Bradley Chubb is starting to look like the kind of edge presence Buffalo has been trying to find for years.
Through three camp practices at St. John Fisher University, the Bills’ biggest free-agent defensive addition has already flashed the ability to tilt a rep.
On Saturday, even without pads in place yet, Chubb beat Dion Dawkins on a rush that ended with what would have been a sack on Josh Allen. It was the sort of snap Buffalo has been hunting for since Allen’s breakout in 2019: a pass rusher who can change the feel of a game from the edge.
The Bills have kept swinging for that kind of player. General manager and president Brandon Beane drafted Greg Rousseau in 2020, signed Von Miller in 2022, brought in Joey Bosa in 2025 and then added Chubb this offseason. Right now, Chubb looks like the one who can make that search pay off.
He also got a little post-practice feedback from Dawkins, which Chubb said only helps sharpen both players.
“I do a rush and he’s like, ‘Good stuff on that one.’ I do a rush that’s not too good and he locks it up, I’m telling him the same thing,” Chubb said.
“It’s learning from each other. I’ve had great tackles I’ve played against throughout the summer in the past.
But Dion is a consensus Top 10 tackle in the league each year in and year out. Being able to have those battles is going to be good for both of us.”
Chubb’s role in Jim Leonhard’s defense sounds like a heavy one. He’ll be asked to do more than just hunt the quarterback. The Bills want him to upgrade the run defense over Bosa, bring pressure off the edge and even drop into coverage at times.
Leonhard likes what he’s seen beyond the physical tools.
“He’s a natural leader, guys want to follow him,” Leonhard said. “Great professional habits, you name it like he’s knocked that out of the park. So on top of being a great player, he knows the system; he’s played in a very similar system, that’s kind of what he grew up in Denver.”
There was plenty else worth watching Saturday, starting with the linebackers. Terrel Bernard began getting ramped up, and rookie Kaleb Elarms-Orr was right beside him for much of the day.
Elarms-Orr has kept rolling after a strong start to camp, showing up in the run game alongside Chubb and C.J. Gardner-Johnson and flashing in coverage, too.
He was also spotted doing extra work after practice.
Gardner-Johnson’s day ended with concern after he went down and had to be checked for an Achilles injury. For now, the Bills are in wait-and-see mode.
The situation brought back memories of the Maxwell Hairston scare from last camp, before anyone starts jumping to conclusions. Still, it opens the door for Jalon Kilgore, who made a strong case Saturday with two interceptions and multiple pass breakups.
It also underscores why Beane added Geno Stone and Damar Hamlin this offseason.
Kilgore wasn’t the only rookie making noise in the secondary. Dee Alford, the first free-agent signing of the Jim Leonhard era, was active early with a blown-up screen and stayed glued to receivers throughout the practice.
On offense, Dalton Kincaid had his most complete day yet. It wasn’t just a single flashy moment; he was involved across practice and capped it by getting behind safety Cole Bishop.
His added mass this offseason matters if it helps him hold up as a blocker. That would make him more than a pass-down option and give him a clearer path to more snaps if the health cooperates.
Ray Davis also delivered a strong run, cutting back for a big gain after Jude Bowry won his rep and helped create movement up front. Bowry has flashed enough for the swing tackle battle to get interesting, with his athleticism showing up again after another strong day.
Joshua Palmer added one more highlight to the afternoon. After struggling to stay healthy in his first season with Buffalo, the receiver looks right at home in year two. He hauled in several passes and finished with a 20-plus-yard touchdown catch from Josh Allen down the left side after getting behind the cornerback.
In Other News...
Bills Secondary Suddenly Has A C.J. Gardner-Johnson Concern
The Bills secondary had already been a point of interest this offseason with C.J. Gardner-Johnson joining the team on a one-year deal, bringing the kind of versatility and edge Buffalo hoped would sharpen the back end of its defense. But his recent exit from a game quickly shifted the conversation from fit and role to simple availability, as trainers and teammates surrounded him after he went down.
Gardner-Johnson was unable to continue and was carted off after an apparent issue with his right foot, leaving Buffalo with an uneasy wait on a player it had just added to help stabilize the secondary. For a defense that is still sorting out new pieces, the sight of a veteran defensive back going down like that is the sort of development the Bills can ill afford this early. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Suddenly Face A C.J. Gardner-Johnson Camp Concern
The Bills got a scare at training camp when safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson went down during a practice drill and had to be helped off the field. It was the kind of moment that can stop a camp session in its tracks, especially when a veteran defensive back is involved, and Buffalo immediately shifted into the cautious mode teams usually reserve for injuries that could alter the shape of a roster conversation.
For now, the early signs are at least somewhat encouraging, with teammates and staff indicating Gardner-Johnson was able to walk afterward and is going through the usual medical steps. Still, the club is waiting for more clarity before saying much more, and the next update will matter for a defense that has been counting on him to settle in quickly during camp. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Secondary Just Got A Scare It Could Not Afford
Training camp already has a way of sorting out the hopeful from the fragile, and Buffalo got a reminder of that when safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson went down during 11-on-11 drills. He suffered a lower-body injury, was helped off the field, and the Bills quickly shifted from practice mode to waiting mode as he was taken in for further evaluation.
The immediate concern was hard to miss: Gardner-Johnson was favoring his right foot and not putting much weight on it before heading to the locker room. Buffalo is now waiting on medical testing to learn how serious the injury is, a situation the secondary can hardly welcome with the season work already underway. [Read more 🡒]