The Buffalo Bills continued their 2025 training camp at St. John Fisher University, with the defense making notable plays and key offensive players returning to action.
During team periods, defensive end Greg Rousseau used a quick first step and a dip-and-rip move to secure a sack. Rookie defensive end Landon Jackson pressured the quarterback, forcing him out of bounds, while DaQuan Jones added another sack. The pass rush helped create turnovers in the secondary. Linebacker Keonta Jenkins intercepted a pass intended for a tight end after reading the quarterback’s eyes and dropping into coverage. In the next period, rookie defensive back Dorian Strong made a diving interception while covering wide receiver Deon Cain.
Defensive end Javon Solomon provided additional pressure off the edge, and rookie defensive tackle T.J. Sanders tipped a ball at the line of scrimmage.
On offense, quarterback Josh Allen led several scoring drives using quick passes. He connected with tight end Dalton Kincaid on a 30-yard touchdown and later found Kincaid again for another score from over 20 yards out. Allen also threw touchdowns to wide receivers Joshua Palmer and Keon Coleman during red zone drills. Quarterback Shane Buechele contributed with touchdown passes to Kristian Wilkerson and Tyrell Shavers.
Tight end Dawson Knox and offensive lineman Spencer Brown returned to team drills after missing time due to injuries. Brown had been sidelined by a back issue related to weightlifting before camp began but has since resumed full participation.
“It was brutal. And not so much from the back hurting, but the missing out and everything. Just sitting there and watching everybody else put the work in. But it’s awesome to be back out there and in the huddle again,” shared Brown.
Brown described how his injury occurred: “I was doing this new lift. I wanted to get back into squatting a little bit. It wasn’t a squat, but it was a variation, and I was just trying to crank it up a notch because of training camp. I wanted to kind of get back to my college ways. I was bigger and stronger when I was in college. I wanted to get back to that. So, I was pushing the envelope, and pushed a little too far,” added Brown.
Offensive coordinator Joe Brady expressed optimism about Brown’s progress: “I think he’s in a really good place, he feels good. And I’m excited to be able to get him to kind of keep ramping up,” shared Brady.
Knox discussed his own recovery from a hamstring injury: “It was hard staying mentally sharp and getting the mental reps, especially in the film room,” Knox said. “When you don’t have any reps on the film it’s hard to stay as locked in as you would be if you were watching yourself actually do the play.”
He explained how time off allowed him opportunities for leadership: “It helped me kind of work on my leadership, helping some of the other guys, coaching them up a little bit on things that I see, and things that I think could help them on,” added Knox.
Knox praised several teammates for their performance during his absence: “Jackson Hawes has done an incredible job with his blocking, just very polished as a blocker, especially as a rookie. So that was impressive. Keleki Latu has made some big catches. He’s long and athletic… he’s got deceptive speed. It’s been fun watching those guys. Matt (Sokol) has done an incredible job just coming in and learning the playbook within like 24 hours of starting camp too,” shared Knox.
Looking ahead at team goals for this season after last year’s disappointment: “Everyone on the team thinks that (there’s something to prove). It’s not just me, like it’s as a team, we came up short (last year), and that puts a chip on your shoulder. So, it’s important to have in the back of your mind to just fuel everything, especially camp practices,” added Knox.
The first episode of HBO’s Hard Knocks featuring Bills training camp aired Tuesday night, giving fans insight into player personalities such as WR K.J Hamler’s use of his mini scooter around campus.
“Built to size,” laughed Spencer Brown about Hamler’s stature.
Added Dawson Knox about Hamler: “looks like a Lego six-year-old. I don’t know. We need to fix that.”
Defensive end A.J Epenesa appeared removing invasive pythons in Florida during one segment: “It’s kind of weird seeing yourself on TV, but it was really cool to see that,” he said.
Players felt Hard Knocks accurately represented their team culture:
“I think they did a great job kind of showing how we care for each other, how it’s a very selfless culture here,” Knox said.”CB (Christian Benford) praying for Max when he hurt his knee, just little moments like that that you know most people won’t ever get to see until you see a documentary.”
