Bills training Camp Day 2: Hoecht returns to defense

Pittsford, NY (WGR-550) - For the first time since tearing his Achilles last November 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills edge rusher Michael Hoecht joined ten other teammates on defense to play football against an offensive unit.

Prior to training camp, Hoecht was only doing conditioning and rehab with athletic trainers during OTA’s, and had done individual position drills at veteran minicamp back in June, as well as Wednesday’s first day of camp.

But Day 2 was a different story.

Hoecht not only participated in 11-on-11 against the offense, he even had what would have been a sack.

“It’s a version of power protection and it's kind of a look that really solves a lot of problems,” he said of the play. “if you just have a good get-off you can kind of feel the play. So, yeah, it feels good to start to like actually see football and it's not just like watching film for the last nine months or whatever it's been, and actually like, do football.”

A healthy Hoecht will give new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard much more flexibility and plenty of options on a down-to-down basis with other edge rushers Greg Rousseau, Bradley Chubb, and second round pick TJ Parker.

Parker showing athleticism

When Parker was drafted as the team's first choice, 35th overall, some of the analysis on his game was that he was much more of a bigger-bodied edge setter who wins with his football IQ and hands, than an athletic mover who will chase the play down.

Through two camp practices, I’ve seen a 6-foot-3, 260-pounder who moves very well and has quick feet.

Here’s a look at Hoecht, Parker, and the rest of the edge rushers: