The Bills wrapped up training camp at St. John Fisher University on Friday, then opened things up for fans at their first major practice at the new Highmark Stadium on Saturday. For Buffalo supporters, it was the first real look at how all the offseason change is beginning to take shape with the regular season only a few weeks away.
A lot of the attention this summer has centered on the defense, and for good reason. Buffalo has shifted from a 4-3 look to a 3-4 under Jim Leonhard, which meant the roster had to be reshaped around the new scheme. The Bills did plenty of work on that side of the ball, but they also made sure the offense got some attention too.
The headline move there was the trade for DJ Moore from the Chicago Bears. Buffalo also added help in the draft, including Boston College offensive lineman Jude Bowry, whom the team selected early in the fourth round. That kind of draft capital says the Bills believe he can matter sooner rather than later.
Still, one early camp note on Bowry stood out. According to Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN, he ran into penalty trouble during Friday’s practice session.
" LT Dion Dawkins had a veteran rest day. Backups Tylan Grable and then Jude Bowry spent time with the first-team offense. Bowry dealt with penalty issues from the officials present at the session." said Getzenberg.
That first-team work was a good chance for Bowry to show he can grow into a role down the line, possibly even as a starter after 2026. But the penalty issue is something he’ll have to clean up.
It also lands in a spot where Buffalo can’t afford too much sloppiness. Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown have both had their share of penalty problems over the years, and the Bills already know they need to get better in that area overall. Whether it’s pre-snap mistakes or flags during the play, it’s an issue that has to be tightened up.
The good news is that this is exactly what camp is for. Bowry has time to learn, adjust, and settle in before the games start to count. Still, this is the kind of early report that gives Bills fans a reason to keep an eye on the rookie as the preseason rolls on.
In Other News...
Skyler Bell Is Giving Bills Fans A New Receiver Debate
Skyler Bell arrived in Buffalo with a rsum that already suggested he could force his way into the conversation. The fourth-round pick had a strong college run at UConn, capped by a 2025 season in which he led Division I Independent schools in receptions, yards and touchdowns, and he also helped himself with a solid showing of athleticism at the NFL Combine. For a Bills team always sorting out the back end of its receiver depth chart, that made him an interesting name before camp even opened.
Training camp has only sharpened the discussion. Bell has shown enough promise to make fans take notice in a crowded wide receiver room, and there is real intrigue around whether he can carve out a role early. The question hanging over him now is the same one that tends to follow young receivers in Buffalo: the talent is visible, but the drops have been a recurring issue, and those are the kinds of details that can decide whether a player becomes part of the rotation or just another camp storyline. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Backfield Suddenly Has A New Concern Fans Will Feel
The Bills backfield absorbed another uneasy moment at practice when Ty Johnson went down with a right knee injury during a 1-on-1 drill. Johnson was running at full speed before falling in obvious pain, and training staff helped him off the field, a worrying sight for a team already dealing with a growing list of recent injuries.
If the knee issue keeps Johnson out for any length of time, Buffalos running back picture gets even thinner and a little more unsettled. It would also sharpen the competition for depth spots behind the top options, with the opportunity suddenly much more open than it looked just days ago. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Allen Keeps A Bills Summer Tradition Going At New Highmark
The Bills annual Return of the Blue & Red practice at Highmark Stadium came with a fresh look this year, as the team introduced its new gray Nickel City alternate uniforms to a crowd getting its first real glimpse of the set. Josh Allen was front and center in the full gray uniform, paired with the metallic royal blue Charge helmet, keeping alive a summer habit he has made his own each time the team stages this showcase.
It was a broad uniform debut, with quarterbacks, punters and kickers wearing the gray alternates while other offensive and defensive players stayed in blue and white practice jerseys. For Buffalo, the scene was as much about the start of another seasons storylines as it was about the new threads, and Allen once again helped set the tone by turning a routine camp event into something the fan base will remember. [Read more 🡒]