Joshua Palmer’s first season in Buffalo never really got off the ground, and now training camp is where he has to start changing that story.
The Bills brought him in ahead of the 2025 season expecting him to be a real part of Josh Allen’s passing game. Instead, injuries kept interrupting the process, and Palmer never had the kind of run that lets a receiver settle in and build trust with his quarterback. The result was a quiet year in Joe Brady’s offense and a stat line that fell well short of the expectation: 22 catches, 303 yards and no touchdowns in 12 games.
That puts Palmer in a very different spot heading into 2026.
Buffalo didn’t exactly clear the deck for him. The team added DJ Moore this offseason, Keon Coleman is supposed to keep growing after his rookie year, Khalil Shakir has already become one of Allen’s most dependable options, and Dalton Kincaid and James Cook are still central to what the offense wants to do. Rookie Skyler Bell is also coming into camp trying to carve out a role.
So Palmer isn’t walking into a situation where anything is guaranteed. He’s not really fighting for a roster spot - barring a trade, another injury, or a major drop-off, he should be there. The real question is whether he can force his way into meaningful snaps or end up as just another piece in a crowded rotation.
That’s why camp matters so much for him. Palmer says his body feels good, and a healthy summer would give him the chance to build the chemistry with Allen that his ankle injuries kept him from developing last year. It would also give him a chance to show the coaching staff the traits Buffalo wanted when it signed him: a receiver who can move around the formation, threaten the field, and come through on tough catches.
The Bills don’t need Palmer to carry the passing game. They need him to be the steady complementary option they had in mind when they brought him in. If he can do that, Buffalo’s offense gets deeper - and a lot harder to deal with.
In Other News...
Bills Fans Need To Know What's Different Before Camp Starts
Bills training camp is about to look a little different this summer, and the changes start with the schedule. The team will open camp at St. John Fisher University with seven morning practices running from July 29 through Aug. 7, all of them set for 8:30 a.m. and none in the afternoon or evening. For fans who make the trip, there will also be a new routine to follow, including shuttle parking, a $1 ride fee, security screening and a stricter bag policy.
The shorter camp slate stands out on its own, especially for a team that has made Fisher a summer tradition since 2000. There will still be plenty for families to do once they get there, with a Kids Area offering football-themed games and entertainment, but the overall feel is clearly more streamlined than in past years. For a fan base that treats camp like the unofficial start of football season, those small changes may end up being part of the story all by themselves. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Fans Suddenly Have A Real Question About Michael Hoecht
Buffalo has spent years trying to put together a pass rush that can hold up from one season to the next, and Michael Hoecht looked like a useful piece of that puzzle after signing with the Bills in 2025. The outside linebacker brought the kind of versatility this defense values, with the ability to line up in different spots and in different stances, which made him an intriguing fit for a unit that has kept searching for the right combination up front.
Hoechts early work also suggested there was something to build on before his season was cut short. He had already flashed against Carolina and Kansas City, and now the real question for the Bills is whether that promise can carry over once he gets back on the field. He is rehabbing with an eye on 2026, and for a team that has invested so much in finding answers off the edge, his return could end up mattering more than it first seemed. [Read more 🡒]
James Cook Just Got The Recognition Bills Fans Wanted
James Cook has gone from a promising piece of Buffalos offense to one of its most dependable engines, and the recognition is starting to match the production. Since becoming the starter, he has topped 1,000 rushing yards in three straight seasons, and his role has only grown as the Bills have leaned on him to keep the offense balanced around Josh Allen. NFL.com analyst Kevin Patra recently put a label on what Bills fans have seen for a while, naming Cook the teams non-QB MVP.
The case is easy to make when you look at how often Cook has tilted games in Buffalos favor over the last two seasons, including some of the best stretches of his career. He led the league in rushing touchdowns in 2024 and has already given the Bills the kind of week-to-week stability teams usually have to pay a premium for, which makes the timing of his contract extension before the 2025 season feel especially important as his value keeps climbing. [Read more 🡒]