Pittsford, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Bills will have one more practice on Thursday at training camp at St. John Fisher University on Thursday before heading back to Orchard Park on Friday for the annual "Return of the Blue and Red" practice at Highmark Stadium.
Last year's practice garnered more than 35,000 fans to pack the stadium, and it is expected that this year's practice will garner a similar drawing with the Bills, once again, contending for a Super Bowl.
LISTEN LIVE TO WGR:
For Friday evening's practice back in Orchard Park, Bills head coach Sean McDermott is hopeful his players will get into a game day feeling before their first preseason game at home against the Indianapolis Colts next week Saturday.
"Some of these players have not been in our home locker room, don't know our operation the morning of the game type of situation, and have never gone through that routine. That gives them a chance to get into the home locker room," said McDermott on Thursday during his meeting with the assembled media in Pittsford.
While there are not many position battles to worry about this training camp, there is an interesting competition heating up at the right guard position between Ryan Bates, and 2023 second-round pick O'Cyrus Torrence.
McDermott feels Bates' position flexibility will be a huge role for the offensive line, even if he happens to lose out to Torrence come Week 1 against the New York Jets.
"Any player wants to be the starter and wants to hone in on one position. I think that it's important that one knows their job, but also has the ability to bounce around," McDermott said.
Thursday also marked a significant birthday for the franchise, as Hall-of-Famer Marv Levy celebrated his 98th birthday.
McDermott has a great deal of respect for Levy dating back to his first days with the organization in 2017.
"He was the right coach for the right team," McDermott said of Levy. "He did things the right way, and that's why I have so much respect for him."
Hear more from McDermott's meeting with the media available in the player below:
