Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott met with the media Thursday as the team prepared for its Week 6 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Here are three takeaways.
1. Injury updates
McDermott said that cornerback Tre'Davious White (back), linebacker Matt Milano (pectoral), and wide receiver John Brown (knee) would join the team for a light practice Thursday.
"They're going to practice today and we're going to jog through," McDermott said. "… I think we'll know a little bit more on the group as a whole, just to kind of summarize it in short, tomorrow after we practice in a normal-speed practice."
McDermott also said that tight end Dawson Knox would not practice after leaving Tuesday's game with a calf injury.
2. Bills "looking into" Le'Veon Bell
McDermott offered the following when asked to address reports that the Bills were an option for free agent running back Le'Veon Bell.
"(General manager) Brandon (Beane) and I, you know how we do it, we always look into every situation, this being one of them," McDermott said. "Trying to improve our football team, so that's as much as I can tell you right now."
The Bills have leaned primarily on their passing game through the early part of this season, amassing 1,540 yards in the air compared to 469 on the ground. The numbers represent a stark contrast to last season, when the Bills ranked 8th in the NFL in rushing.
"I think if you look at it, just the number of opportunities, let's start there and say the number of opportunities, run versus pass, has been a little bit different," McDermott said. "So, that would be one piece.
"And then the other piece is making sure that we're saying true to our philosophy in terms of what we're doing up front. I know (offensive line coach) Bobby (Johnson) and the offensive line are hard at work at that this week and we've got a lot of confidence in those guys. It's a mentality."
3. Learning from Andy Reid
McDermott spoke Wednesday about his experience learning from Chiefs coach Andy Reid, with whom he spent 12 seasons in Philadelphia. (Read what he had to say in Maddy Glab’s Week 6 storylines.)
On Thursday, the Bills coach expanded upon a pivotal moment in his career, when he was let go by Reid following the 2010 season. McDermott said he uses the experience as a teaching tool to this day.
"Those are moments that you go through in life that you say, 'Hey, you know what, I came out better because of it,'" McDermott said. "Andy knew that. He did that because he knew that it was the best thing for me, he knew the situation in Philadelphia and I respect him for it.
"… He told me then, he said, 'This will be the best thing for you,' and he was right. So, like I said, I use it now to help mentor … some of the staff that I'm around and coaches around the league that want to continue to grow."
