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Minicamp Notebook | QB Josh Allen fine-tuning mechanics, connection with WR unit; LB Matt Milano returns to practice

Jun 11, 2024 at 06:02 PM

Alec White

Content Coordinator

Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Mandatory Minicamp, June 11, 2024 at One Bills Drive.

With a whole new group of receivers to throw to this season, Bills QB Josh Allen believes this time of the year is critical to developing chemistry as a unit.

"The faster that we can expedite that process the better," Allen said Tuesday following Buffalo's first day of mandatory minicamp.

So far, so good as Allen had nothing but positive things to say about the progress made over the last few weeks during OTAs.

"No frustrations at all, we're playing football," he said.

The Bills are in the final week of their offseason workout program and following team practices Wednesday and Thursday, the team will have nearly six weeks off before reporting for Training Camp on July 23.

Allen shared that to continue to build up that chemistry, he will get together with the WRs sometime during the six-week break to work on the timing of certain passing concepts.

"Making sure that we're gonna meet during the summer break that we have here, and then in the training camp, just make sure that we're talking and have an open line of communication with routes and concepts. — what I see, what they see, what they feel and just trying to listen and just try to improve everyday," he said.

Allen also spoke about the emphasis he's placed on fine-tuning his throwing mechanics during the spring and early part of summer. The quarterback has been using 3D mapping technology from Biometrek — a tool Allen previously used to develop his throwing motion following his rookie season.

"Big time on just mechanically getting it as efficient as possible," Allen said. "Meeting with Chris Hess who has been here, he owns Biometrek, just digitally mapping our throwing motions right now and just seeing what we can tighten up on and improve on and just having that in the back of our minds when we're doing our individual work, when we're inside the building, making sure that we're doing everything that we need to do —and I need to do — to be as clean as possible."

One of the motivating factors that led Allen to revisit the digital mapping of his throwing motion was that he noticed he was "getting long with my arm and a little bit with my stride" toward the end of last season. Allen alluded to how managing the elbow injury in 2022 and shoulder injury in 2023 partly led to the mechanical fluctuations.

"It changes how you throw it just a little bit because your body is shielding itself from pain," Allen said. "So making sure that I'm just kind of getting back to how I'm supposed to throw and what my body is capable of doing."

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.@JoshAllenQB's handshakes are always so smooth. 😮‍💨#GoBills | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/xnamnuzpXf
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) June 11, 2024

LB Matt Milano returns to practice

The Bills welcomed back 2022 All-Pro Matt Milano on Tuesday as the linebacker practiced with the team for the first time since suffering a season-ending injury in Week 5 last season. Head coach Sean McDermott said "it's big" to have Milano back on the practice field, even though it was just in a limited capacity for today.

"Credit to Matt and what he's been able to do with our training staff and the work he's put in. He's so focused. He was focused before this. I feel like he's even more focused, if that's even possible now, in wanting to get back out there for himself, but also for his teammates," McDermott said.

MLB Terrel Bernard noticed how the presence of Milano back in the defensive huddle benefited the unit as a whole.

Putting in that Minicamp work. 😤#GoBills | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/LqXZOADlKh
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) June 11, 2024

"Me and (Matt) have been working all offseason just with our communication, building our bond, and really trying to see things the exact same way, and to be able to go out there and have some 11-on-11 time, some individual drill time where we're working together. It felt great, honestly," Bernard said.

Milano will be eased into a full workload and there's a plan in place with the medical staff to make sure his progression stays on track. The goal is still to have the linebacker be ready for training camp.

"See how it goes one day at a time and then hopefully tomorrow, if overnight things stay managed and then we'll continue to build," McDermott said. "(Matt) will continue to build through the break that we're going to go on. And then hopefully in training camp, he's at a spot where when we open up, he's available."

Injury update

All but one member of the Bills' active roster reported for the start of mandatory minicamp. CB Christian Benford has "an excused absence" to attend to a personal matter, according to McDermott.

However, there were a handful of players who reported for minicamp but missed practice due to injury. LBs Dorian Williams, Nick Morrow, Baylon Spector, Edefuan Ulofoshio, RBs Ray Davis & Ty Johnson and FB Reggie Gilliam are among those that did not practice.

S Mike Edwards and OT Spencer Brown participated in a limited capacity, similar to Milano.