"Feeling a lot better" | WR Josh Palmer is motivated to improve in 2026
Coming off a frustrating first year with the Bills due to an ankle injury, wide receiver Josh Palmer is feeling more optimistic about his second season in blue and red. After working off to the side during OTAs, Palmer was back as a participant during mandatory minicamp.
"I'm feeling a lot better, starting to feel a lot more like myself," Palmer told reporters after Wednesday's practice. "(I'm) close to pre-injury."
Palmer missed five games during the regular season due to the injury, in addition to the playoffs in 2025.
"Everything that I've missed time for, it's all because of that first injury," Palmer explained.
As he reflected on his first season with Buffalo, Palmer said it was tough that it didn't go the way he wanted. He registered 22 catches for 303 yards in 12 games.
"Mentally, I've been okay," Palmer said. "It was hard during the season getting hurt, of course. Not being able to pick things up, not being able to play when it counted. After the season, it was a lot of work."
Palmer isn't putting the past in the past. Instead, he's learning from it and hoping it'll make for a much better second season with the Bills.
"I wouldn't say I'm washing away year one," Palmer shared. "It still left a bad taste in my mouth, especially not being able to play with the guys down the stretch. I don't want to wash anything away. If anything, I've learned from it."
One thing the wide receiver is excited about is his new head coach Joe Brady. He believes Brady's bringing an energy to things that's helping the entire team.
"A lot has changed," Palmer said about having a new head coach. "The energy he brings to the room, he's young so he has a lot of spunk to him. I'm just excited to see how the season turns out. That's really when you see a lot of the changes."