The Bills and Browns are only a step away from their preseason meeting on Saturday, but Thursday’s joint practice gave Dion Dawkins plenty to talk about before anyone gets to the game.
After Buffalo’s session with Cleveland, Dawkins made it clear he came away impressed with Browns pass rusher Jared Verse. The veteran left tackle, heading into his 10th season with the Bills, has seen his share of edge rushers over the years. Verse still stood out.
“He's one of those that he brings it,” Dawkins said. “And being able to come out here and practice and practice against him, where I know I can try some things because he's really not going to hit Josh [Allen].
It feels good, and I love the kid. He has a bright future as he keeps going.
His bull rush is insane. So talk about that; his bull rush is definitely good, he's gonna rack up sacks all season long.
I'm a Verse fan. I'm a Verse fan, and he's been playing well.”
That praise carries extra weight coming from Dawkins, who has spent nearly a decade dealing with NFL pass rushers at a high level. Verse, meanwhile, is getting set for his first season in Cleveland after arriving from the Los Angeles Rams in the Myles Garrett blockbuster deal.
#Bills Dion Dawkins with high praise for #Browns Jared Verse: pic.twitter.com/bXKWw8j0Xf
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) August 20, 2026
For both teams, the work this week is about more than a preseason tune-up. Buffalo is eyeing its Week 1 opener on Sunday, Sept. 13 against the Houston Texans, while Cleveland opens that same day against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
In Other News...
Bills Fans Already Face A New Stadium Access Problem
The move to the new Highmark Stadium is already changing the way Bills fans will experience game days. Individual home-game tickets are hard to come by, and the ones that do pop up are going for more than what season ticket holders pay, which is a sharp turn from the kind of last-minute planning many fans are used to. For plenty of people who have long treated Orchard Park as a place you could still reach on short notice, the new setup looks far less forgiving.
Most of the available tickets are expected to come through the secondary market, which makes spontaneous attendance much tougher and adds another layer to an already high-demand environment. The Bills are also leaning into the buzz around the new building by offering behind-the-scenes tours, a sign that interest in the stadium itself is becoming part of the experience. What remains to be seen is how many fans will be able to get inside on their own terms once the novelty wears off. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Allen Needs More From Dalton Kincaid Than Ever
Dalton Kincaid enters the 2026 season in a familiar spot for the Bills: full of promise, but still needing to turn flashes into something steadier. Buffalo has already committed to him by picking up his fifth-year contract option, and the timing matters with Joe Brady now taking over as head coach after previously running the offense. Brady knows exactly what Kincaid can bring when he is healthy, and the next step is getting more of it on a weekly basis.
Josh Allens recent praise of their connection during joint practices only adds to the sense that Kincaids role is about to matter even more. The chemistry is there, or at least trending in the right direction, and the Bills have spent enough time waiting for Kincaid to stay on the field and become the kind of mismatch he was drafted to be. What remains is the part Buffalo has been chasing from him since day one, the kind of dependable production that could make this offense look very different if it shows up when the games count. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Just Became Part Of A Browns QB Decision To Watch
A joint practice in Buffalo gave the Browns another look at their quarterback situation, and it did not exactly produce a clean answer. Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson both had mixed throws during the session, leaving the battle for the Browns starting job still very much in view as the preseason gets moving.
Watson has reportedly held the edge in the competition, but Sanders is set to start the upcoming preseason game, which should give Cleveland another data point before the real decision gets made. Browns coach Todd Monken has suggested veteran starters may sit out that game, and the Week 1 quarterback choice could come shortly after, keeping the Bills tied to one of the AFCs more closely watched camp stories. [Read more 🡒]