The Bills had their second practice of the week on Wednesday as they prepare for the Panthers on Saturday in their final preseason game.
Coming off his impressive game against the Steelers where he had 2.5 sacks, edge rusher Greg Rousseau spoke about his mindset entering his fourth NFL season.
"I would say my mindset is just to go out there — game, practice, walk through, lift — whatever it is just keep on getting better, keep on chipping away, keep on putting the work in and just make sure I'm doing my part out there and I'm one of the 11 dudes flying around on the field and giving max effort all the time," Rousseau said. "And also, being intentional like coach said and just trying to better myself. Because I know if I play better, it helps the team in the long run."
Another player that has shined throughout training camp is DB Ja'Marcus Ingram. Ingram, a 2022 undrafted free agent out of the University at Buffalo, has spent time on the Bills practice squad for the last two seasons, and has been flourishing throughout training camp.
"He's gained like 20-something pounds since he's been here. He's a lot stronger," DC Bobby Babich said. "He does all those things when we first get him here, to where he's truly like developmental… And I think what you've seen is his confidence, the more he's gotten comfortable here, that confidence has grown year in and year out. And not only us pouring into him, what we're pouring into him, he's using."
Fearlessness was the word that CB Taron Johnson used to describe what he has seen out of Ingram since he joined the Bills and adding 20 pounds since he joined.
"I feel like that's a testament to him and how he works in the offseason, and just making sure that he's getting his body where it needs to be," Johnson said.
"Like playing DB, playing corner, playing nickel, you're gonna get beat sometimes, and it's about being able to bounce back from that, and I've seen him bounce back and just make plays even when it seems like he shouldn't. So just that alone, his fearlessness, I feel like, is a huge factor for him."
Mike Edwards returns to practice
S Mike Edwards (hamstring) returned to practice on Wednesday, for the first time since the first week of training camp. He participated on a limit basis, going through individual drills.
Wednesday was the first time that Edwards has put on pads since playing in the Super Bowl with the Chiefs.
"It felt great," Edwards said. "I told them I haven't put shoulder pads on since the Super Bowl, so it's been a long time. So, definitely glad to put the pads back on and be out there with my boys."
Edwards has spent time out with a hamstring injury since the start of training camp. Coming back for Wednesday's practice for him was a great sign for him.
"Didn't want to rush it back, especially I missed OTAs and then training camp," Edwards said. "So just trying to be back for week one, that's most important thing."
The safety position has dealt with injuries since the start of training camp, with Edwards, S Cole Bishop, and S Damar Hamlin. Edwards spoke on the relationship that he has had with Bishop since they both have been out for extended periods of time.
"You know, we stay on top of it," Edwards said. "Me being in the league six years, trying to take him under my wing a little bit, but we learned defense together. I mean, it's my first year. It's his first year in the system. So, trying to learn together and trying to take him along with me, he helped me with some stuff, I helped him with some stuff. So, it's not good that we both out, but good that me and him being together and just helping each other out mentally, yeah, and trying to get back ready."
When asked if he could be ready for week one, his answer was simple:
"Yeah, absolutely."
Babich looking for 'organic' leadership process on D
It's no secret that six of the eight team captains from the 2023 season are not on the Bills this season. Regardless of that fact, several players have stepped into leadership roles along the defensive side. Although Babich did not mention anyone specific, he said that he's noticed who has been stepping up.
"We're not going to force anything," Babich said. "That's got to be kind of an organic process as far as just, it'll play out the way it's supposed to play out, because there are a lot of things that go into leadership… I already see some people stepping up. It'll really take form if it hasn't already, it's going to take form when it's ready."
Johnson said that he has seen S Taylor Rapp step up for the safeties.
"I like how T-Rapp is kind of leading those safeties," Johnson said. "I feel like he's a quiet reserved kind of guy, but I hear him being more vocal and just making sure that everybody's is having the knowledge that they need to have to perform at a high level."
Scroll to see the best photos from Training Camp Day 17 at One Bills Drive. This gallery is sponsored by Connors & Ferris.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Edefuan Ulofoshio (48). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Anthony Brown (5). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
KJ Hamler (19). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
DeWayne Carter (90). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Khalil Shakir (10). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Javon Solomon (56). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
DeShawn Williams (93). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Anthony Brown (5). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Bobby Babich. Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Cole Bishop (24). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Von Miller (40). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Kameron Cline (96). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (62), Keaton Bills (60). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Kaiir Elam (5). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Eli Ankou (51). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17), Dion Dawkins (73). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Andy Isabella (87). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Gable Steveson (61). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17), Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Taron Johnson (7). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Taylor Rapp (9). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Von Miller (40). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Rasul Douglas (31). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Christian Benford (47). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Christian Benford (47). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Terrell Burgess (35), Rasul Douglas (31). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Cole Bishop (24). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Terrell Burgess (35). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Terrel Bernard (43). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Edefuan Ulofoshio (48). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Taylor Rapp (9). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Kaiir Elam (5). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17), Ben DiNucci (15). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
James Cook (4). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Kingsley Jonathan (59). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Von Miller (40). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
DaQuan Jones (92), Branson Deen (53). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Greg Rousseau (50). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Von Miller (40). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
A.J. Epenesa (57). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Dawuane Smoot (94). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Casey Toohill (99). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Kameron Cline (96). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Marcus West. Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Kelsey Harkins, James Cook (4). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Eli Ankou (51). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Kingsley Jonathan (59). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Mack Hollins (13), Kaiir Elam (5). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Ben DiNucci (15). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Ben DiNucci (15). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Deon Cain (14). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Xavier Johnson (16), Keni-H Lovely (38). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Bobby Babich. Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17), Connor McGovern (66). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Keon Coleman (0), Kaiir Elam (5). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Joe Andreessen (44). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Christian Benford (47), Mack Hollins (13). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Mack Hollins (13). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Taron Johnson (7). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Joe Andreessen (44). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Joe Andreessen (44), Al Holcomb. Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Von Miller (40). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Mack Hollins (13), Rasul Douglas (31). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Taron Johnson (7). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Anthony Brown (5). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Anthony Brown (5). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Von Miller (40), Matt Edwards. Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Sam Martin (8). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Christian Benford (47). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Cam Lewis (39). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Ray Davis (22), Kameron Cline (96). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Ray Davis (22). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Ray Davis (22), Kendall Williamson (36). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
James Cook (4). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Ray Davis (22), Shayne Simon (49). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Anthony Brown (5). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Deon Cain (14). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Anthony Brown (5). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (62), Sean McDermott, Ben DiNucci (15), Richard Gouraige (75). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (62), Sean McDermott, Ben DiNucci (15), Richard Gouraige (75). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17), Shane Buechele (6). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
La'el Collins (71). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17), Keon Coleman (0), Mack Hollins (13), James Cook (4). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Sean McDermott, Josh Allen (17), Brandon Beane. Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Branson Deen (53), Joe Andreessen (44), Casey Toohill (99). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Joe Andreessen (44). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Deon Cain (14), Christian Benford (47), Dalton Kincaid (86), Cole Bishop (24), David Edwards (76), Spencer Brown (79). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Von Miller (40). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Kaiir Elam (5). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Terrel Bernard (43). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
DaQuan Jones (92). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Ed Oliver (91). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Kameron Cline (96). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Taron Johnson (7). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 21, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
