The Bills returned to Orchard Park over the weekend and will continue their training camp at One Bills Drive as they go through the preseason. We will be highlighting noteworthy topics each practice during that time.
Here's what we learned from Monday's practice.
Buffalo to bring in 3rd QB with Buechele (neck) sidelined
Backup quarterback Shane Buechele suffered a neck injury during Saturday's preseason game against the Bears, according to head coach Sean McDermott, and will not be available for this week's game at the Steelers. As a result, Buffalo will explore the free agent market for another QB.
"He's going to be out for an extended period of time," McDermott said of Buechele. "Brandon (Beane) and I are in the process of discussing what our next steps are there."
Buechele spent last season on the team's practice squad as the third QB. McDermott said Buechele's injury occurred during Saturday's preseason game and the QB stayed in to finish the contest; he went 6 of 10 passing for 53 yards and an interception.
"I think there was one (tackle). But then it just went from there. But I give him a lot of credit, man. He toughed it out," McDermott said.
QB Mitch Trubisky also missed Monday's practice with an excused personal absence, leaving Josh Allen as the lone ranger.
"That's Josh Allen right there. I don't think he's tired at all," WR Khalil Shakir said of Allen getting all the practice reps.
In other injury news: WR Justin Shorter, RB Ty Johnson, LB Eddie Ulofoshio and WR Mack Hollins all returned to practice.
8/13 Update: The Bills signed QB Ben DiNucci to the active roster, placed Shane Buechele on IR. Read more.
Preseason not a reason to ignore 'the little things'
Following the team's 33-6 preseason loss to the Bears, several players voiced to each other that their level of play was not up to standard.
"We were all sitting there after the game and it was just like, that's not how we do things. That's not how we prepare," Shakir said.
While the final result is important, the standard of play during preseason is more measured on winning individual reps, playing fast as a team and honing in on the details. Shakir said the Bills did not succeed in those areas.
"It's more just doing the little things the right way. I think that's what we really missed out on," he added.
LB Terrel Bernard said one thing he wants to see from the defense going forward is increased communication pre-snap from everyone on the field.
"We got to execute the defense. We got to execute what's called and we didn't really do that throughout all four quarters. And so there's things that we're going to work on," Bernard said.
Josh Allen on his diet changes
During his appearance on the Green Light podcast with Chris Long, Josh Allen was asked about any specific changes he made to how he approached the offseason.
Allen revealed that he hired a personal chef to help with his offseason diet.
"I approached it a little different. OTAs I hired a personal chef, cooking all good things. She was awesome," Allen said. "She cooked things without the use of milk and butter, just try to make things super simple and clean. So I was eating better."
"I took care of myself more than I ever have in our little month and a half break (before camp)."
