LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Kevin Byard III stepped in front of Josh Allen’s throw, intercepting the pass during a 7-on-7 period in a joint practice Friday between the Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills at Hallas Hall.
Day Twelve of Buffalo Bills Training Camp
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen throws a pass during practice on Thursday. Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
It was Allen’s third straight incompletion and, several minutes later, his second pass in an 11-on-11 drill was intercepted by Bears safety Jaquan Brisker. The Bills’ offense looked out of synch early in the 2½-hour practice, with multiple interceptions and dropped passes. The Bears returned reserve tight end Zach Davidson’s fumble for a touchdown.
A rocky start seemed inevitable against the Bears’ defense. Multiple Bills starters have missed recent practices because of injuries or a stalemate over a contract. The absences forced coach Sean McDermott to use second- and third-team receivers with Allen.
The next few weeks are critical for the Bills' offense because Allen needs his weapons on the field. One of the players who returned to practice Friday, veteran receiver Elijah Moore, had an impressive long catch and run. Slowly, the Bills’ offense got into a rhythm with Allen throwing touchdown passes to Joshua Palmer and Keon Coleman.
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“It was fun,” said Palmer. “We were able to go against a different team. Sometimes you get bored going against the same guys in practice, so we’re able to see where we’re at as an offense going against somebody else.”
The Bills began to pick apart the Bears’ secondary, and Buffalo’s formidable offensive line gave Allen time to throw. He had multiple passes batted at the line, including a red-zone attempt intercepted by former Bills linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. McDermott expected mistakes. The benefit of joint practices is to evaluate how players self-correct in the preseason game Sunday night at Soldier Field.
Attendance
Players absent from practice: Center Sedrick Van-Pran Granger (calf), nickel/safety Cam Lewis (calf), receiver Khalil Shakir (ankle), cornerback Maxwell Hairston (knee) and offensive tackle Tylan Grable (concussion).
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Limited at practice: Kicker Tyler Bass (pelvis), receiver Curtis Samuel (hamstring), linebacker Shaq Thompson (hamstring), offensive lineman Alec Anderson (knee) and cornerback Daequan Hardy (shoulder).
Returned to practice: Moore, left tackle Dion Dawkins (back) and receiver Tyrell Shavers (undisclosed).
Left early: Nickel cornerback Te’Cory Couch limped to the locker room after he went down during a punt return.
Skirmishes
Tensions rose during a special teams drill, when Bills cornerback Ja'Marcus Ingram got tangled with a Bears player while Brandon Codrington returned a punt.
Two snaps later, Bills linebacker Dorian Williams took a Bears player to the ground as a crowd of his teammates joined in. Dawkins and tight end Dawson Knox chirped at Chicago's players each time they were blocked toward Buffalo's sideline on a return.
"We for sure got better as the practice went on," said Palmer. "We got closer today, too. We protected each other, blocked for each other and ran for each other."
The soreness that has kept Bass out of the past 11 practices is expected to subside by next week and, according to McDermott, the kicker should be cleared to practice while the Bills prepare to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the preseason finale.
Samuel also took a step in his recovery by joining the Bills in Chicago, but he did not participate in team drills. They’ve been without the veteran receiver for the past 12 practices.
The Bills defense had some standout plays against quarterback Caleb Williams and the Bears’ offense. … Linebacker Matt Milano had a diving pass breakup on Williams early in the day. A play later, cornerback Christian Benford had a pass defended as well. … Defensive end Greg Rousseau had a strong day. He blew up the backfield during 11-on-11 on one play. Two plays later, he tipped Williams’ pass, which fell incomplete. “It’s the best feeling, because that’s what we work for,” Rousseau said. “… It all comes together when you hit the quarterback, or even in practice when you get to the quarterback, and see your teammates there with you.”
The Bills play the Bears at Soldier Field at 8 p.m. ET Sunday.
News sports reporter Katherine Fitzgerald contributed to this story.
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