Pittsford, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Buffalo Bills edge rusher Joey Bosa missed spring workouts in Orchard Park due to an offseason calf injury. However, Bosa declared himself ready to play on Wednesday, and was a full go in the opening practice of training camp.
"It was frustrating in the moment, but I moved on relatively quickly," said Bosa while speaking with the media on Wednesday.
"It was a minor thing, and I don't even think about it anymore."
Bosa’s NFL career has been laced with injuries. In nine seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, Bosa played all 16 games just three times, and missed 37 games overall.
As far as how he approached this recent injury, Bosa says there's worse things to worry about that a calf strain.
"It was a good time to happen," he admitted. "I mean, there’s never really a good time to get injured, but relative to later in the year, [it was good]."
This is only Bosa’s second NFL team, be he has already experienced what Western New York and the Bills are all about.
"Just the culture everybody talks about, Buffalo in general, the fans and everything surrounding the Bills, you can feel it walking down the street. You feel it in the building, and it’s fun to be around a bunch of guys that really want to and know how to win. So I’m just trying to find my way and fit in a little bit," Bosa said.
The Chargers didn’t head to a college campus or even leave for training camp, so this is all new for Bosa being at St. John Fisher. He’s been enjoying it so far.
"It’s nice. It gets repetitive every year, the same thing over-and-over again," Bosa said. "I mean, I loved my time with the Chargers and I wouldn’t trade it for anything, but I think it was just getting a little redundant, especially with my injuries the last few years. I needed a fresh start and new scenery. So it’s been a really pleasant surprise, getting to know Buffalo and Orchard Park. It’s been beautiful.
"I have a yard, I have space to live and my dog can run around, and we’ve got families of geese in the backyard that we’ve been following. My fiancé loves it, the fans are amazing unless you’re at dinner and they’re screaming mid-dinner. I can’t remember the song (Probably 'Shout'), but it was quite the experience."
Another thing that’s new for Bosa is being with his teammates quite a bit. He says that never really happened in San Diego or Los Angeles.
"Here in Buffalo, guys hang out with each other. I’ve probably hung out outside of football more with these guys than the past in my entire career," Bosa noted.
"It just feels like guys want to be with each other, and they want to bond. They’ll hit you up, telling you they’re doing this and that. It’s a really good environment, and I feel like I’m already close to all of the guys."
Bosa is in a dorm room probably for the first time since he went to Ohio State University. He says the main thing for him is the bed is surprisingly comfortable.
He adds it’s nice having a veteran head coach like Sean McDermott, because you can come into an established program with an established culture and just try to fit right into it.
The Bills have Saturday off from practice, but then return to the facilities at St. John Fisher on Sunday for a 9:45 a.m. practice.