The Buffalo coach talks about the wide receiver missing practice.
By Nick Wojton / Billsire.usatoday.com
The bumpy ride for Buffalo Bills wide out Zay Jones still hasn’t finished quite yet.
The Bills took the field for their first training camp practice on Thursday at St. John Fisher College and Jones was not among the players to do so.
Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott spoke to members of the media prior to practice and during that discussion, Jones’ status was updated. The second-year pro was placed on the Active/ Non-Football Injury list because of the same offseason knee surgery which caused Jones to miss spring practices, Beane confirmed.
During OTA’s, defensive end Trent Murphy also sat out. Beane said at that time, it was a precaution. That’s the same approach the team is taking with Jones.
“He’s progressing well, we just don’t want to rush it. We’ve been this patient, he’s not quite ready, once the doc’s give the clearance, I know he’s chomping at the bit and he’ll be excited as anyone to get back out there,” Beane said.
In regard to when Jones will return, Beane didn’t put a timetable on it. When asked if Jones will return “soon,” Beane said if it was up to Jones, he’d probably describe it that way.
“If you ask him it probably would be. We’re probably holding him back more than he’s holding himself back. We’ve just tried to have patience; it’s one of those things where the last thing you want is to have a setback right now. We’re just trying to be smart. He’s getting a lot of mental work, he stayed here the whole summer, most of these guys got a vacation, Zay’s vacation was rehabbing, which is not easy, but he’s in a good frame of mind I think and super positive despite, you know, the setback of having to have that procedure,” Beane said.
Sitting out until he’s 100-percent is probably the good move for Jones, based on McDermott’s thoughts. Despite Jones being injured and unable to practice during the spring or during the start of camp, the coach was stern with his words.
“I think he’s behind,” McDermott said. “It’s a tough deal, what he’s gone through and that said, Zay’s a guy who’s a positive young man and has tremendous mental toughness. Our trainers and Zay have worked extremely hard to get him to where he is today and he’ll continue to work hard as we move forward.”
Beane previously indicated during spring practices that Jones will have to earn his spot on Buffalo’s roster, even with a very underwhelming unit around him. Aside from Kelvin Benjamin, no ones name can be written in pen. Jones will have to show his tough rookie season and difficult offseason are behind him.