Pittsford, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Bills' first depth chart, albeit a very loose one, was released on Tuesday ahead of the team's first preseason game on Saturday against the Indianapolis Colts.
One day later, there’s still very little clarity on who may be ahead in the battle for the starting cornerback No. 2 job opposite Tre’Davious White, or the starting middle linebacker job.
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After an off day on Tuesday, the team got back on the practice field Wednesday for the first of their final two practices at St. John Fisher University.
Tyrel Dodson took most of the first-team reps at the MIKE linebacker spot during 11-on-11, but Terrel Bernard also saw time there.
At corner, it was a Dane Jackson who started off, but both Kaiir Elam and Christian Benford saw their fair share, as usual.
At both of those positions, the Bills listed all of those players atop the depth chart only separated by a slash.
Here's more of what stood out during Wednesday's practice at training camp:
Defense wins
As far as on-the-field play is concerned, the defense got the better of the offense on Wednesday, especially in the red zone period.
Other than one throw to the corner of the end zone to tight end Dawson Knox, Josh Allen couldn’t connect with receivers for various reasons.
On the very first play, terrific coverage forced Allen to throw low and incomplete as he tried to hit Stefon Diggs.
On another, James Cook slipped on his route, and the ball fell to the ground.
When the ball was handed off, a swarm of blue defensive jerseys surrounded running back Latavius Murray.
After Allen exited, backup quarterback Kyle Allen came in and on the very first throw, Khalil Shakir could not hold on to it as two defenders were closing very fast.
Two plays later, Kyle Allen was sacked.
The defense basically dominated that segment.
Then again...
Things turned around quickly for the offense when it became a full field 11-on-11.
On back-to-back plays to start that segment, Josh Allen found Knox, then Diggs on a deep ball down the sideline.
Later, on the first play of another 11-on-11, Allen found Knox again for a big gain.
Knox looks good
I think Knox is having his best camp as a pro.
Rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid has looked every bit the part of what they’ve wanted, but Knox, seemingly the forgotten man at the spot, has been excellent at getting separation or finding the open spot in a zone and catching the ball.
He’s seeing a lot of targets because of that.
Rapp gets in on the action
Josh Allen tried to bite off a bit too much during one 11-on-11 play with a deep shot to Deonte Harty. Damar Hamlin was in coverage and went up to get it, but fellow safety Taylor Rapp swooped in and broke up the play.
It was a really athletic play by Rapp to get to the spot.
Plays of the day
One play by each side qualifies for my play of the day on Wednesday.
First, Siran Neal, who had earlier collided with Stefon Diggs in the end zone (both players were down for a minute and got up slowly) read the play perfectly and jumped in front of a Kyle Allen pass for the interception.
Later, Latavius Murray took a short pass and raced down the sideline for, what would have been, a 70-plus-yard catch-and-run touchdown.
It looked like it was a busted coverage by the defense, but Murray, the oldest running back in the league at 33-years-old, looked like a young man trying to make an impression in his first camp.
Dawkins returns, Harris misses
Starting left tackle Dion Dawkins, who left the last practice with a hand injury, was back on the field and participated in full.
Running back Damien Harris did not practice. He was on the field in shorts and a hoodie with a sleeve on his right leg.
Defensive tackle Ed Oliver (back soreness) and defensive back Cam Lewis (groin) both missed practice again on Wednesday. Oliver was off to the side working with trainers, while Lewis watched in shorts.
Safety Jordan Poyer received a veteran rest day.
Next up:
The Bills will have their final practice at St. John Fisher on Thursday morning at 9:45 a.m. ET before returning to Orchard Park and facing the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff at Highmark Stadium.
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