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Top 3 things we learned from Day 7 of Bills Training Camp | 2024

Khalil Shakir (10), Terrel Bernard (43). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 01, 2024 at St. John Fisher University.
Khalil Shakir (10), Terrel Bernard (43). Buffalo Bills Training Camp, August 01, 2024 at St. John Fisher University.

Returning from their second off day, the Bills coaching staff had the players back working in the red zone and goal line offense during team periods.

Safeties Cole Bishop (shoulder) and Mike Edwards (hamstring), as well as wide receiver Chase Claypool (toe) both remained out of practice on Thursday. Offensive lineman La'el Collins left practice early and did not return. Running back Ty Johnson (hamstring) also did not practice. OL Alec Anderson was at practice and did individual drills.

Here are three things that we learned from Day seven of camp.

1. Strong days for Khalil Shakir, Zach Davidson, Kaiir Elam, and defensive line

Just as they did during the first day of camp, the Bills spent a large portion of practice on Thursday dedicated to working in the red zone. Kaiir Elam was able to bat away several balls that came in his direction.

One team red zone period started with Josh Allen throwing a dart to WR Khalil Shakir. Allen followed that up with a throw that led to a tough contested catch by WR Mack Hollins in the left corner of the end zone.

The offense would continue to roll as the tight ends got involved, with Zach Davidson hauling in a touchdown catch and Dalton Kincaid snagging a bobbled touchdown. The red zone period then ended the way that it started, with Allen finding Shakir in the end zone.

"He's, obviously having that camaraderie that I do with him, that trust that I do with him. It's paying off right now. Got a lot of faith in him," said Allen about Shakir. "He's a smart player, he's, he's much faster than you think. He's got a very big catch radius for smaller arms, too. He finds ways to go up and get the ball. He's not afraid to go and catch it with the safety right in front of his face. He just does all the little things right. If you again, watch a running back catch the ball to the left, you see Khalil from the other side of the field, sprinting his tail off to go and try to spring an extra block or be there for a fumble and he just does things the right way. It's easy to love playing with him."

The defensive line showed what they were made of as well, pressuring the quarterbacks several times and coming up with "would be" QB hits and sacks. DT DaQuan Jones had a QB pressure that affected a pass in the middle of one red zone period, while DT Austin Johnson came up with a TFL at the goal line.

"I mean just that we're growing," Jones said. "We're very young, but I feel like the first couple days we were kinda catching our strides … But today, we came out, had a fast start, kind of dropped off a little bit towards the end, but we just gotta keep on stacking the days. We got a lot of time left, but I'm happy where we're going as a defense."

The team wrapped up practice with an 11-on-11 period that featured a long run from RB James Cook, a pass break-up by S Damar Hamlin, a tough catch by Shakir, and a "would be" sack by DE Casey Toohill.

2. Bobby Babich on safety depth

Coming into camp the Bills had a rotation at safety, with Taylor Rapp taking a majority of the first team reps, while Damar Hamlin, Mike Edwards, and Cole Bishop all rotated taking reps with the first and second team defense. Now that rotation has started to become thin with injuries starting to pile up, starting with Edwards and now Bishop. The Bills announced that Bishop will be out on a week to week basis with a shoulder injury.

DC Bobby Babich addressed the injuries at safety in his presser before practice.

"This is the NFL," Babich said. "Next man up, that's what it is. I learned a long time ago, and specifically here in Buffalo, when I was coaching the safeties, things like this happened all the time. … So, no panic, no nothing, next guy up, and we'll move forward. Whoever's available on the days we practice, we won't flinch."

Bishop has been showing promise during his first training camp, rotating in with the first team defense during team portions of practice all throughout camp. Babich said that Bishop and the coaching staff are making sure that he does not skip a beat and stays in it mentally as he deals with his injury.

"He's got the right make up," Babich said. "We identify those guys and knowing Cole, he'll do everything that he needs to do to make sure he's still in it mentally and I know Joe [Danna] will keep him along those lines too."

With the safety position becoming thin, the Bills have signed both Terrell Burgess and Kareem Jackson in the last few days.

"Brandon's [Beane] looking just to fill our roster in the right way. I'll be honest with you, Kareem specifically is a guy that I've admired from afar, all the years of me in the secondary and the way he plays the game and the way he goes about his business and those type of things," Babich added. "Brandon's going to make the decisions that are best for us and we're going to support it and really happy those guys are here and we get an opportunity to work with them."

3. Taylor Rapp and DaQuan Jones on the new look defense + Josh Allen on Return of the Blue and Red Scrimmage

Taylor Rapp and DaQuan Jones are both in unique situations at their positions. Coming into camp, Rapp has been taking a majority of the first-team snaps at safety and DaQuan Jones has been navigating his way through camp after dealing with an injury for much of last season. Each of them gave their perspectives of this defense and the way that it looks this year.

"What a difference a year makes," Rapp said. "Last year, came in here, kind of unfamiliar territory, signed a one-year contract and stuff like that. Always competing and stuff and even now, I have the mentality, coach says it all the time, no one has earned a job yet. Everybody fighting for a job. So just coming out here, competing every day, trying to get better, trying to become better versions of myself. Try to help this team as much as possible and whatever we need and just come out here and compete."

"Yeah, I think it's a lot," Jones said. "I think putting yourself in that situation, that kind of really puts stress on your injury or whatever you tweaked or whatever, and I think he's done that. I think he's been out here just flying around doing the moves we are accustomed to seeing. I think he's been doing a heck of a job."

The defense had another strong day at practice and Rapp is impressed with the growth of players like Elam and Hamlin that have stepped up in the secondary.

"Damar is one of those guys too, one word is consistency. He has played at a really high level even dating back to the spring and OTAs. Just to see his growth in this second week of camp. He has grown a lot… Really, really proud of him and excited."

"That's another guy that I have seen a lot of growth," he said of Elam. "Especially from the maturity standpoint. Obviously, he is a young guy, drafted in the first round and I wasn't here his rookie year. But even through all the adversity he has dealt with throughout his whole career going from his rookie year to last year. … Just seeing him step up from a maturity standpoint is the biggest growth and the biggest point I'm most proud of him."

QB Josh Allen also addressed the media and expressed his excitement about the Return of the Blue and Red Scrimmage taking place on Friday.

"Obviously, the fans back in the stadium, back in Highmark. And letting some of our new guys feel the energy and excitement that is in the air tomorrow. Hopefully Western New York and Buffalo packs that stadium, and we can show them some love," Allen said.

Allen was asked if he would give any insight on what helmet he would wear for the scrimmage, as the QB has worn a different helmet for the scrimmage.

"I'm actually going with no helmet tomorrow," he joked.

It looks like fans will have to wait and see what helmet Allen does decide to wear.

Scroll to see the best photos from day 7 of the 2024 Buffalo Bills Training Camp. This gallery is presented by Connors & Ferris, LLP.

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