The Buffalo Bills continued training camp with their second practice at St. John Fisher University on a scorching hot day in Pittsford, and the offense began heating up after struggling on Day 1.

 

OFFENSE BOUNCES BACK

The Bills defense outperformed the offense during 11-on-11 reps to open training camp on Wednesday, but Joe Brady’s group rebounded with a much better performance on Thursday. Josh Allen was dialed in as he worked the intermediate pass offense to great success and running backs found space to rip off big runs. Allen found a host of receivers, including Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer, Elijah Moore and Curtis Samuel, who all impressed at times. After having a tough time during red zone work on the first day of camp, the Bills offensive weapons were able to find more space when the drills gave them a longer field to work with on Thursday. Allen delivered with zip and accuracy on many passes, including a difficult throw from the far hash to place the ball perfectly into the outstretched hands of Moore along the near sideline.

 

COLEMAN’S STRONG DAY 2

Coleman shared in the struggles of the offense on Day 1, often finding difficulty in getting open against blanketing cornerbacks. On Day 2, however, Coleman had a handful of catches as he worked the middle of the field as well as the sidelines. He was much better at getting open in this session, running crisp routes and finding space to give Allen plenty of room to complete the pass. It’s that type of result that the Bills need to see from Coleman in his second season.

 

MOORE, SAMUEL SHINE

Elijah Moore and Curtis Samuel were both bright spots on a good day for the offense. Moore’s suddenness and quickness in and out of his breaks is the first thing one might notice while watching him practice. That allows him to create space and use his speed to his advantage, and Allen and Mike White both found him. He also had a good yardage on an end-around play. Samuel had a solid outing as well, hauling in several passes from Allen and using his own athleticism to positive results. Those two, along with Khalil Shakir, share some similarities that Brady could deploy in making it difficult on defenses to match up with them. Shakir was steady as usual, hauling an Allen pass on play-action to take it the distance.

 

RUNNING BACKS BREAK FREE

James Cook, Ray Davis and Ty Johnson all made big plays whether in the running game or the passing game. Through the first two days of training camp, it’s clear this three-headed monster is ready to pick up where it left off last year as one of the most dynamic rushing attacks in the league. Cook told reporters after practice that he wants to be more involved as a pass catcher and on third downs to prove he’s a complete back. On one rep, he took an Allen swing pass on the left side and turned it up field for what could have been a long touchdown. Cook, who is in search of a contract extension, says he wants to play his entire career with the Bills, but is confident he’ll get paid what he deserves in Buffalo or somewhere else.

 

HOECHT GOES HARD

Defensive linemen Michael Hoecht, who signed with the Bills in the offseason, has been very noticeable creating havoc up front. He was dominant at times on Thursday, including a play where he rushed through rookie tight end Jackson Hawes for a would-be sack on Allen.

It’s clear Hoecht plays with a high motor and can move well for a man his size. He’s been an interesting piece for Bobby Babich to deploy throughout the first two days of camp. Rookie defensive tackles Deone Walker and T.J. Sanders have also been disruptive at times. That’s a good sign for the Bills revamped front.

 

BOSA SITS OUT TEAM REPS

Veteran edge rusher Joey Bosa did not participate in team drills on Thursday after he did so on the first day of camp. It’s likely a cautious and calculated approach by the team to give Bosa the best chance of staying healthy during the season. He has a lengthy injury history and missed team work in OTAs and minicamp with a calf injury. He told reporters on Wednesday that the calf wasn’t an issue, but it’s smart of the Bills to have a plan to make sure he’s available when it matters most.

 

TWO PLAYERS LEAVE PRACTICE

Defensive end A.J. Epenesa and linebacker Dorian Williams both left practice Thursday with apparent injuries, but the team did not immediately provide an update on their status. Williams got up from the ground gingerly after one play and then was not in for team drills after that. Epenesa was seen in the medical tent during practice. Earlier in the day, he got into a bit of a scuffle with Hawes, seeming to take exception to something that happened on the play. Neither Dawson Knox or Spencer Brown practiced for the second straight day. Knox was spotted working with trainers on the secondary practice field at St. John Fisher.

 

ROTATION OF PLAYERS CONTINUES

The Bills have moved players in and out of first team reps at a variety of positions. Cornerbacks Tre’Davious White, Maxwell Hairston and Dane Jackson all had stints with the first defensive unit Thursday. Cole Bishop and Damar Hamlin both took turns at one of the safety spots, with others rotating in and out as well.