Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) – Injuries seemed to slow down Zack Moss in each of his first two seasons in the NFL. He’s only played 13 games in both years with limited production.
Moss averaged 4.3 yards on 112 carries in his rookie year, but was down last year to 3.6 yards on 16 fewer carries. Where Moss improved last year was catching the football, where he had nine more receptions and averaged 8.6 yards per-catch instead of 6.8 yards in 2020.
The touchdowns were exactly the same both seasons, four on the ground and one through the air.
Moss has remained injury free this preseason, and feels all the work he's getting in is helping him.
"This is the first time I’ve really had an offseason to train, especially coming off the year with an ankle injury," said Moss following Sunday's practice in Orchard Park. "I was really able to hone in and do everything that I wanted to do to be ready for this season."
Adversity can make you stronger, and most athletes face adversity just like Moss has.
"There’s always something you can gain from anything you go through in life, so for me, it was getting over those hurdles with the ankle injury, addressing that, my movements," Moss said. "I just wanted to get better overall in everything that I did, and I’ve just been trying to hone in on that through OTAs and this camp."
Moss really looked good in his rookie year, but injuries to start 2021 seemed to make last year a setback. He says it’s almost like a fresh start for him this upcoming season.
"Injuries wise, yes, I’m fully healthy and don’t have any knickknacks. Definitely, it’s like fresh air,” Moss said.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott doesn’t just take preseason game No. 1 against the Indianapolis Colts into account. He evaluates what he’s seen the whole spring and summer.
"It’s his entire game," said McDermott on Sunday. "He’s in good shape, he’s focused, and it’s where it needs to be it appears.
"I watched the game and was impressed with his production in a small amount of carries. What he did when he got the ball in his hands was impressive, so he’s off to a good start. I think it goes back to the way that he worked in the offseason."
Against the Colts on Saturday, Moss had 37 yards on three carries, along with five yards on two catches.
The Bills took James Cook in the second round of this year’s NFL Draft, and he joins Moss and Devin Singletary in a crowded backfield. Each one of those backs brings a different thing to the field, and Moss isn’t concerned about competition.
"We do a good job of motivating each other," he said. "We all want to see each other win and be successful, and we understand that we want to help the offense however we can. So whichever guy is in, we try to make sure to motivate each other to do the best that we can."
The team had Monday off from practice, but will be back to work in Orchard Park on Tuesday.
