By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
The Buffalo Bills are back (again) in 2019.
Albeit, there are no pads and thus, not much real football.
The team hit the field once again for organized team activities on Tuesday, the second time the media got a quick peep at the session.
Here are five noteworthy takeaways from Tuesday’s practice:
Injury woes continue
While it’s still very early in the Bills’ quest for the playoffs in 2019, the team has repeatedly said it’s important for quarterback Josh Allen and the rest of the team to start building chemistry right now. With that in mind, it’s noteworthy to mention which players missed practice on Tuesday.
Several of the players who sat out practice according to multiple reports, also missed last week. Whether returners or new players, these guys have yet to build any chemistry during the 2019 offseason with their teammates. This faction of players include WR Cole Beasley (core), C Mitch Morse (core), TE Tyler Kroft (foot), RB Frank Gore (foot/ ankle), RB TJ Yeldon (groin), and OL Russell Bodine (shoulder).
Among those recently injured were TE Jason Croom (hamstring) and OL Quinton Spain (thumb surgery). Reports indicated also that Morse did some light work.
Young guns get chances on OL
At the first week of OTAs, plenty of veterans saw their opportunities on the O-line. The Bills signed several new faces to compete for jobs there, mixing with younger guys vying for gigs themselves. Last week, the first-team OL went as follows, from left to right along the line: Dion Dawkins, Spencer Long, Jon Feliciano, Quinton Spain, and Ty Nesekhe. Vet-heavy.
During Week 2’s viewing portion on Tuesday, young guys took the reins. Several reports, including one from WKBW-TV, indicated that second-year pro Wyatt Teller and rookie Cody Ford got their shots. Here’s how the reported first-team offensive line looked, once again from left to right along the line: Dawkins, Long, Feliciano, Teller and Ford. With Spain missing practice, Nesekhe took reps with the second-team group.
Looking good in shorts
Preface: It is spring. It is May.
But an overly large number of reports from the albeit small portion of practice open to the media sounded good for Allen.
The second-year QB started off strong during seven-on-seven drills.
Later in practice, the Bills worked on 11-on-11 team drills. Video isn’t allowed during this portion of practice, but positive Allen reports continued. Working mostly within the 30-yard line and red zone areas, the Bills QB found wide receiver Zay Jones on a wide-open score and another where he reported squeezed the pass through a few defenders.
Take things with a grain of salt at this point. During training camp, viewing portions of practice are right in the open for the public. Translation: We’ll see Allen’s true consistency there. But there’s no shame in reporting good news.
Dawson Knox sees big role
If you scooted through the injury portion of things in this article, you might have missed two tight ends were out of practice in Kroft (foot) and Croom (hamstring). The beneficiary of that was rookie tight end Dawson Knox. He saw an extended run with the first-team offense. OTAs, again to be taken with a grain of salt, could be a big opportunity for him to earn the starting spot.
He was credited with a reported tipped pass that led to an interception. The tight end was heavily involved all afternoon, taking advantage with Tyler Kroft and Jason Croom out with injuries.
No. 2 cornerback update
As we continue our way to September, we have another spotlight on the starting cornerback spot across from Tre’Davious White. Returner Levi Wallace saw first-team action, but reports, including one from WKBW, broke down how it was Kevin Johnson who shined.
As a second-string corner, Johnson had an interception and pass breakup this week after the media saw him pick a pass last week, too. We have no idea, even the biggest of insiders included, what happens when the cameras aren’t there for the several other days of OTAs between this week and last week. But while they are, Johnson has shined, which will cause some rumblings of him potentially starting over Wallace.
However, like Allen, when things are seen more consistently, we’ll truly get a good picture of what’s up at CB2.