It's "Christmas in July" day at Bills Training Camp, the first of six fan theme days at training camp this year. And for the team's coaching staff, it must feel a little bit like opening holiday presents as they watch the new rookies get their first few training camp snaps.
That's the case for first-round draft pick Tremaine Edmunds, who's been thrust into the starting lineup as the MIC linebacker. That means Edmunds is tasked with relaying defensive signals from the sidelines, to the defense on the field and lining up the defense on every play.
The rookie from Virginia Tech has done a good job on the communication part through the first three camp workouts, according to Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier.
"He's doing well, talking with his teammates in the huddle," Frazier told reporters at camp Sunday morning. "That was one of our concerns—how would he handle this atmosphere-this is another part of the transition for him. But he's doing very well with that. No problems as far as communicating, of taking command. We'll see how he continues to progress."
Frazier also mentioned how Edmunds "didn't disappoint" when it came to the physical side of playing linebacker in Saturday's first padded practice. The Bills are in pads Sunday for the second straight day.
Photos from Day 2 of 2018 Bills Training Camp, presented by Connors and Ferris.
Photos from Day 2 of 2018 Bills Training Camp, presented by Connors and Ferris.
photos from Day 2 of 2018 Bills Training Camp, presented by Connors and Ferris.
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
Photos from Day 2 of 2018 Bills Training Camp, presented by Connors and Ferris.
Photos from Day 2 of 2018 Bills Training Camp, presented by Connors and Ferris.
Photos from Day 2 of 2018 Bills Training Camp, presented by Connors and Ferris.
Photos from Day 2 of 2018 Bills Training Camp, presented by Connors and Ferris.
Photos from Day 2 of 2018 Bills Training Camp, presented by Connors and Ferris.
Photos from Day 2 of 2018 Bills Training Camp, presented by Connors and Ferris.
Photos from Day 2 of 2018 Bills Training Camp, presented by Connors and Ferris.
Photos from Day 2 of 2018 Bills Training Camp, presented by Connors and Ferris.
Photos from Day 2 of 2018 Bills Training Camp, presented by Connors and Ferris.
Photos from Day 2 of 2018 Bills Training Camp, presented by Connors and Ferris.
Photos from Day 2 of 2018 Bills Training Camp, presented by Connors and Ferris.
Photos from Day 2 of 2018 Bills Training Camp, presented by Connors and Ferris.
Photos from Day 2 of 2018 Bills Training Camp, presented by Connors and Ferris.
Photos from Day 2 of 2018 Bills Training Camp, presented by Connors and Ferris.
Photos from Day 2 of 2018 Bills Training Camp, presented by Connors and Ferris.
Buffalo Bills wr Cam Phillips #5 celebrates long reception with Buffalo Bills wr Robert Foster #8 - 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 27, 2018
The battle at left defensive end
Much has been made over former first-round draft pick Shaq Lawson's bid to take the next step as he enters his third season, after the Bills made him their first round draft pick in 2016. Lawson started ten games until he got hurt last season, and was lined up with the starters for most of the minicamp workouts.
But free agent signee Trent Murphy has been with the first team at left defensive end for the first three practices of camp so far. Murphy took zero snaps in team work during the spring, as he continued too rehab his torn knee ligaments from his preseason opener in Washington last year. The torn ACL and MCL kept him on the sidelines for all of 2017.
Coordinator Leslie Frazier says nothing is set in stone, but Murphy is considered the starting left defensive end for now.
"The rotation is fluid," Frazier says. "Trent is our starter right now and he's doing a really good job. Watching Shaq, he's making progress, but we'll see how things go. You always put the best eleven out there. For the time being Trent is our number one at left end."
