Lake Forest, Ill. — The first chance Keon Coleman had to make a play on Friday during the Buffalo Bills’ joint practice against the Chicago Bears ended with the second-year wide receiver face down on the grass.
Coleman slipped as he tried to reverse directions on a short pass from Bills quarterback Josh Allen. He slipped and fell, and the pass went incomplete. The offense sputtered for the duration of 7-on-7.
Allen threw an interception, Bears safety Jaquan Brisker broke up two passes, and third-year receiver Tyrell Shavers dropped a dime from Allen.
Nothing went the Bills’ offense’s way early. The teams moved into 11-on-11, and the offense still looked a bit shaky. Allen threw another interception that was negated by a defensive holding penalty, and he had a pass batted down at the line of scrimmage.
Then Allen hit Elijah Moore for a short gain, and running back James Cook broke off a 15-yard run. Moore’s next reception came on a screen play as he busted through the second level for the biggest gain of the day.
The teams broke for special teams work at this point in practice. There were a few pushing matches as the intensity grew. When the Bills’ offense got back on the field, Allen looked dialed in.
The teams were competing in a two-minute drill, and Allen was looking for Coleman after the second-year receiver nabbed a touchdown earlier in red zone work. Coleman put on a slick double move that dropped a Bears defender before Allen floated a pass down the left sideline. Coleman whipped his head around to locate the ball and realized that he had ground to make up if he wanted a chance at the catch. He hit another gear and sped toward the ball, fully extending to bring in a one-handed grab for the touchdown.
Coleman spoke to reporters after practice and downplayed the significance of the touchdown.
“Great play call, didn’t rush the move, executed, and made the play. Josh threw a good ball,” Coleman said. “We’ve been doing that all camp. It ain’t really nothing but another route.”
Coleman’s full repertoire was on display against the Bears. Allen gave him opportunities in contested catch situations, and the dynamic playmaker showed off his footwork and improved route running.
Bills coach Sean McDermott said before Friday’s practice that he’s still working through plans for Sunday’s preseason game against the Bears. It’s unclear how much or if the starters will play in the game. That especially goes for Allen.
"I would love to (play Allen in preseason) if you could put him in a bubble that would guarantee me that he wasn’t gonna get hurt," McDermott said. “In Josh’s case, really using practice to see where he’s at and how he feels. And I’m giving him some ownership as well, which I think is important. He knows by now what he needs in order to be ready.”
Here are more observations from Friday’s joint practice against the Bears.
Greg Rousseau dominates
By the time the team drills were over, Bears second-year quarterback Caleb Williams looked like he had had enough. The Bills’ front made life miserable as Williams was flushed from the pocket consistently.
Rousseau was the most disruptive, leading the charge on his way to a pair of sacks. On one play, Rousseau should get credit for two sacks because he won and landed before tracking down Williams again as he broke out to his left.
On another play, Rousseau and new Bills rusher Joey Bosa combined to frustrate both offensive tackles. They landed at the quarterback, and Bosa gave Williams an extra shove for good measure. Rousseau said the pair continues to learn more about each other’s game.
“I feel like that’s what camp is all about,” Rousseau said. “Having that chemistry and feel for what he likes to do and what I like to do. Us just being able to go out there and gel. Days like this go a long way and we definitely are taking steps.”
Mike White struggles
White threw a bad interception when trying to force a throw to rookie receiver Kaden Prather. Bears linebacker Ruben Hyppolite was standing in front of Prather and made an easy pick to give the Bears the ball.
White has outplayed Mitch Trubisky at times this summer, but he had his worst camp practice yet on Friday. The games will continue to advance the QB2 battle, and White needs to make plays on Sunday to stay in the race.
Cornerback stock report
Christian Benford played lights out, specifically making it a rough day for Bears receiver Rome Odunze. Benford forced an incomplete pass when he tackled Odunze in midair near the sideline and forced him out of bounds. Then, on the last play of the day for the defense, Benford went up and ripped a ball out from Odunze to take away a touchdown.
Tre’Davious White had an up-and-down day. He gave up a long touchdown to Bears receiver Olamide Zaccheaus after getting lost in traffic on a throw over the middle. But later, White locked up Odunze in a red zone battle that forced Williams to go to his second read and throw it away. Dane Jackson, Ja’Marcus Ingram, and Dorian Strong all gave up receptions on the day.
Starting linebackers look scary
Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard haven’t played a ton of games together because of a long list of injuries for both linebackers. When they’ve both been healthy, the duo has shown an ability to play well alongside each other.
Milano got the party started on Friday with a pair of pass breakups as he pestered Bears pass catchers in the short area of the field. Bernard blasted Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland at the goal line, hitting him so hard the ball popped out for an incomplete pass.
Special teams could provide path for WR
Tyrell Shavers has been making big plays in the passing game all summer, but he finally popped on special teams against the Bears. The teams staged gunner battles in the middle of practice, and Shavers had to battle a double team on his way to cover the kick. His rep was so impressive that veteran left tackle Dion Dawkins and tight end Dawson Knox went running on the field to celebrate the play.
Bills coach Sean McDermott said Shavers’ path - like so many - may require him to add value on special teams. His teams snaps on Sunday in the game will be worth monitoring.
Injury outlook improves
The Bills were only down one receiver on Friday after missing four in practice just two days ago. Moore and Shavers both returned, and Curtus Samuel participated in individual drills. Dawkins also returned after missing the past two practices.
Only five Bills players missed practice: center Sedrick Van Pran Granger, receiver Khalil Shakir, tackle Tylan Grable, cornerback Maxwell Hairston, and defensive back Cam Lewis. Running back Darrynton Evans (hamstring) and cornerback Te’Cory Couch both left Friday’s practice.
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