Jim Leonhard didn’t exactly blast the Bills’ roster, but he didn’t hide the issue, either.
With training camp just getting rolling at St. John Fisher University, Buffalo’s new defensive coordinator has already put a spotlight on a problem Brandon Beane can’t ignore.
According to Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News, Leonhard “acknowledged there are ‘depth concerns’ across the Bills’ defense.” Lysowski also noted that “clarity will come as intensity and physicality increase in camp” and that the question centered on boundary corner.
That kind of comment matters this early in camp because there are still a lot of moving parts on defense. Roles, snap counts and rotations are all still being sorted out, and the pads haven’t even fully come on yet. Even so, Leonhard’s words suggest Buffalo still has work to do before Week 1.
The Bills did add bodies this offseason. Cornerback depth got a boost with the signing of Dee Alford and the draft picks of Davison Igbinsoun and Toriano Pride Jr.
Beane also said the Bills and free agent Tre’Davious White stay in contact, so that door is still open. But nothing is official there yet.
And corner isn’t the only area that could use more attention. Inside linebacker remains a major question, and Buffalo didn’t add much more on the defensive line beyond Zane Durant. That’s why Leonhard’s comment lands the way it does: it points to a defense that still needs real competition, not just camp bodies.
It’s only been two days of training camp, so the Bills still have time to sort through the roster and figure out who deserves a spot on the final 53-man roster. But injuries are part of the equation, too, and Buffalo can’t afford to get to the end of summer leaning on temporary help. Leonhard’s message was subtle, but the point was clear enough: the Bills still need more.
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 🡒]