PITTSFORD – When the ball was thrown toward Dorian Strong, the Buffalo Bills rookie cornerback was ready.
Strong intercepted Shane Buechele's pass and returned it for a touchdown during an 11-on-11 period Wednesday at St. John Fisher University. Teammates sprinted from the sideline to the end zone to celebrate with the sixth-round draft pick.
Day Seven of Buffalo Bills Training Camp
Bills defensive back Dorian Strong practices during training camp in Pittsford last week. Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
"My first one, so I’m really hype about that," Strong said while clutching the intercepted football following practice. "I knew my time was coming. I’ve been working. I’ve been consistent through each practice. … I know the ball is gonna find my way, and it’s all about making a play when it comes."
Two days earlier, Bills cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae made Strong stay on the field for another 1-on-1 rep because of a mistake he made in coverage. Afterward, Strong spent extra time on a side field working with veteran corners Christian Benford and Tre'Davious White. They repeated the message the coaching staff told the rookies: Mistakes are OK, as long as you learn from them.
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Strong is receiving more opportunities in practice because of the injury to first-round pick Maxwell Hairston. Dane Jackson is above Strong on the depth chart, but the rookie from Virginia Tech is likely going to play more in the preseason because the Bills want to see how he looks against NFL competition.
The key, Strong said, is to never show frustration. Instead, he's determined to learn from each play and move on to the next one.
"The moment you get down or hang your head, that’s when the ball will keep coming to find you," he said. "Your opponent will keep coming to find you. They’ll look at their iPad, see your head down and they’ll say, ‘Let’s go back at him.' "
Why Bills sixth-round pick Dorian Strong might be a 'steal' for team's defense
The versatility, physicality, instincts and technical skills Strong showed in a high-pressure position in the ACC should give him a chance to compete for rotational snaps in Sean McDermott’s defense.
Attendance
Missing practice Wednesday: Center Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (calf), running back James Cook ("business"), offensive lineman Alec Anderson (knee), receiver Curtis Samuel (hamstring), receiver Khalil Shakir (high ankle sprain), receiver Kaden Prather (hamstring), kicker Tyler Bass (pelvic soreness), linebacker Shaq Thompson (hamstring), safety Cole Bishop (quad) and cornerback Maxwell Hairston (LCL sprain).
Returned to practice: Defensive tackle Deone Walker (illness), linebacker Dorian Williams (calf), cornerback Dane Jackson (excused) and nickel corner Taron Johnson (vet rest). Williams wore a brace on his left leg and did not participate in team periods.
Early exit: Offensive tackle Tylan Grable left with an undisclosed injury.
Transaction: The Bills designated linebacker Baylon Spector injured/waived, and they filled his roster spot with linebacker Jimmy Ciarlo. If Spector is not claimed by another team, Buffalo can place him on injured reserve or cut him with an injury settlement.
Bills starting right tackle Spencer Brown was told to be on the field for only 12 to 15 reps in team periods Wednesday, the first time in training camp he was cleared to participate in 11-on-11 drills.
Brown didn't listen. He protected Josh Allen for approximately 20 to 30 reps and got into a brief shoving match with rookie defensive tackle T.J. Sanders. Brown aggravated his back while doing a variation of a squat lift, he told reporters. He's had flare-ups in the past, but he insisted it won't be an issue this season.
"We've already been through it before, so it's not really like, 'Oh, what's going on?' " said Brown. "It's back to these seven exercises for the next three weeks and that's what we've been doing. It's just staying on top of it, and it's gotten better every single week."
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Highlights
With Cook absent for a third consecutive day, second-year running back Ray Davis took the first snap with the first-team offense. ... Undrafted rookie linebacker Keonta Jenkins intercepted Mitch Trubisky in an 11-on-11 period. ... Allen threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dalton Kincaid, who was among their best players on offense Wednesday. ... Joshua Palmer was a full participant after he was limited Monday, and the receiver had an impressive touchdown catch from Allen in the red zone.
The Bills' final practice at St. John Fisher is at 9:45 a.m. Thursday.
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