stefon Diggs Saw Drop in Production

As Volin noted, Diggs had plenty of opportunities last season and ranked in the top five of the league in targets, catches, yards and touchdowns.

“Since joining the Bills for the 2020 season, Diggs is top six in all of those stats, and his 484 targets rank second behind only Davante Adams,” Volin wrote.

But the Boston Globe reporter noted that Diggs saw a drop in production late in the season and through the playoffs.

“Over the last six games in 2023, including two playoff games, Diggs caught just one touchdown pass and averaged a meager 63 receiving yards per game,” Volin wrote. “In the playoff loss to the Bengals, a listless, blowout defeat at home, Diggs had just four catches for 35 yards.”

Based on some of the team’s offseason moves, Diggs could actually see another dip in production in 2023. The Bills made a number of postseason moves intended to spread out the offense, with general manager Brandon Beane saying they wanted to take pressure off Diggs.

“We were looking for guys to add to our skill positions that can be matchups and whether it’s receiver, tight end, whatever it is, just a guy, another weapon to say, ‘Hey, you can’t double Stef every play,’ ” Beane said. “If you do, we’re expecting this guy to win his one-on-one matchup or Gabe [Davis] to win his one-on-one matchup. Khalil Shakir, we’ve got a lot of hope for him. I thought he really played well down the stretch when he had his opportunity.”

Bills Projected to Cut 2023 Draft Pick in Surprise Move

Nathan Dougherty — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 15:20:21 +0000

The Buffalo Bills added to their secondary depth with the team’s final pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, but the player they snagged could now face a battle to make the final roster.

In his early projection of the final 53-man roster, Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News predicted that the Bills would cut seventh-round draft pick Alex Austin. The Oregon State cornerback will be part of a tough competition in a position where the team has made some considerable investments over the past two years, and Skurski believes he could be one of the odd ones out.

‘None of the Cuts Will Be Easy’

Skurski noted that the Bills have “enviable” depth at cornerback, with former All-Pro Tre’Davious White entering the season healthy after missing the start of last season while recovering from a torn ACL. The Buffalo News writer noted that there will be a “spirited competition” for the other starting cornerback spot, with second-year Kaiir Elam expected to take the job.

Fellow 2022 draft pick Christian Benford, who started five games last season, is also expected to play a significant role in the secondary along with veterans Dane Jackson and nickel corner Taron Johnson. The Bills also value the veteran leadership and special teams contribution of Siran Neal, who is also projected to return to the 53-man roster.

Beyond the top six, the Bills will be faced with some difficult decisions and will likely be forced to part ways with some otherwise talented players, Skurski wrote. That could leave Austin on the outside looking in.

“In this projection, the team is cutting a draft pick (Austin), a former third-round draft pick who has made 26 career starts and is just 24 years old (Cameron Dantzler Dantzler) and two players the organization has spent significant time developing (Ja’Marcus Ingram and Cam Lewis),” he wrote. “None of those cuts will be easy to make, but the projected top six all have defined roles.”

Buffalo Bills High on Alex Austin’s Potential

If the Bills do part ways with Austin at final cutdowns, he would likely be a strong candidate to return to the practice squad. Bills general manager Brandon Beane spoke highly of him after the NFL Draft, saying he was seen as a player likely to contribute to the team this year.

“Austin at the end, you’re kind of coming down to ‘who’s got the best chance to help?’” Beane said, via SI.com’s Bills Central. “We just hadn’t had a defensive back, so we liked him and what we think he can add to the team.”

"I don't understand why he was a seventh round pick."@gregcosell with some praise for CB Alex Austin, the #Bills 7th round selection out of Oregon State…

Check out Greg's full segment recapping the 2023 draft class here: https://t.co/l32GSshbaF pic.twitter.com/fcAnwtNMT1

— One Bills Live (@OneBillsLive) May 2, 2023

The SI.com report added that the Bills were impressed by Austin during a meeting at the NFL Combine, where the prospect showed off his “football smarts” to complement his strong college career where he logged 104 tackles, four interceptions, and 17 pass breakups over the last two seasons at Oregon State.

Austin also spoke highly of the Bills, saying he was excited to join fellow Oregon State alum Jordan Poyer in Buffalo’s secondary.

“I’m excited to be able to get up there and work with him, be beside him and be able to learn some things from him,” Austin said, via SI.com. “I know he’s been in the league for a very long time and he’s a veteran, so I look forward to just taking on the little bro role and getting to learn and soak up as much knowledge as I can from him.”

Ranking the Top-10 Most Explosive NFL Offenses for the 2023 Season

Matt Lombardo — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 09:00:57 +0000

In the modern NFL, it seems the key to success rests on having an explosive offense.

The Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs were two of the more prolific offenses in the league in 2022, and they met in the Super Bowl.

So, too, were the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams the prior year, along with the Chiefs and Buffalo Bills who squared off for the Lamar Hunt Trophy in January 2022.

There’s little reason to doubt that having an explosive offense won’t be integral to playing for the Lombardi come February 2024.

Here’s a look at which offenses have the chance to be the top-10 most explosive in the NFL during the 2023 season:

1) Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles return the MVP runner-up, Jalen Hurts, and prolific weapons such as wide receivers A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith, along with dynamic pass-catching tight end Dallas Goedert. Not only does Philadelphia return loads of star power on offense, but the Eagles also added a pair of versatile running backs in D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny to an already explosive offense over the offseason.

Last season, the Eagles finished second in points per game, while producing 107 explosive passing plays with 44 explosive runs, and that’s with Hurts missing two games due to a shoulder injury.

Given the combination of Hurts’, and his continued improvement as his career has progressed, an electrifying supporting cast, and arguably the game’s most dominant offensive line, the Eagles’ offense has all the ingredients to launch a historic 2023 season.

2) Miami Dolphins

Few things are more dangerous in the NFL than speed, and the Dolphins have it all over the place on offense.

Last season, only the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills had a higher Yards per Play average than the Dolphins’ 6.0.

Meanwhile, with Tyreek Hill entering his second season in head coach Mike McDaniel’s scheme, and Jaylen Waddle his third NFL season, there might not be a more dynamic receiving duo in the league this fall.

Perhaps the only thing that held the Dolphins’ offense in check last season was quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s battle with multiple concussions that cost him four games in 2022. If Tagovailoa can stay healthy, the Dolphins have all the pieces to be one of the more difficult offenses to defend in the entire league.

3) Kansas City Chiefs

The 2022 season, and the departure of Tyreek Hill, were proof positive that so long as Patrick Mahomes is the Chiefs’ quarterback, Kansas City’s offense is going to be among the most explosive in the sport.

For Mahomes and Co. this season, the question will become whether the offense can build on a campaign that saw the Chiefs lead the league in scoring and Yards per Play, or if the rest of the league can find some way to neutralize the likes of receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling?

It would be a fool’s errand to bet against the Chiefs, especially as running back Isiah Pacheco enters his second season, and general manager Brett Veach sunk significant resources into beefing up the offensive line in front of Mahomes.

4) Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow remains one of the most clutch quarterbacks in the NFL today, boasting a balanced and deeply explosive supporting cast, and the Bengals went out and added elite offensive tackle Orlando Brown and consistent pass-catching tight end Irv Smith. Cincinnati isn’t going anywhere.

While the Bengals were only middle of the pack in total explosive plays in 2022, only seven teams averaged more than Cincinnati’s 26.1 points per game, and Ja’Marr Chase’s ability to both take the top off a defense as well as turn a routine screen play into a double-digit gain are the hallmark of this offense.

Burrow is still ascending. Each year that Burrow and Chase get to play together it seems this duo becomes more prolific. That’s bad news for the rest of the league.

5) Buffalo Bills

A crucial key to making the upper echelon of this list is boasting a prolific quarterback-receiver duo, and the combination of Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs remains one of the game’s most explosive.

Buffalo finished the 2022 campaign second in Yards Per Play Average, second in scoring, and Allen led the seventh-most prolific passing offense in the NFL, averaging 258.1 yards per game. Diggs was a critical factor in the Bills’ offensive success, averaging 13.2 Yards per Catch, and 3.9 Yards After the Catch per reception, with Allen posting a nearly perfect 124.3 passer rating on his 149 targets.

The problem for the Bills, at least down the stretch, has been this offense tends to devolve into boom-or-bust territory, and in order to take the next step toward winning a championship, more depth of explosiveness and consistency will be key.

6) Seattle Seahawks

Few teams have done a better job of collecting dynamic talent at the wide receiver position in recent years than the Seahawks, and if Geno Smith is able to build on a stellar 2022 campaign, this is going to be a team to watch in 2023.

Seattle has clearly prioritized explosiveness at receiver, selecting dynamic former Ohio State Buckeye Jaxon Smith-Jjigba in the first round of April’s draft, after already boasting Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf. The pair of Seattle veterans combined for 2,081 yards with 15 touchdowns last season. Throw in Kenneth Walker dashing to a 1,050-yard and 9-touchdown campaign, and this offense is nightmare fuel for opposing defensive coordinators.

7) Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys‘ season ended with a whimper in San Francisco, one of the more bizarre play designs you’ll ever see, on the final play of the NFC Divisional Playoff Game. But, thanks to some marquee additions, Dallas aims to light up the scoreboard and dictate to opposing defenses in 2023.

Dallas stole Brandin Cooks for a song (a fifth-round pick, in a trade with the Houston Texans), and the savvy speedster could be an ideal complement to CeeDee Lamb the Cowboys lacked last season. Meanwhile, Tony Pollard taking on an expanded role in the backfield alongside reliable veteran Ronald Jones should create opportunities for more explosive runs.

Last season, Pollard had 31 explosive runs. If he can return to form following a fractured fibula, it will give the Cowboys’ offense a major boost.

8) New York Jets

On paper, the Jets have all the trappings of an offense that could emerge as one of the league’s most explosive; Aaron Rodgers’ arrival at quarterback, Garrett Wilson blossoming in his second NFL season, Breece Hall returning from a torn ACL … But, some inside the league are skeptical that this team is ready to take flight.

“Are we wholly sure the Jets will be that explosive,” an AFC South Scout told Heavy. “Aaron isn’t known for taking risks downfield, which is where the explosive plays come from, and Hall is coming off an ACL. Aaron may be the most risk-averse great quarterback out there.”

To the scout’s point, Rodgers finished 2022 ranked 18th in the NFL in Air Yards per Attempt, averaging just 3.9, and it remains to be seen if Hall can return to his dynamic form immediately post-injury. The Jets will undoubtedly be better, might compete for a playoff berth — or more, but it remains to be seen if the hype around this offense being more explosive is merited.

9) Los Angeles Chargers

Will this be the season, with Kellen Moore arriving as offensive coordinator, that Justin Herbert leads the Chargers on a charge to the upper echelon of the AFC?

Los Angeles certainly has the weapons; first-round pick Quentin Johnston rounds out an embarrassment of riches at receiver, alongside Mike Williams (14.2 Yards per Reception) and Keenan Allen (11.8 Yards per reception), with touchdown-maker Austin Ekeler in the backfield.

Giving Herbert, and his mammoth arm, more weapons is a sound strategy. Versatility in target share should help this offense light up the scoreboard in 2023.

10) Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens took care of Lamar Jackson this offseason, and not just by making him the highest-paid quarterback in league history.

Baltimore made a big splash by signing veteran field-stretcher Odell Beckham Jr. and also drafted speedster Zay Flowers, who averaged 15.3 Yards per Reception over the course of his collegiate career at Boston College. While Mark Andrews remains, as a prolific red-zone weapon and security blanket over the middle for Jackson, added speed on the perimeter should allow Jackson to take advantage of the deep ball more often in 2023.

Bills May Take ‘Another Look’ at 5-Time Pro Bowl WR After Diggs Drama

Emily Bicks — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 22:06:57 +0000

While it seems the Buffalo Bills could’ve avoided the mandatory minicamp drama with Stefon Diggs from turning into a media circus if head coach Sean McDermott simply announced on Day 1 that the wide receiver’s absence from practice was excused, that’s not how things unfolded.

It’s impossible to cast blame without knowing what led to Diggs needing “a break and some space” as McDermott explained, but amid the drama, The Buffalo News Jay Skurski suggested that Bills general manager Brandon Beane may re-think his stance on free agent DeAndre Hopkins, who’s dropped several hints he’d love to play in Orchard Park.

“There have been some reports that Hopkins is seeking to get paid. If so, more power to him,” Skurski wrote. “The window for players to earn money is small, and as teams are quick to show, it’s always business, never personal. Given the Bills’ salary cap situation, it’s very likely that if Hopkins is seeking to get paid, he’ll likely find more money somewhere else.”

“It has felt all offseason like ‘Hopkins to the Bills’ has been more fan driven than anything else,” although Albert Breer reported the Bills had “substantive trade talks” with the five-time Pro Bowler before his release from the Arizona Cardinals, “I’ll admit that the drama with Diggs this week did leave me thinking about the possibility of Beane taking another look at Hopkins.”

If the rift between Diggs and the franchise somehow pushes Buffalo to move money around to sign Hopkins, it would be an overall win. Adding Hopkins doesn’t mean Diggs is on the way out, as the $96 million contract extension he signed with Buffalo last year makes an immediate trade or release nearly impossible.

Not only do Diggs and Hopkins get along off the field, but they’d also provide quarterback Josh Allen with one of the scariest wide receiver duos in the league. As Allen told reporters on June 13, “Winning solves all problems.” While it could make a major dent the number of targets Diggs receives, he told Heavy Sports last year that he would “100%” support the Bills adding OBJ because it would make the team better. The same sentiment likely stands for Hopkins.

Bills edge rusher Von Miller and veteran Shaq Lawson publicly campaigned to bring the receiver to Buffalo, while Pro Bowler Dion Dawkins tweeted on May 26, “@DeAndreHopkins there is a spot right next to me in the locker room #YouAlreadyShnow see u soon 😊.”

DeAndre Hopkins Is ‘Not In Any Major Rush to Sign Anywhere’

DeAndre Hopkins should play for _______ this season 🍿 pic.twitter.com/3EAZw6B0nu

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 14, 2023

While Hopkins had productive free agent visits with both the New England Patriots and the Tennessee Titans since his release last month, the door is still open for other teams to pounce. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said Sunday on SportsCenter that the veteran receiver “is not in any major rush to sign anywhere” and “could wait until close to training camp, if need be, depending on the right deal,” per Bleacher Report‘s Tyler Conway.

Conway noted that while Hopkins would love to work with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, his wish to play alongside a “superstar quarterback” may push him elsewhere.

DeAndre Hopkins was asked on @IAMATHLETEpod which QBs he'd love to have throwing him the ball. #Bills QB Josh Allen was quickly his first answer.

Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert rounded out his top-5.pic.twitter.com/gtepzf9JD4

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 22, 2023

“Assuming Hopkins will want a one-year deal to improve his standing around the league, it’s fair to wonder if playing that season catching balls from [Patriots quarterback Mac] Jones is the right move. If Hopkins is willing to take a short-term pay cut, the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs have superstar quarterbacks and could throw him near the top of their depth chart instantly,” he wrote on Sunday.

Brandon Beane Discussed the Possibility of Adding DeAndre Hopkins

When asked about the possibility of signing Hopkins in March, Beane poured cold water on the rumored reports. Beane said he couldn’t go deeper into the topic since Hopkins “is on another team” — an understandable approach to avoid a possible tampering penalty.

However, Beane appeared much more comfortable discussing the possibility of adding Hopkins following his official release. During a June 5 appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Beane was asked about the receiver’s expected high price tag.

"I would never rule out DHop coming here but I know he's a great player and will demand a decent contract" ~ Brandon Beane#PMSLive #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/a6IYsXAAXo

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 5, 2023

“It would definitely have to fit with how we would restructure the salary and all that, so never ruling it out,” Beane said. “I know he’s a good player and he’ll likely demand a decent contract.”

“We’re all about people that want to come to Buffalo, especially if they fit, obviously DeAndre is a heck of a talent.”

Former Bills WR’s Tweet About Josh Allen Causes a Stir

Emily Bicks — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 02:14:15 +0000

While it’s unknown where or if former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley will be playing next season, the 34-year-old reflected on Twitter about the “best leader” he’s ever played with and did not say quarterback Josh Allen.

After retweeting a message on June 15 in which Texans wide receiver Noah Brown said the “leadership” of rookie C.J. Stroud reminded him of his former quarterback, Dallas Cowboys star Dak Prescott, Beasley wrote, “Dak is by far the best leader I’ve played with. Dak’s huddle presence is something that can’t be taught. That says a lot if this is true.”

The “by far” part didn’t sit well with much of Bills Mafia. One fan tweeted, “Dude never says anything about Allen ever lol,” while another person complained, “Allen is the best QB you ever played with but you find ways to big up every other QB you played with or in the league.”

Josh is the most physically gifted by far. Everybody is different and everybody has their thing. https://t.co/353fwmpRAX

— Cole Beasley (@Bease11) June 15, 2023

Beasley then retweeted a fan’s comment, “Josh Allen can be a great leader while Dak can be the best leader that Cole has played with. Both things can be true people,” and wrote, “Josh is the most physically gifted by far. Everybody is different and everybody has their thing.”

One fan replied, “Seems like you’re saying he’s NOT a good leader with this response. Maybe I’m reading it wrong though?” to which Beasley responded, “Read it as what I said. Dak is the best leader I played with. Lol I don’t know how else to say it.”

GettyBills quarterback Josh Allen passes the ball to Cole Beasley #11 at MetLife Stadium on October 25, 2020.

Another person commented, “Just wasn’t sure if the utter lack of insight into Josh’s leadership was a slight, or not? to which Beasley wrote back, “I just say what I feel is true.”

A Bills fan asked, “But who led you to your best season?” Beasley tweeted back, “Dak 2016. I’ve said this before y’all just don’t pay attention. 833 yards on only 96 targets and 5 TDS. As a true #3 running half of the route tree that I ran in buffalo.”

However, Beasley’s statistically best year came with Allen in 2020, during which the receiver had 107 targets, recording career highs in both receptions (82) and yards (967). His career high in touchdowns also came with Allen in 2019 when he caught six.

Cole Beasley Claimed He’d Be the Bills’ Best Slot Receiver If He Returned to Buffalo

GettyBills wide receiver Cole Beasley warms up prior to the AFC Wild Card game against the Miami Dolphins at Highmark Stadium on January 15, 2023.

Back in April, Beasley sounded off on Twitter about how he’d be “the best slot” receiver on the Bills “by a long shot” if he were to return to Buffalo for the 2023 NFL season. While fans had strongly mixed reactions to Beasley’s bold statement, Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs gave his former teammate a full endorsement.

😬😬 https://t.co/XjOcm0tD4N

— Cole Beasley (@Bease11) April 25, 2023

The Bills No. 1 receiver first shared a highlight reel of Beasley’s tape before tweeting, “I’ve never seen a better slot receiver than @Bease11.” Diggs then commented, “Imagine watching tape with your coach arguing who’s more open @Bease11 🤝🏾,” before noting, “Just a bease appreciation post… ❤️.”

While a return to Buffalo seems unlikely, if Beasley is going to play during the 2023 NFL season, we’ll know by end of July. The former undrafted player out of SMU tweeted in April, “If I’m not in a Training Camp I’m retiring. Coming in when the season has already started doesn’t give me a chance to be implemented and make an impact. I need camp to develop chemistry with everyone and build confidence. If they won’t give me that then they don’t want me there.”

Cole Beasley Didn’t Enjoy Bills GM Brandon Beane Comparing Him to Dalton Kincaid

t̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶e̶n̶d̶ ̶

w̶i̶d̶e̶ ̶r̶e̶c̶e̶i̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶

dalton kincaid#BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/vGtHA6oyRG

— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) May 12, 2023

Buffalo got creative in finding their new slot receiver, trading up to land pass-catching tight end Dalton Kincaid in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Afterward, Beasley was asked on Twitter about returning to Orchard Park next year and he responded, “I think them drafting that TE in the first round put an end to that man. He’s gonna be on the field. It was fun while it lasted though.”

While Beasley’s tweets insinuated that Kincaid was basically his replacement, he pushed back on the idea that two players could be compared. After seeing tweets about how Bills’ general manager Brandon Beane compared Kincaid to Beasley, he tweeted, “Please don’t compare me to any tight end. Lol… I think every WR gets offended if they’re compared to tight ends…”

Following some pushback from fans, Beasley clarified, “I didn’t criticize the rookie. I just said don’t compare me to a tight end. Dude could be great. We just aren’t similar. The end… Also saying Josh was the #3 qb in the league isn’t a shot at him. Also has the potential to be the best easily.”

Bills TE Dawson Knox Provides Major Update on Leg Injury

Emily Bicks — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 19:22:26 +0000

While the Buffalo Bills mandatory minicamp got off to a rocky start with Stefon Diggs‘ bizarre absence on Day 1 and head coach Sean McDermott exacerbating the situation with his “very concerned” comment, Dawson’s Knox’s leg injury almost flew under the radar.

Knox sat out the rest of practice and the team’s starting tight end was unable to participate on Day 2. Buffalo’s former third-round pick from the 2019 NFL draft was seen wearing a sleeve on his injured leg as he watched practice from the sidelines, which created concern.

However, while hosting his second annual youth football camp at Nazareth on Saturday, June 17, the Bills’ $52 million star shared a positive update on his leg, brushing aside any worry he may not be healthy for when training camp kicks off at St. John Fisher University at the end of July.

Dawson Knox 'injury' update:

"I'm good. Very minor. I'm good."

Knox was involved in a collision during day 1 of #Bills minicamp and did not practice on day 2.

*** he was NOT wearing a sleeve on his left leg at his Youth ProCamp this morning. pic.twitter.com/y3uZnv0uDU

— Dan Fetes (@danfetes) June 17, 2023

“I’m good,” Knox said. “Very minor. I’m good. You’ll see me running out around here, so you’ll see I’m pretty good.” As promised, the 26-year-old was seen running around on the field in Pittsford with the boys and girls attending his football camp.

Dawson Knox loves the kids 🏈

The #Bills TE is hosting his 2nd annual football camp at Nazareth College this weekend #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/c2WV4yplgQ

— Carl Jones (@Jones11_) June 17, 2023

At Knox’s event for kids grades 1 through 8, the tight end, along with coaches from the area’s top high schools and colleges, offer “tips and hands-on” instruction on fundamental football skills and participate in non-contact games in a “high-energy, fun and positive environment,” the ProCamps website states,

Dawson Knox Went Down in Practice Following a Collision With CB Kaiir Elam

Syracuse.com‘s Matt Parrino tweeted on Tuesday, June 14, “Knox injured on a play during 11-on-11 today. Taylor Rapp made a good play to defend a pass from Josh Allen and Kaiir Elam came flying in late and looked to hit Knox’s leg.” Batavia Daily News‘ Alex Brasky reported that Knox “limped off” off the field while WROC-TV‘s Thad Brown noted he “seemed to favor his left knee… was a bit ginger, but did not appear serious.”

Dawson Knox didn’t participate in practice today and had the left leg in a wrap. Seemed to be walking OK. pic.twitter.com/scQ2wu1WSR

— Matt Parrino (@MattParrino) June 14, 2023

After the drill ended, Getzenberg tweeted that quarterback Josh Allen, among others, came to check on him. “Knox flexed his foot for a bit on the sideline and walked around/stood on the sideline for the rest of practice without athletic trainers.”

The Bills Signed TE Nick Guggemos After Zach Davidson Hit IR

After placing tight end Zach Davidson on IR, the Bills announced they signed Nick Guggemos on Thursday, June 16. The Athletic‘s Joe Buscaglia reported that the former Green Bay Packer tight end had attended the Bills’ mandatory minicamp “on a tryout basis,” so the coaching staff must’ve liked what they saw.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pro Football Chase™️ (@profootballchase)

Guggemos has had an interesting journey to the NFL. The former undrafted free agent out of St. Thomas, a Division III school in Minnesota, played receiver in college, but recorded just one reception for eight yards and one rush for negative four yards, per SI‘s Bill Huber.

The 27-year-old pursued a career in engineering after graduating in 2018 but hoped to get a shot in the NFL. However, when COVID-19 hit, those opportunities dried up. Guggemos “continued to train at an ETS Performance opened by Vikings receiver Adam Thielen,” Huber reported, and “he was invited to the University of Minnesota pro day in 2021, where he caught the eye of Seahawks general manager John Schneider – an alum of St. Thomas.”

Guggemos ran the 40 in 4.49 seconds and had a broad jump “that rivaled any tight end to ever participate in the Scouting Combine,” Huber noted.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nick Guggemos (@nickguggemos)

Guggemos signed with the Seahawks after a workout with the Seahawks but was released a month later. The 6-foot-5, 247-pounder had a brief stint with the Cleveland Browns practice squad and the Washington Commanders before signing with the Packers in November, per USA Today. While he signed a reserve/futures deal with Green Bay, Guggemos was released last month.

It’s hard to see Guggemos being more than a camp for the Bills. With Knox healthy, Buffalo has enough depth at the position with Dalton Kincaid, Quinton Morris, and Joel Wilson.

Bills Get Good News on Return of Key Offensive Lineman

Nathan Dougherty — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 14:58:44 +0000

The Buffalo Bills made some moves to bolster their offensive line through free agency this offseason, and could now get another big boost in the form of a key player’s return from a season-ending injury.

Offensive tackle Tommy Doyle suffered a torn ACL in the team’s September loss to the Miami Dolphins and spent the rest of the season on injured reserve, but has progressed through his rehab and was able to participate in a limited fashion at this week’s mandatory minicamp. As The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia reported, Doyle appeared healthy and could now be on track to join teammates as a full participant in training camp in July.

‘Huge Marker’ for Buffalo Bills Tackle

As Buscaglia noted, this week’s practice was a major milestone for Doyle, a fifth-round pick in 2021. Doyle has been an important depth player for the Bills, serving as the top backup and catching a touchdown pass in the team’s 47-17 win over the New England Patriots in the AFC Wild Card game in 2022.

Doyle now appears on track to rejoin the team soon and could be ready to start the season, Buscaglia noted.

“But mandatory minicamp marked a huge marker for Doyle, as he worked in team drills for the first time since his season-ending injury,” Buscaglia wrote. “That step likely puts him in a great spot for training camp in late July, not only to be healthy and ready to play but to compete for the Bills’ primary reserve tackle role in 2023.”

Tommy Doyle played the last drive of the #Bills game against the #Dolphins WITH A TORN ACL pic.twitter.com/n1SPXT4Du8

— Air Raid | Buffalo (@TheBillsGuys) September 30, 2022

Doyle suffered the injury in a heat-scorched game on the road in Miami in which the Bills suffered a spate of other injuries. After losing three offensive linemen, Doyle filled in and played through the remainder of the game with his own injury — which the team learned after the game was actually a torn ACL.

“We get done with the game and you know, I knew that he had had a knee injury or a leg injury,” head coach Sean McDermott said at the time. “I go back on the plane on the way home just to check on the guys and I said ‘Tommy, how you doing?’ he’s like, ‘Ah, I’m fine, it’s nothing.’ And then next morning, I get the communication from our training staff that has a torn ACL and he’s out for the season.”

Buffalo Bills Making Moves at Offensive Line

Doyle’s expected return could help add depth to a position that saw some major moves this offseason. The team signed free-agent guard Connor McGovern, who spent the last four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and is expected to compete for a starting job this year.

The Bills also used a second-round pick on Florida guard O’Cyrus Torrence. Spectrum News 1 reporter Jon Scott tweeted that the rookie could challenge incumbent starter Ryan Bates for the starting role in the coming season.

“Bates contract isn’t big enough to feel he *has* to start should O’Cyrus Torrence come in and win the job this year. It’s absolutely one they could get out of in 2024 to open spot for Torrence… or not too bad to eat as reserve… or even kick in to center.”

Analyst Suggests Bills Fire ‘Tone Deaf’ Head Coach Sean McDermott

Nathan Dougherty — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 00:03:42 +0000

After leading the Buffalo Bills to the playoffs for four straight seasons and turning the team into perennial Super Bowl contenders, head coach Sean McDermott could be on the hot seat before the next season ever starts.

McDermott came under criticism this week for his handling of wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ one-day absence from the team’s mandatory minicamp. After saying he was “very concerned” that Diggs was not at practice on June 13, McDermott walked back the statement the next day and said his absence was excused.

FS1 analyst Colin Cowherd believes the incident was an indication of a bigger problem with the Bills head coach.

“Sean McDermott, last chance,” the pundit said on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” on June 14. “He’s the issue. I watched him get out-coached by (Miami’s) Mike McDaniel three times.”

"Sean McDermott, last chance. He's the issue. I watched him get out coached by Mike McDaniel 3 times."

— @ColinCowherd on Stefon Diggs' absence from minicamp pic.twitter.com/wz76ZVeupl

— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) June 14, 2023

Colin Cowherd Calls out ‘Rigid’ Sean McDermott

Cowherd noted that the Bills appeared poised to challenge Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs for supremacy in the AFC, but he said the team instead has taken a step back while Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals have surpassed them as a contender in the conference.

“Where is Josh Allen? With a rigid defensive coach, fifth year, can’t get the offensive line right,” Cowherd said. “Last year, if you took out Josh Allen’s rush yards, [they still have] a crappy run game … Josh Allen is running too much, getting hit too much.

“Now the star receiver is unhappy and they can’t develop a second receiver. Gosh, I wonder what it could be? The defensive rigid, conservative head coach Sean McDermott.”

Cowherd said that McDermott is the main issue with the Bills, noting that the team’s offensive line has yet to develop in his five years as head coach — all while McDermott has placed a higher priority on the defensive line.

Sean McDermott Under Fire for Stefon Diggs Situation

While Cowherd’s criticism of McDermott centered largely on his ability to get the team over the hump in a competitive AFC, a number of fans took aim at the Bills coach for his role in the controversy with Diggs this week.

My what a difference a day makes.

Stefon Diggs was on the field for Day 2 of #Bills mandatory minicamp as Sean McDermott said after that he feels healthy conversations have the issues resolved.

Take a look and listen to the turnaround. pic.twitter.com/L4WIoAbVMG

— Jon Scott (@JonScottTV) June 14, 2023

The main issue was with McDermott’s mixed messaging, as the Bills coach starting the week by saying he was “very concerned” about the receiver’s absence but explained the next day that Diggs had been excused from practice after reporting to the team facility and undergoing a physical in the morning.

“Bills ownership and PR obviously didn’t like the mess McDermott made by going public with his ‘concern’ about Diggs. He is now in damage control,” one fan tweeted. “Like the Wizard of Oz he doesn’t want you to look behind the curtain he pulled back.”

The team appears to be trying to put the controversy behind them. Veteran center Mitch Morse pushed off a question about whether Diggs has been a distraction to the team, saying he was focused on his own job and confident that Diggs would work through whatever issues he might have.

Has Stefon Diggs been a distraction in the #Bills locker room?

Mitch Morse: "I got sh*t to do."#BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/plnzGA3nRa

— Dan Fetes (@danfetes) June 14, 2023

“We let the people do what they do,” Morse said, via a video shared on Twitter by reporter Dan Fetes. “I love Stefon Diggs, [but] I’ve got s**t to do. I’ve got to come out here and do my job. I want Stef and everyone to be the happiest version of themselves. He’s one of the best teammates I’ve been around. I also think that they’re working through it, doing the things they’re supposed to do, which is to have possibly uncomfortable conversations, have some candidness which can be hard at times.”

Former NFL GM Throws Bills’ Sean McDermott Under the Bus in Interview

Emily Bicks — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 23:21:09 +0000

Between Stefon Diggs‘ mysterious absence from practice on Day 1 of mandatory minicamp and head coach Sean McDermott’s haphazard attempt at damage control on Day 2, it suffices to say that the Buffalo Bills‘ offseason isn’t going as planned.

While outsiders work to figure out what led to the rift between Diggs and the Bills organization, or why McDermott wasn’t upfront about his No. 1 wide receiver’s absence from the start, former NFL executive Michael Lombardi suggested that there are more issues when it comes to the franchise and their head coach during a June 16 appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.”

"Let's go back to Leslie Frazier's departure from Buffalo..

Sean McDermott took over the play calling with 13 seconds left in Kansas City that resulted in a field goal..

This year McDermott wanted to call the defense and Frazier decided to leave"@mlombardiNFL #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/fVIpCGyAwl

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 16, 2023

Lombardi threw McDermott under the bus by not only suggesting McDermott called the scheme during the infamous “13 seconds,” referring to the Bills’ overtime playoff collapse to the Kansas City Chiefs two seasons ago, he also claimed the 49-year-old head coach’s desire to call all the defensive plays forced Leslie Frazier’s sudden exit in February.

“I think they have a lot of things going on,” Lombardi said. “Let’s go back to Leslie Frazier’s departure. Sean McDermott wants to call the defensive plays and Leslie Frazier was in charge of that. Now, let’s even go further back, 13 seconds in Kansas City, McDermott took over the play calls on the drive that resulted in a field goal and that didn’t sit well with Leslie. The next year, he kept calling the defense.

“But this year, McDermott wants to call the defense, and Leslie, for whatever reason, he said, ‘No. Look that was the agreement we had.’ So, he decided to leave and take the sabbatical. So there’s a little bit of undercurrent there… I think there’s some internal combustion happening in that building.”

Lombardi said he didn’t know what led to the Diggs situation, but threw in one more dig. “The sports books seem to have Buffalo at 10.5 wins, which to me seems low based on their success the last two years. So what is actually going on?”

Analysts Strongly Refuted Michael Lombardi’s Report

Speaking for much of Bills Mafia, McAfee yelled, “Woah!” while Lombardi was talking, and asked if he had ever mentioned these bombshell claims publicly before. “That’s the first time I’m hearing it,” McAfee says.

While the idea of complete discord happening within Orchard Park is likely thrilling fodder for the Bills’ rival teams, most fans and analysts had trouble believing Lombardi’s bold claims.

The Athletic’s Tim Graham, a proven Bills insider, refuted Lombardi’s report on Friday. Graham tweeted, “McDermott told me at the combine that the only time he ever called the plays was that brief time in 2018. I specially asked him in a one-on-one setting how often he’d taken over as Bills head coach,” to which Broncos reporter Benjamin Albright replied, “100% correct. Further that’s not why Frazier left at all.”

100% correct. Further that's not why Frazier left at all.

— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) June 16, 2023

One fan tweeted, “So we’re just pretending that Lombardi just sat on the info about 13 seconds well over a year after it happened?? If it looks like b*******, and sounds like b*******, well…,” while a Buffalo Fanatics contributor wrote, “It feels like this past week has been a media frenzy trying to heighten the temperature on McDermott’s seat.”

Cover 1 host Greg Vorse tweeted, “This feels like nothing more than conjecture and ‘I want attention’ nonsense. It goes against everything I’ve heard and seen from other reporters.”

Leslie Frazier Spoke Out About the ‘Reasons’ That Led to His Bills Exit

This is a Leslie Frazier appreciation post. Our Defense has come SUCH a long way. pic.twitter.com/cFqIOA8QHa

— BillsMafiaBabes (@BillsMafiaBabes) October 11, 2021

Three months after the announcement was made, Frazier finally spoke out on his departure from Buffalo. “I think my reasons for stepping away were the right reasons; I feel good about it,” the 64-year-old told SI in the May 30 story.

CBS Sports analyst Josina Anderson reported on June 1 that Frazier spent two days with the Green Bay Packers after attending the NFL’s Coach Accelerator program, followed by two days with the Washington Commanders, and was set to make a two-day visit with the New York Giants “to maintain dialogue,” as he has close relationships with head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen from his six-year tenure in Buffalo.

While we may never know what exactly happened that led to Frazier’s exit, as it seems odd to take a year off if his main goal is to be hired as a head coach next season, multiple visits with other teams strongly indicate he’s coached his last game in Buffalo.

Bills’ Stefon Diggs Appears to Clarify Relationship With Josh Allen in IG Post

Nathan Dougherty — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 18:50:22 +0000

Josh Allen had insisted for months that there was no bad blood between himself and Buffalo Bills teammate Stefon Diggs, even after the wide receiver was seen getting very animated toward his quarterback during a playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Now, Diggs appears to be backing Allen as well.

After a drama-filled day on June 14 as Diggs left the team facility early prior to the start of mandatory minicamp, the receiver took to Instagram to share a picture of himself beside Allen during practice. Diggs tagged Allen in the Instagram story on June 15, a post that caught some viral attention from fans as it appeared to clear up any lingering doubts about their relationship.

Stefon Diggs’ IG story today: pic.twitter.com/RsO5T4iaNB

— Jenna Cottrell (@JennaCottrell) June 15, 2023

“It doesn’t look like Stefon Diggs has any beef with Josh Allen,” noted Nick Wojton of USA Today’s Bills Wire.

Josh Allen Opens Up on Relationship With Stefon Diggs

Bills head coach Sean McDermott stirred up some controversy at the start of minicamp when he said he was “very concerned” about Diggs’ absence, though clarified the next day that it had been an excused absence for the star wide receiver.

“We had a good conversation, great communication,” McDermott said on June 14. “We got to a point yesterday where we just felt like we all needed a break and some space. So, I gave Stef permission to get some space and head out and picked up those conversations after practice. So let me make it clear: It was not Stef leaving unexcused — he was excused, by me. And so those conversations have got us to, what I think and believe, is a great spot.”

Are Stefon Diggs and Josh Allen best buds again? #BillsMafia

Receiver posts photo of them on his Instagram!https://t.co/1Ylp5LNWTY

— Peter DiBiasi (@DibiasiPeter) June 15, 2023

Allen also clarified to reporters that he had no personal problems with Diggs, using uncharacteristically strong language to shoot down any lingering rumors of tensions between them.

“Internally, we’re working on some things,” Allen said, via Pro Football Talk. “Not football-related. Stef, he’s my guy. I f***ing love him. He’s a brother of mine. This does not work, what we’re doing here, without him.”

Focus Turns to Upcoming Season

Veteran Bills lineman Mitch Morse also spoke about the situation with Diggs, saying the team is working through the issues. Though the drama spilled over to start the week, the Bills were focused on the field through two days of mandatory minicamp before McDermott canceled the third day.

As The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia noted, Diggs and Allen still seemed to have a strong connection, even though the wide receiver was a limited participant.

“During the stretching line, Diggs and star quarterback Josh Allen were constantly chatting as they went through the drills side by side,” Buscaglia wrote. “Once positional drills began, they included some routes vs. air reps with Allen throwing him the ball. In all, Diggs looked like his usual self in practice. He was sharp in his routes, and he and Allen were quickly on the same page in the low-stress drill.”

Buscaglia added that Diggs was engaged with teammates on the sidelines during the day, even dancing during the session to keep things loose.

“If there were any lingering feelings from the previous day, it certainly wasn’t on display during the Bills’ minicamp practice,” he wrote.

Insider Dishes on Cause Behind Stefon Diggs’ Rift With Buffalo Bills

Emily Bicks — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 18:43:14 +0000

The Buffalo Bills mandatory minicamp was a rollercoaster of drama with Stefon Diggs‘ bizarre absence from practice on Day 1 and head coach Sean McDermott’s attempt at damage control on Day 2.

While canceling the last day of minicamp is a normal move across the league, the Bills’ decision to do so only raised more eyebrows. Diggs did not address the media, so speculation over how or why the team’s No. 1 wide receiver and the Bills “got to a point… where we just felt like we all needed a break and some space,” as McDermott described, continued to grow.

One of the biggest fan theories, supported by former NFL wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson on ESPN, was that Diggs had issues with Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, who’s firmly in the hot seat heading into his second year in the role.

However, During an appearance on “Talking Buffalo,” The Athletic’s Tim Graham revealed the one detail he could confirm was that Diggs’ rift with the team is not due to a clash with Dorsey.

CLIP: Tim Graham said the lone thing he's been able to find out thus far regarding any Stefon Driggs rift(s) is that it DOESN'T involve Ken Dorsey

So, no WR1/OC beef going on. (There's some strong Bills takes from Tim/Tyler in this clip)

(Full Chat: https://t.co/ZeriCp5jz7 ) pic.twitter.com/QZLnhabHf7

— Patrick Moran (Talking Buffalo) (@PatMoranTweets) June 16, 2023

“I’ve been trying to figure out what is the issue and I don’t know. Everybody has been tight-lipped about it. I’ve been told that it is not Ken Dorsey if you want to strike that off the list. That’s about all I could wriggle out of one of my sources…

“I get as much information as I can before I have an opinion on something. So the fact that I don’t know what the issue is, it could be incredibly profound, it could be something really stupid and juvenile and silly. My only opinion so far is that this was an incredibly bad week for Buffalo Bills’ communications department.”

Stefon Diggs’ Relationship With Josh Allen Appears Solid

Stefon Diggs caught passes from Josh Allen today.

Here are 40 seconds to prove it. #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/2adMhw8Us0

— Dan Fetes (@danfetes) June 14, 2023

While outsiders scrambled to understand what’s going on between Diggs and the Bills organization, the three-time Pro Bowler shared a cryptic message on his Instagram Stories on Tuesday night. He wrote, “I just be letting people cap. If them lies help you sleep better tell em big dawg.”

Many fans and analysts believed Diggs was talking about Josh Allen. However when the 29-year-old attended practice on Wednesday, much to Bills Mafia’s relief, the superstar quarterback and his top offensive weapon looked like they had no beef between them.

From Stefon Diggs’ IG. All seems right in #Bills world between QB1 and WR1. pic.twitter.com/PetJh1YHXy

— Matt Parrino (@MattParrino) June 15, 2023

After practice Diggs shared a photo of him and Allen on Instagram, which appears to confirm things are good between one of the scariest QB/WR duos in the NFL.

The Bills’ Public Mess With Stefon Diggs Could’ve Been Avoided

If McDermott simply said Diggs’ absence was excused on Day 1 instead of announcing that he was “very concerned” about the receiver not being there, this situation likely wouldn’t have blown up like it did. While McDermott said everything was basically “resolved” on Wednesday, it’s hard to trust that sentiment.

Graham said the flip-flopping of information was a rare loss for Bills’ culture. “If this wasn’t planned or expected or not well thought out before McDermott sat down on Tuesday, that in and of itself is a failure… self-inflicted wound, after self-inflicted wound, after self-inflicted wound from what McDermott said, to the bills tweeting it out as though it were breaking news with a photo of Diggs looking like he’s got an attitude and making sure that the “C” is on the shirt so you can see that he’s a captain – you could’ve used any photo!… A generic photo of a Bills helmet.”

"Stefon is not in attendance."

Coach McDermott says Stefon Diggs is not at Mandatory Minicamp: https://t.co/VqCFeRluRA pic.twitter.com/6aWiRhsO5j

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) June 13, 2023

“Bad week for Bills culture,” Graham concluded. And while we may never know why Diggs was upset, “This was a mess that didn’t have to happen.”

Bills Sign Ex-Packers Tight End With Unusual Path to the NFL

Nathan Dougherty — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 23:45:19 +0000

The Buffalo Bills made quick work to replace a reserve tight end lost to a season-ending injury, landing another player with an unconventional path from Division III college to the NFL.

Just a day after they placed Zach Davidson on injured reserve, the Bills announced on June 15 that they had signed veteran tight end Nick Guggemos to a one-year deal. The 27-year-old has spent time on a number of practice squads, including a stint with the Green Bay Packers last season.

Guggemos caught the eye of scouts after a relatively uneventful college career that included a long break from football.

Nick Guggemos Waited Years for NFL Chance

After playing college football at Division III St. Thomas (Minnesota), Guggemos had short stints with a number of teams but never made an active roster. He signed with Green Bay Packers in Novembe and spent the remainder of the season on the practice squad, earning a reserve/futures contract in January. He was released again in May, and had a tryout with the Bills earlier this week before being signed on Thursday.

As Bill Huber of SI.com’s Packer Central noted, Guggemos had an unconventional ascension from little-known college player to NFL prospect. He was a receiver on the Division III powerhouse St. Thomas team but had little impact on the field, making just one reception for 8 yards and one rush for minus-4 yards in his collegiate career.

Guggemos also spent several years away from football while training and hoping to jump onto the NFL radar.

We’ve signed TE Nick Guggemos. #BillsMafia

More info: https://t.co/3bacNnmxOx pic.twitter.com/kpprX857ut

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) June 15, 2023

“His college career ended in 2018. While putting his engineering degree to work, he trained in hopes of getting a shot in 2020,” Huber wrote. “Instead, COVID struck and shut the door on any opportunities. He continued to train at an ETS Performance opened by Vikings receiver Adam Thielen.”

Guggemos earned an invite to the University of Minnesota’s pro day in 2021 and turned in some impressive performances, with a 4.49-second time in the 40-yard dash and one of the best broad jumps of all time for a tight end.

Guggemos earned a look from Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider, himself a St. Thomas alum. He was signed as an undrafted free agent with the Seahawks.

“He did a nice job in a couple workouts that our scouts had seen,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll told reporters at the time, via SI.com. “Then when we brought him in here for a workout, he really did well and so, we thought he deserved a chance to be part of this.”

But Guggemos lasted only a month with the Seahawks before being released.

Buffalo Bills Beefing Up at Tight End

The Bills have made another big to their tight end room this offseason, trading up in the first round of the NFL Drafy to snag Utah’s Dalton Kincaid.

Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey said the team will find plenty of ways to get the 6-foot-4, 234-pound tight end involved in the offense next year, even if the exact plan isn’t yet clear.

“We’re nowhere close to knowing exactly ‘Hey, this is what the big picture is going to be’ because we have to learn him and he is going to learn us in a lot of ways,” Dorsey said, via New York Upstate.

Josh Allen’s Teammate Comments on Bills QB Dating Hailee Steinfeld

Emily Bicks — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 20:21:18 +0000

During Buffalo Bills center Mitch Morse‘s press conference at the conclusion of mandatory minicamp on Wednesday, June 14, he was asked about his perspective on quarterback Josh Allen‘s incredibly busy, albeit exciting offseason.

In addition to being named the Madden 24 cover star, Allen’s dating life was thrust into the spotlight following his breakup from longtime girlfriend Brittany Williams.

A reporter asked Morse about the locker room reaction to Allen’s growing fame and “going on dates in New York City,” referring to the MVP candidate’s romantic outings with Oscar nominated actress Hailee Steinfeld, which caused a stir on social media.

hailee steinfeld with josh allen, greer and friends pic.twitter.com/nodDsWjVxE

— best of hailee steinfeld (@archiveshailees) May 29, 2023

While Allen is living his best life, Morse made it clear that football is still the superstar’s No. 1 focus. “I think from the jump, nothing has been more important in Josh’s life, of course, excluding faith and family, than football. That being said, he’s had a good few months, ya know?” Morse said with a smile.

“It’s been fun to… There’s friendly banter, whether it be from his haircut, to what you said about New York City, to the Madden cover, which even for a guy who doesn’t play video games, it’s not lost on me, it’s not a novelty that that’s a pretty cool moment for him and his family.

“So for us, it’s just hyping him up and really getting in his ear. He takes it well and he’s very humbled by it but when push comes to shove out here, he’s still the ultimate competitor that’s looking to get something out of every day. That’s refreshing because I think that’s what you want from your quarterback, no matter if things are going well or not well.”

Mitch Morse Offered the Perfect Response to the Stefon Diggs Drama

Has Stefon Diggs been a distraction in the #Bills locker room?

Mitch Morse: "I got sh*t to do."#BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/plnzGA3nRa

— Dan Fetes (@danfetes) June 14, 2023

The Bills mandatory minicamp was quite the rollercoaster with Stefon Diggs‘ bizarre absence from practice on Day 1 and head coach Sean McDermott’s attempt at damage control on Day 2. When Morse was asked his perspective on the situation, the 31-year-old team captain offered the perfect response.

“Listen, Stefon Diggs is an amazing player. Maybe a handful of guys I’ve been around in my nine years who make an impact like Stef does on a team,” Morse said. “I think Josh and him have a symbiotic relationship where they make both better. He’s done so much for our team. That’s why it’s such big news in the media…

“I don’t want to speculate on what’s going on in the building or out of the building without us knowing what’s going on… I love Stefon Diggs, but I got s*** to do! I gotta come out here and do my job.”

Morse, who signed a two-year, $19.5 million contract extension with Buffalo last season, is the team’s clear starting center. Last year, he earned 61.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.

“I want Stef and everyone to be the happiest version of themselves. He is one of the best teammates I’ve been around. I also think that they’re working through it. I think they’re doing the thing that they’re supposed to do, which is to have possibly uncomfortable conversations, have some candidness, which can be hard at times. But in the end, you appreciate it and you work out.”

Mitch Morse Expressed Concern Over His Super Bowl Window Closing

GettyBills center Mitch Morse exits Highmark Stadium on January 22, 2023.

While Allen has mentioned that he’s more focused on football than ever this season, Morse told reports that he shares that same level of dedication.

The former second-round pick from the 2015 NFL Draft, who spent the first four years of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs, missed a few games last season after suffering his sixth recorded concussion since entering the league.

Bills’ 6-Foot-7 Tight End Placed on IR, Ruled Out for Entire Season

Emily Bicks — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 23:29:57 +0000

The Buffalo Bills‘ mandatory minicamp was quite the rollercoaster with Stefon Diggs‘ bizarre absence from practice on Day 1 and head coach Sean McDermott’s attempt at damage control on Day 2, but putting that drama aside, there were other issues the team needed to deal with.

On Wednesday, June 14, Buffalo placed Zach Davidson on injured reserve, per the NFL’s transaction wire. While the 6-foot-7 tight end was in attendance at minicamp, he did not participate, per ESPN‘s Alaina Getzenberg.

Davidson initially signed onto the Bills practice squad last season and signed a reserve/futures contract worth $1.67 million in January. It’s not clear how or when the 25-year-old was injured, but he first missed practice during OTAs on June 6, Getzenberg reported.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Zach Davidson (@zdav30)

Due the timing of his IR placement, he’ll miss the entire season with the Bills. “He won’t be eligible to be activated later this year and can only return to play in 2023 if he’s released with an injury settlement,” Pro Football Talk‘s Josh Alper reported.

Davidson was initially selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL draft. The University of Central Missouri alum played as both punter and tight end throughout his collegiate career. Despite the setback, Davidson is staying positive. He captioned a June 12 Instagram post, “Through this journey WE will be stronger 🙏🏼🫶🏻.”

Bills Invited Former Packers TE Nick Guggemos to Tryout

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nick Guggemos (@nickguggemos)

The Athletic‘s Joe Buscaglia reported that Buffalo already has a possible replacement under consideration. Buscaglia tweeted, “Over the last two days of mandatory minicamp, the Bills have had former Packers tight end Nick Guggemos in on a tryout basis. With Davidson now on IR, a roster spot for camp at TE potentially has opened up.”

UPDATE: The Bills announced they signed Guggemos on Thursday, June 16.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nick Guggemos (@nickguggemos)

Guggemos ran the 40 in 4.49 seconds and had a broad jump “that rivaled any tight end to ever participate in the Scouting Combine,” Huber noted.

The Bills Needed an Extra Tight End at Minicamp With Dawson Knox Out

While Guggemos was brought in for minicamp due to Davidson’s injury, having the extra tight end on hand must’ve been useful since Bills starter Dawson Knox hurt his left leg on Day 1.

Syracuse.com‘s Matt Parrino tweeted on Tuesday, “Knox injured on a play during 11-on-11 today. Taylor Rapp made a good play to defend a pass from Josh Allen and Kaiir Elam came flying in late and looked to hit Knox’s leg.” Batavia Daily News‘ Alex Brasky reported that Knox “limped off” off the field while WROC-TV‘s Thad Brown noted he “seemed to favor his left knee… was a bit ginger, but did not appear serious.”

Dawson Knox didn’t participate in practice today and had the left leg in a wrap. Seemed to be walking OK. pic.twitter.com/scQ2wu1WSR

— Matt Parrino (@MattParrino) June 14, 2023

On Wednesday, Knox attended practice but did not participate. He was seen wearing a sleeve on his injured leg. Hopefully, the Bills’ $52 million tight end will be healthy and ready to go when training camp starts at the end of July.

In the meantime, the Bills have depth at the position with Dalton Kincaid, Quinton Morris, and Joel Wilson.

Sean McDermott’s ‘Striking Change’ on Bills WR Stefon Diggs Turns Heads

Emily Bicks — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 21:36:35 +0000

Suffice to say, the Buffalo Bills start to mandatory minicamp did not go well due to mysterious absence of their No. 1 wide receiver, Stefon Diggs, who left the facility before practice started on Tuesday, June 13.

Head coach Sean McDermott said he was “very concerned” about Diggs’ absence on Tuesday, which immediately sounded off alarm bells for much of Bills Mafia. However, McDermott did a full 180 while speaking to reporters on Wednesday, as the 49-year-old coach revealed he had given the three-time Pro Bowler permission to leave.

While it was reassuring to see Diggs participating in practice on Day 2 of mandatory minicamp, McDermott’s “striking change in tone,” as Pro Football Talk‘s Michael David Smith described it, brought up more questions than answers.

Sean McDermott explaining his comments from yesterday about Stefon Diggs:

"Stef did everything he was asked to do."
"We all needed a break and some space."
"He was excused by me."#BillsMafia @BuffaloPlus https://t.co/BgsueEL9HF pic.twitter.com/QH9zZVQxKj

— Dan Fetes (@danfetes) June 14, 2023

“There are a lot of things out there that aren’t accurate,” McDermott said. “Let me be clear, Stef did everything that he was asked to do. He was here Monday, he executed his physical on time. Stef reported yesterday, Tuesday, and reported for meetings, at which time we had a great conversation, great communication.

“We got to a point yesterday where we just felt like we all needed a break and some space. So I gave Stef permission to get some space and head out, and then picked up those conversations after practice. So let me make it clear, it was not Stef leaving unexcused. He was excused by me. And so those conversations got us to what I think and believe is a great spot.”

As for why he used the term “very concerning,” if it was an excused absence, McDermott explained that he’s concerned any time a player misses practice, “in particular a player as important to us as Stef… That’s just how I am. So when I say very concerned, I’m very concerned because of the situation with one of our players and it was something we needed to work through.”

Several Fans & Analysts Aren’t Fully Buying Sean McDermott’s Statement

#Bills HC Sean McDermott tells reporters Stefon Diggs was excused from practice yesterday after things reached a point "where they needed a break."

McDermott says they're now in a great spot after further talks. He wants to keep all the conversations internal. pic.twitter.com/ft4HaeSlFh

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) June 14, 2023

Overall, McDermott said everything is “resolved” with Diggs, but most people aren’t buying that sentiment.

WROC-TV‘s Thad Brown tweeted, “Fascinating to hear McDermott re-label yesterday an ‘excused’ absence for Diggs. Either a large gaffe by the HC to leave that piece of info out yesterday. Or part of the solution strategy for today. If McDermott says it’s solved, cool. See if he’s right as we go.”

The San Francisco Chronicle’s Michael Silver tweeted, “Then why did McDermott say he was ‘very concerned’ yesterday while failing to point out that Diggs had been in the building earlier? Repeat: something weird is going on. 👀,” to which The Athletic‘s Tim Graham replied, “The Bills also tweeted this out like breaking news yesterday. If it truly is nothing, then the Bills suffered several self-inflicted wounds.”

SB Nation’s Bruce Nolan believes McDermott likely regrets letting his true emotions out. Nolan tweeted, “I 100% believe McD let his frustration with those convos slip slightly yesterday, contributed to this, and wants to put the toothpaste back in the tube… ‘There’s a lot of things out there that aren’t accurate’ in part because you didn’t tell people yesterday what you told them today.”

Sean McDermott Explained Why Stefon Diggs Didn’t Participate in Team Drills

Working together. 👊#GoBills | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/Osrwv0lijF

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) June 14, 2023

While Bills Mafia was thrilled to see Diggs back in action on Wednesday, there was more worry when several analysts in attendance pointed out that the 29-year-old wasn’t participating in team drills. However, McDermott said that due to Diggs’ absence at voluntary organized team activities, they’re slowly “ramping him up,” while also noting the receiver is “in great shape.”

Stefon Diggs is back at #Bills practice.

Did not participate in team drills, but did individual drills and caught passes from Josh. Plenty of handshakes, chatted with Ken Dorsey, worked with UDFA WR Jalen Wayne and WR KeeSean Johnson#BillsMafia @News_8 pic.twitter.com/UmSFlAekAh

— AJ Feldman (@AJFeldmanTV) June 14, 2023

As for the “why” that led up to Diggs’ bizarre ordeal, that may never be revealed. But based on the photos and videos shared from Wednesday’s practice, it appears the receiver’s relationship with quarterback Josh Allen is just fine.

Allen told reporters after Tuesday’s practice, “Internally, we’re working on some things. Not football-related. Stef, he’s my guy. I f****** love him… This does not work, what we’re doing here, without him… I’ve got his back not matter what.”

#Bills WR @stefondiggs participates in day 2 of mandatory minicamp. pic.twitter.com/ffpjW6OFZH

— Harry Scull Jr (@hsjrphoto) June 14, 2023

“There are some things that could have gone better last year and didn’t,” Allen continued. “I think, as an organization, maybe not communicating the right way with everything. Just trying to talk and listen at the same time, hear him out and just try to move this forward as quickly and respectfully as possible.”

Video of Bills WR Stefon Diggs Back at Practice Goes Viral

Emily Bicks — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 17:29:59 +0000

After a tumultuous start to the Buffalo Bills‘ mandatory minicamp, as Stefon Diggs’ decision to ditch the team before practice started on Day 1 caused quite a stir, instilling fear that the situation with their No. 1 wide receiver may be irreparable, things are starting to return to normal.

On Wednesday, June 14, Bills Mafia took a deep sigh of relief as Diggs was back at practice. Several videos shared on Twitter showed that the three-time Pro Bowler wasn’t standing on the sidelines, being present just to avoid a hefty fine — Diggs was in uniform, dancing alongside his teammates, looking genuinely happy to be back.

Stefon Diggs is here for practice on Wednesday and he’s got some moves https://t.co/aJGF3gAmRC pic.twitter.com/GBV085BCMq

— Alaina Getzenberg (@agetzenberg) June 14, 2023

He’s here. 😁#GoBills | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/dMbkdV5Gh2

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) June 14, 2023

While Bills head coach Sean McDermott told reporters that he was “very concerned” over Diggs’ absence on Tuesday, the receiver’s agent, Adisa Bakari told ESPN‘s Adam Schefter that “his client is in Buffalo, has been in Buffalo since yesterday morning, took his physical, met with the head coach and GM the past two days and the Pro-Bowl WR ‘will be there for the entirety of the minicamp.'”

The reasons as to why Diggs left the facility before practice started have yet to be made public. Bakari told Schefter that Diggs found what McDermott said during his press conference to be “a little odd” considering “the conversations happening behind the scenes” with the head coach. Bakari noted that it’s an “in house situation that they are on the way to resolving” and that the issue is not contract related.

Josh Allen & Stefon Diggs Looked Friendly at Practice

Stefon Diggs caught passes from Josh Allen today.

Here are 40 seconds to prove it. #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/2adMhw8Us0

— Dan Fetes (@danfetes) June 14, 2023

On Tuesday night, Diggs shared a cryptic message on Instagram that several fans and analysts believed was throwing shade toward Allen. “I just be letting people cap. If them lies help you sleep better tell em big dawg.”

However, photos and videos shared from Tuesday’s practice showed Allen and his top offensive weapon looking friendly.

When asked about the situation regarding Diggs on Tuesday, Allen told reporters, “Internally, we’re working on some things. Not football-related. Stef, he’s my guy. I f****** love him… This does not work, what we’re doing here, without him… I’ve got his back not matter what.

“There are some things that could have gone better last year and didn’t. I think, as an organization, maybe not communicating the right way with everything. Just trying to talk and listen at the same time, hear him out and just try to move this forward as quickly and respectfully as possible.”

👀 Caption this, #BillsMafia 👀 pic.twitter.com/PX2TS4waeT

— Buffalo Rumblings (@BuffRumblings) June 14, 2023

Bleacher Report‘s Erin Walsh wrote, “Diggs appears to have taken issue with Allen’s comments regarding his absence, insinuating that he is lying about the situation in a cryptic post,” while Clutch Points‘ Tim Capurso believes it could also be head coach Sean McDermott.

While we don’t who the “big dawg” is that Diggs was referring to, there appeared to be no friction between Allen and Diggs on Tuesday.

Von Miller Said He Had Stefon Diggs’ Back

"There's no guy above the team BUT you handle certain guys a different way and that's just how it is."

Von Miller on what he's learned over the years when handling situations like Stefon Diggs.

"You treat everyone w/ respect but you can't treat everyone the same."#BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/T0ShB8b4Q4

— Dan Fetes (@danfetes) June 14, 2023

The $96 million contract Diggs signed last offseason made him basically impossible to trade, but the thought of having a superstar player stuck with a team he doesn’t want to play would obviously be a dreadful situation for everyone involved.

On Tuesday, Bills edge rusher and eternal optimist Von Miller told reporters that the Diggs situation was not that serious..

“I’m in support of Stef,” Miller expressed. “We got all different types of perspectives, and I get his perspective. I know he wants to be here. He works extremely hard on and off the football field. He’s a great friend. He’s a great leader, all the way around. So I’m in support of my guy and I want him to be happy. I want us all to be happy so we can continue to compete for Super Bowl.”