The first week of Buffalo Bills training camp has already revealed two major storylines: the rise (or reckoning) of second-year safety Cole Bishop, and a fierce competition at wide receiver as newcomers and young talents fight for chemistry with quarterback Josh Allen.
Let’s start on defense, where a former question mark is being given a clear shot to become a foundational piece.
Cole Bishop: No More Training Wheels
A year ago, Cole Bishop entered training camp as a promising rookie safety with big expectations — and a shoulder injury that derailed them.
Now? He’s running with the first team.
After two days of camp, Bishop has taken the majority of starting reps at strong safety, lining up next to Taylor Rapp at the back end of the Bills defense. It’s a show of faith from the coaching staff — and a test the team hopes he’s ready for.
Last season, Bishop never fully found his footing. The scapular fracture he suffered in late July 2024 put him behind the curve, opening the door for Damar Hamlin to seize the starting job next to Rapp — a job Hamlin held all year. When Bishop did see the field, it often looked like too much, too fast. He struggled with coverage discipline, particularly in the AFC Championship game against Kansas City’s Xavier Worthy and JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Still, Bishop ended the season healthy and showed just enough flash — 40 total tackles, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble — to keep his name in the mix. And now, despite last year’s missteps, Buffalo is handing him the opportunity outright.
“If he’s able to limit the bad breaks in coverage and the lapses in judgment, Bishop is a player with an athletic pedigree that stands out in the safety room,” a team source said.
He’s clearly being trusted with more responsibility — not just physically, but mentally. As the strong safety, Bishop will be responsible for helping call coverages and communicate across the back seven — a role Hamlin executed well in 2024.
He’s also being battle-tested early. On Thursday, Bishop was “toasted” on a play-action rep by second-year WR Keon Coleman, who is hungry for a breakout year. It’s a humbling moment — but also a valuable one. Bishop isn’t being hidden anymore. He’s being forged.
WR Room: New Faces, Tight Races
While Bishop learns how to read offensive routes, the receivers are grinding to run them — the right way, at the right time.
Buffalo’s WR room is in flux after the departures of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. The result? An open competition for roles behind Khalil Shakir — and the urgency is obvious.
Veteran additions Josh Palmer and Elijah Moore are staying late after practice, running extra reps and working on timing with Allen. Palmer, after missing a throwing window Thursday, went straight to OC Joe Brady for feedback, then huddled with Allen to correct it. Moore, meanwhile, spent an extra 40 minutes post-practice alongside Shakir working through release techniques and footwork.
Allen took notice:
“He’s so sudden in and out of his cuts,” Allen said of Moore. “Smart guy, fun to be around. He can play inside or outside — and that’s big for us.”
The big surprise of the day? Keon Coleman. After a rookie season he himself described as “trash,” the 6'4" playmaker looked rejuvenated, making multiple standout plays across the full field. One included a sharp break that left Dane Jackson on the turf. Another was the aforementioned deep catch over Bishop.
“Keon’s his hardest critic,” said Brady. “But I love his approach. I have so much confidence in what he can be this year.”
With Shakir, Moore, Palmer, and Coleman competing for top reps — and bubble guys like K.J. Hamler and Laviska Shenault (injured) — every route matters.
What to Watch Next
As camp rolls on, Cole Bishop will either rise to the challenge or see the door reopen for Hamlin. The raw tools are there — but now, Buffalo needs consistency, communication, and clean execution from its second-year DB.
On the other side of the ball, Allen is throwing to a different WR group almost every series. And that’s the point. The job isn’t going to the fastest player or the most experienced — it’s going to whoever syncs with QB1.
Training camp is about roles, reps, and readiness. For Bishop and the receivers, all three are up for grabs — and the clock is ticking.
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