Pittsford, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Training camp for the Buffalo Bills is coming to a close this week, with the final practice for fans at St. John Fisher University coming Thursday morning in the Rochester area.
Work over the last three-plus weeks has been in preparation for the 2024 season of football in Western New York, with Week 1 of the preseason set to take place Saturday at Highmark Stadium against Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears.
With all of the major moves the Bills made this offseason, there has been much talk of the team being in a "transition" mode toward a new regime around quarterback Josh Allen this season. Despite the turnover of several key players on the roster, Brandon Beane reiterates that the changes were a necessity.
"There's always change, right? No team's the same," said the Bills general manager on Wednesday during an appearance on the "Jeremy and Joe Show" on WGR. "I would say this year, there was probably more eye-opening names that we lost, either due to the business side of it, people got paid, or we moved on or just Father Time. Whatever it is, we knew what we were walking into. This year was a little bit bigger year of a cap number, and we were prepared for it. Is it fun? No, it stinks to lose a lot of the names that have helped set your foundation and been here for a lot of the success that we've had. It is time, and I think transition is a fair word."
With the need for new leaders to emerge on the roster this season, Beane expects to find them at this time of year before the regular season starts.
"Lots of guys that have been in the background, we're starting to ask for more," Beane said with Jeremy White and Joe DiBiase. "We're going to start playing games this weekend. Who do we see? Who do we feel as leaders? Then ultimately, Sean [McDermott], I think, does a good job of letting the guys pick. Who do they feel? Who do they see as their captains?"
As for Bills' 2024 second-round pick Keon Coleman, he joins the team this year with the prospect of making an immediate impact on the field and in the wide receivers room. Through training camp and heading into the preseason, Coleman has seemingly impressed his general manager so far.
"I think he's done a great job," Beane said. "First off, receiver means catch the ball. I think that would be an 'A+', to this point. He's really shown good hands. Contested catches, body control on the sideline, the back of the end zone, some plays like that, some fade balls. That's the basketball stuff we talked about when we drafted him, explaining what he can do."
Saturday's preseason opener kicks off at 1 p.m. ET from Highmark Stadium. Hear all the play-by-play by action on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550 - with Chris Brown, Eric Wood and Sal Capaccio on the call.
