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Top 3 things we learned from the Bills' Return of the Blue & Red practice | 2024

Aug 04, 2024 at 10:57 AM

by Maddy Glab, Alec White & Dorian Alerte

Dawson Knox celebrates with fans after a touchdown reception during the Return of the Blue & Red practice.

The Buffalo Bills had a record turnout for their Return of the Blue & Red practice with more than 36,000 fans in attendance at Highmark Stadium.

Josh Allen brought the juice right out of the gate, sporting a black matte Bills helmet with the standing Buffalo. The Bills QB then did a full lap around the stadium to play catch with fans before the start of practice.

The Bills practiced for two hours Friday night, with the team focusing on their run game, play action and goal line situations. Here's what we learned.

Defense's strong night + offense finishes hot in the red zone

The team had the full support of Bills Mafia on Friday night as the Bills took the field at Highmark Stadium for the first time this season. The Bills did some position work before getting into 7-on-7 and team periods.

The defense started out strong during7-on-7. Josh Allen had a pass intended for WR Tyrell Shavers, but S Taylor Rapp got in the way to break up the pass and almost had an interception. A few players later, the defense picked up back-to-back interceptions—one by LB Deion Jones and the other by CB Kaiir Elam.

"It's awesome to see hard work paying off," Elam said of the interception and his camp thus far. "But I also know that I need to continue to work and continue to keep getting better. I feel like I'm not even close to showing what I can do and how consistent I can be, so I'm just going to try to keep going."

During the first team period, the offense started with a few run plays. On one of the plays Allen handed the ball to RB Ray Davis who had the ball knocked out by LB Terrel Bernard, but Davis was able to recover the fumble.

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A few plays later, DT DeWayne Carter got his hands up in the passing lane and tipped the ball. The rookie had two tipped passes on the night.

"We go back to our fundamentals and work on those fundamentals during practices," Carter said of the tipped balls. "It's just us doing our job. It's not me stepping out of the defense trying to be extraordinary, just doing my job and trying to play within the scheme to help the team win."

Carter's teammate DT Eli Ankou quickly got in on the action too. Ankou tipped a pass which CB Te'Cory Couch grabbed for an interception.

"We talk about mindset every day, our goal is to be the best in the world," Carter said. "That starts out in practice every single day, so I think we translated that tonight. Plus, we had a little extra juice tonight."

The offense then saw some success when Allen hit WR Curtis Samuel for an impressive throw and catch near the sideline. During a later team period, RB James Cook took the ball for a nice gain near the sideline. A few plays later, Allen found WR Marquez Valdes Scantling for a notable catch.

The defense flashed again with a "would be" sack by DT Ed Oliver. Oliver had two on the night. Right after Oliver's sack, Allen threw a pass intended for Samuel but it bounced off his hands and CB Taron Johnson picked it up for an interception. Johnson also had a pass breakup later in practice. Before the period ended, LB Baylon Spector and DE Javon Solomon shared a "would be" sack. CB Kyron Brown also picked up a pass breakup.

Te'Cory Couch runs back an interception during the Return of Blue & Red practice.

Later, during a team period, the defense continued their strong showing. CB DaQuan Hardy accounted for two pass break ups and an interception, while almost coming away with a second interception. CB Ja'Marcus Ingram also had a pass break up in the middle of the team period.

K Tyler Bass ended the period with a missed field goal from 58-yards. Bass then followed it up with made field goals of 23, 28, 33, 40, 44, and 51-yards, before ending practice with a made 44-yard field goal.

The offense started to heat up during the red zone period, with a caught touchdown from TE Zach Davidson. Allen began the period connecting with TE Dawson Knox in the back corner of the end zone and Knox jumped into the stands with the fans. TE Dalton Kincaid, Davidson, and Shavers also caught touchdowns during the red zone period. DE Greg Rousseau also had a fumble recovery at the goal line from Cook and Elam had a near interception close to the end of the period.

LB Edefuan Ulofoshio did leave practice early with an injury. Elam spoke after practice about the defense's impressive night and keeping Ulofoshio in his prayers.

"Flying around and having fun," Elam said. "It's never going to be perfect but I'm just happy that everyone stayed healthy for the most part. I'll be keeping Eddie in my prayers. And I really loved every moment of this. I felt like we were really where our feet were."

pov: you're @JoshAllenQB after the Blue & Red practice. 🤩#GoBills | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/eZZR4f9o8L
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) August 3, 2024

Fans show out for Return of the Blue and Red

Bills Mafia showed up and showed out for the Return of the Blue and Red scrimmage. 36,136 fans in total filled up the stands of Highmark Stadium, many of them having their first look of the 2024 Bills team.

For players like rookie receiver Keon Coleman, this was their first time in Highmark Stadium with fans, and they loved the energy. Coleman has said that he imagined himself catching touchdowns in this stadium.

"Oh, it feels great," Coleman said. "Imagination is key though. I imagined all this but probably more, I loved that they were actually here and got to enjoy the show."

Fellow rookie, Carter, shared the same sentiment as Coleman, adding that it was amazing to see the love and support of Bills fans.

"I think my college stadium held like 40,000, so it's crazy to put it into perspective having more than 36,000 here tonight," Carter said. "It's just so cool. They show so much support and love."

For veterans like Rasul Douglas and Elam, it was a great opportunity to have fun with the fans and friends and family.

"It was all good man," Douglas said. "We miss them, miss being here. Especially me, I miss being here, so it feels good just to be able to have some fun in front of them. You know, it's still practice, we're doing the same thing, not doing too much, but it just feels good to be in front of them."

"It's awesome. It's very inspiring to see the love and support that the city of Buffalo that gives all the players and the team. It's beyond imaginable," Elam said.

BIG fans of @JoshAllenQB’s helmet. 🔥#GoBills | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/0IgrpqxFUc
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) August 2, 2024

Buffalo native reacts to his first time putting on a Bills jersey

WNY native and Lancaster high school graduate Joe Andreessen grew up a Buffalo Bills fan and now he gets a chance to turn a dream into a reality.

After spending his graduate season playing for the University at Buffalo, Andreessen signed with the Bills as an undrafted free agent in the spring. Friday, Andreessen got his first taste of a game day experience in Buffalo.

"Walking out of the tunnel, seeing all these people, signing autographs and seeing all the fans here," he said. "It was awesome."

Andreessen, a linebacker wearing No. 44 for the Bills, said that he's trying to make a positive impression on his teammates and also local football players in the WNY community as he goes through training camp.

"It's meant a lot, it's hard to put into words," he said of his pro debut at Highmark.

Andreessen said he maxed out, and even exceeded, the ticket allotment players received for the practice so that he could get as many family and friends to Highmark Stadium.

The rookie said some of the best moments of the night included running out onto the field with his jersey on and being able to sign autographs for fans afterward.

"I know what it's like to be the person in the stands so I think it's a cool experience being on the other side of it. I know how much football and the Buffalo Bills means here. I live here, I grew up here. I drive around the block and see Bills fans everywhere," Andreessen said.