The Buffalo Bills officially entered padded practices on Monday, and with that milestone came a reality check: the early days of training camp have taken a toll on the roster.
Head coach Sean McDermott didn’t sugarcoat it during his press conference, opening the day with a sobering update.
“It’s not ideal, especially with the names that are on there,” McDermott said, referring to the growing injury list. Still, he pointed out that camp injuries create opportunities for younger players and depth pieces to “step in and do the job.”
But with several starters and key contributors sidelined, the challenge for Buffalo now becomes navigating early adversity — without sacrificing valuable installation time.
Wide Receiver Room Hit Hard
The most notable injury scare came on Sunday, when promising receiver Tyrell Shavers was carted off with a lower leg injury. Thankfully, McDermott clarified Monday that the ankle injury is “not serious.” Still, the team acted quickly, signing Deon Cain — a familiar face — to bolster the depth chart.
Shavers wasn’t the only absence.
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Curtis Samuel missed practice with a hamstring injury.
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Elijah Moore and rookie Kaden Prather also sat out due to soreness.
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Laviska Shenault returned after missing Sunday’s session, offering a small silver lining.
With multiple receivers out, it’s put added pressure on the likes of Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Josh Palmer to carry the passing workload during key install periods.
Tight Ends & Offensive Line Also Thinned Out
The Bills’ high-powered offense took further hits with both of their top tight ends absent:
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Dalton Kincaid, who wore a sleeve on his knee, sat out with soreness.
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Dawson Knox also didn’t practice, though both were seen on the sidelines hyping up teammates and not participating in rehab bike work — a sign their injuries may not be long-term concerns.
Their absence meant extended reps for tight ends Zach Davidson and Jackson Hawes, a valuable opportunity for the back-end of the TE room to make an impression.
On the offensive line, it was another shuffle:
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Starting center Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (calf) and Spencer Brown were both out.
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Tylan Grable filled in with the first team at right tackle.
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Alec Anderson was also sidelined, pushing Jacob Bayer into second-team center duties.
Kicker Watch: No Bass in the Heat
To make matters stranger, Tyler Bass — the Bills’ usually reliable kicker — was also absent from Monday’s practice due to what the team described as pelvic soreness. While the injury doesn’t appear serious, the lack of a kicker on the field was certainly notable during special teams work.
Defensive Side Holds Strong… Mostly
On a more positive note, the defense remains relatively intact.
Only two linebackers were absent from full participation:
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Terrel Bernard (hamstring)
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Dorian Williams
Both were present for walkthroughs and participated in some installation segments, but spent portions of the practice on the stationary bikes. Their involvement in install periods is a good sign that neither injury is expected to linger.
Outside of that, the defensive unit — which has looked sharp early in camp — appears healthy and engaged.
Heat Adds Another Challenge
With temperatures climbing to 90+ degrees during practice, a handful of players experienced heat-related issues. While no specific names were listed, hydration and recovery will be a critical focus as the team continues its early-camp grind in full pads.
Final Thought: Early Adversity, Long-Term Opportunity
It’s only July, but these early injuries serve as a reminder that the NFL season is a marathon — and surviving camp is just the first leg.
For now, the Bills’ injury list is long, but not catastrophic. Most injuries appear to be precautionary or mild, and McDermott’s “next man up” mindset has already begun to take shape.
As young players seize reps and depth is tested, this next stretch of camp could reveal a lot about Buffalo’s roster resilience — and set the tone for what’s to come.
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