PITTSFORD – It is time for the annual training camp awards! With the Buffalo Bills wrapping up their last day of on-the-road camp at St. John Fisher, the team will now turn its attention to the preseason. Here is who stood out up through the Pittsford days.
Bills Training Camp
Quarterback Josh Allen runs out the tunnel while the fans cheer at Bills training camp on Wednesday. Sophia Buonpane/Buffalo News
Offensive MVP: Josh Allen. Are you surprised? The Bills quarterback wins this camp award basically every year, but it’s well deserved. This year though, so many of the other possible candidates missed time at camp. Allen was available throughout, and able to build chemistry with all sorts of players on the offense.
Defensive MVP: Matt Milano. The Bills linebacker looked tenacious throughout training camp. Even Allen noticed. Asked which defensive players most stood out to him from going up against them, the Bills quarterback led off with Milano.
“Matt Milano looks pretty dang good,” Allen said.
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Best short-term comeback: Tyrell Shavers. When the Bills wide receiver went down with an injury in the end zone early in camp and needed to be carted off, it seemed, at first, as though he would be sidelined for awhile. But Shavers was back faster than expected, and he made an impact in his return.
“That guy is tough as nails,” coach Sean McDermott said. “I mean, he is tough. And he has an ankle sprain, and he’s back in the second or third practice, and he’s out there limping around. I mean, the red and blue in the warmup period, he’s running a slant, catches a ball one-handed, kind of still limps off. But he is tough as nails, and he’s a true Buffalo Bill in that regard.”
Best long-term comeback: Tre’Davious White. The veteran cornerback came to compete. He began camp rotating reps with rookie Maxwell Hairston, but when Hairston injured his knee, White took over.
“Very solid, very solid,” McDermott said. “Again, going back to the way he finished the season even, I think he’s playing … he looks healthier even now than he did back then when he played against us, and every day, he’s out here, working. He works extremely hard. He’s a pro. He’s extremely competitive. It means a lot to him. I mean, running hills, like I said before, that’s not something that was for the cameras. That’s what he does, and I have a ton of respect for that, and so do his teammates.”
Biggest surprise (complimentary): Kristian Wilkerson. The wide receiver entered the league in 2020, but so far, he has been unable to carve out a role on a team. Wilkerson made his case at Bills camp. He capitalized on opportunities and had some stunning catches, even with the first team, from Allen. With the Bills wide receivers room banged up, Wilkerson kept the buzz around him going.
Biggest surprise (derogatory): James Cook. The Bills running back surprised teammates, coaches and fans by starting his hold-in eight days into training camp. When Cook showed up and participated at the onset, it seemed he was going to play through his contract dispute. Now, the hold-in has reached four practices. Cook did not appear at the practice fields on the final day of camp.
Biggest storyline: Injuries. The Bills were plagued with injuries this year, and there is math to back up that statement.
“(Head athletic trainer) Nate (Breske) mentioned to me last night, he said, 'Yeah, the list has been a lot longer than in years past,' ” McDermott said. “Injuries come up, they do. They come up at different points in the season. I’d rather have them now than in the playoffs, so that’s my hope, at this point. That said, I am concerned with, like I’ve said, some of the pieces being out there together, especially some of our newer players, our younger players, it’s hard to show up in this league, first game of the season, and be ready to go. That’s why things like training camp, things like going away and practicing against other teams, preseason games, it’s all important.”
Unsung hero: Christian Benford. Allen also gave a shoutout to Benford on the last day, saying the Bills cornerback isn’t talked about enough, but that’s how Benford likes it. Benford had a strong performance all throughout camp, and he was consistent with his production.
“I've really just been working on technique, fundamentals, just making sure I'm sharp from Play 1 to the end of the practice,” Benford said.
Day Five of Buffalo Bills Training Camp (copy)
Bills running back Ray Davis, signing autographs after a training camp practice in Pittsford on July 28, was back at it on the team's final day at St. John Fisher University. Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
Renaissance man award: Running back Ray Davis. He can run, and he can kick. Davis officially was listed on the depth chart as the Bills’ backup kicker after his 2-of-3 performance at the Return of the Blue and Red. Davis was also one of the last players to stay out signing autographs on the final day of camp, taking extra time to get to know the fans. Get you a man who can do it all!
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