After a long weekend following their Thursday night football victory over the Miami Dolphins, the Bills were back at practice on Wednesday as they prepare to face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday Night Football.
Before practice Sean McDermott provided an injury update. Both CB Taron Johnson (forearm) and LB Terrel Bernard (Pectoral) will be out. EDGE Dawuane Smoot (toe), Javon Solomon (oblique), and Casey Toohill (knee) all practiced.
Here's what else we learned from Wednesday's player availability sessions.
DE Dawuane Smoot Returns to Practice
Both teams will see some familiar faces as Smoot will face off against his former team. He expressed his excitement about playing against the Jaguars on Monday night. This will also be Smoot's first game of the season since battling his toe injury.
"It's definitely super exciting," Smoot said. "It's like the first game back. So that excitement already. But you know, that's the fact that I was with the Jags last year as well, too… It's gonna be good to see some of my guys, but it's definitely gonna be a lot of good competition out there, for sure."
Smoot mentioned that going through his injury was frustrating on game days because he saw ways that he could help the defense but is excited to join this group of pass rushers and help contribute to wins.
"I mean, it sucks. It sucks not being out there with your guys," Smoot said. "I'm looking at the TV, I'm yelling and stuff about things that, you know, I could've did. It's definitely gonna be exciting to be back, for sure."
"Oh, excitement level is huge. Like just seeing them guys go out there and kill it the last couple weeks, man, I just know when I come back, it's gonna be even better."
Some more familiar faces
The Bills will also see familiar faces in longtime Bills C Mitch Morse and WR Gabe Davis that joined the Jaguars in the offseason.
"Yeah, I wish those guys well," head coach Sean McDermott said. "Two studs as it relates to what they added here, and two guys that I love being around, and we loved having here that helped us have the success that we had when they were here in particular."
Bills DB Cam Lewis spoke highly of Davis and some of the challenges he presents for any defense.
"He's a physical guy, especially in the run game," Lewis said. "Run blocking, he will block. He's not taking that play off... He can move, and he's a bigger receiver… so just being ready for it… I'm just excited for an opportunity to go out there and play."
"It'll be real fun to see Gabe out there. You know, hope Bills Mafia gets in his ear a little bit so we can use that to our advantage, but it should be fun having him back."
Bills QB Josh Allen also spoke highly of Morse and Davis and said he considers them close friends as they spent the last several years growing together as teammates.
"Two guys that I've spent a lot of time with over the last few years here. Two guys that mean a lot to me, not just football wise… I consider them, real close friends…They've been brothers to me, and I hope they feel the same way about me… And they meant a lot to me on the field too. Takes a lot to win in this league, and they were two huge contributors over the last several years that we've that I've been here. A big reason of why we won so many games. So it'll be good to see both of them."
LB Baylon Spector stepping up
When the Bills take the field on Monday night, they will again be without LB Matt Milano, who is on IR with a biceps injury, and Bernard, who has been ruled out for the game. In their place, LB Baylon Spector filled in against the Dolphins and will get the start against the Jaguars, according to McDermott.
After practice, Spector spoke to reporters about how excited he was for the opportunity.
"Super excited about the opportunity," Spector said. "Obviously, don't take it lightly. T.B. does a great job leading me, helping me so far, and continuing to help me throughout the game. So, just super excited, grateful for the opportunity, and prepare like I do every week."
After Bernard was injured in the first quarter against the Dolphins, Spector did not miss a beat on defense as he tallied 10 total tackles, tying for the team lead.
"I just think you just look at the guys that have come and done it," Spector said. "I mean, you stay ready, you stay preparing, you look at the guys that have done it – J-Marc, Cam, me, I mean, it continues to go on. I think the guys before us set a great example, they were ready, and then you learn from that, and you keep going."
Best shots from Wednesday's Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice as the team prepares to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Tyrell Shavers (80). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Dawuane Smoot (94). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Ryan Van Demark (74). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Dorian Williams (42). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Ray Davis (22). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Khalil Shakir (10). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Christian Benford (47). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Javon Solomon (56). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Ty Johnson (26). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Ray Davis (22). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Kameron Cline (96). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Christian Benford (47). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Frank Gore Jr. (20). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Casey Toohill (99). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Ray Davis (22). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Aaron Kromer. Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Richard Gouraige (75). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Will Clapp (77). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
James Cook (4). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Javon Solomon (56). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Javon Solomon (56). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Dion Dawkins (73). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
O'Cyrus Torrence (64). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Javon Solomon (56). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Rasul Douglas (31). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Greg Rousseau (50). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (15). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Khalil Shakir (10). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Alec Anderson (70). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Zach Davidson (84). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Curtis Samuel (1). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Jalen Virgil (89). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Quintin Morris (85). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Joe Brady. Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Shane Buechele (6), Mitchell Trubisky (11) , Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Baylon Spector (54). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Ed Oliver (91) , DaQuan Jones (92). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Frank Gore Jr. (20). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Ty Johnson (26). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Mitchell Trubisky (11). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Zach Davidson (84). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Ray Davis (22). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Ray Davis (22). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Frank Gore Jr. (20). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Reggie Gilliam (41) , Terrel Bernard (43). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Baylon Spector (54). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Damar Hamlin (3). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Baylon Spector (54). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Khalil Shakir (10). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Curtis Samuel (1). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
A.J. Epenesa (57). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Curtis Samuel (1). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Curtis Samuel (1). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Christian Benford (47). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Mike Edwards (65). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
KJ Hamler (19). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (15). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Spencer Brown (79). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Spencer Brown (79). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Mack Hollins (13). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Damar Hamlin (3). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Rasul Douglas (31). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Taylor Rapp (9). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Von Miller (40). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Connor McGovern (66). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Brandon Codrington (29). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Joe Andreessen (44). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Damar Hamlin (3) , Cam Lewis (39). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Von Miller (40) , Austin Johnson (98). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Dion Dawkins (73). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Reggie Gilliam (41). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
David Edwards (76), Dion Dawkins (73), Josh Allen (17) , Ty Johnson (26). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Mack Hollins (13). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Rasul Douglas (31). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Rasul Douglas (31). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Dorian Williams (42). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Austin Johnson (98). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Kaiir Elam (5). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Dawuane Smoot (94). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Baylon Spector (54). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Mitchell Trubisky (11). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Ja'Marcus Ingram (46). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Curtis Samuel (1). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Tylan Grable (68) , Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (15). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Damar Hamlin (3). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Von Miller (40). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Shane Buechele (6). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Mike Edwards (65). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Curtis Samuel (1). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Khalil Shakir (10). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
A.J. Epenesa (57). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Dorian Williams (42). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills week 3 Wednesday practice, September 18, 2024 at One Bills Drive.
LB Dorian Williams spoke on what made Spector effective as a fill-in and now starter for the defense.
"That's somebody, you know, that does everything the right way," Williams said. "He does it the Bills way. So that's somebody you look up to, to how they take care of their body, how they study film, and their preparation, everything. So he's definitely that."
Spector and Williams will work in tandem in Monday's game. The duo spent a lot of time working together this summer in training camp.
"I think everybody in our room pretty much has a pretty good connection. Our coaches did a great job of letting us talk through things, how we fit things."
"I think just communication, that's something coach Babich does a great job, and coach Al (Holcomb) does a great job of harking on. And so we talked through everything. We talk in all our meetings, defense, our linebacker meetings… We kind of hear all our different voices, and it's a great job to be out there."
