Bills Day 4 Camp Observations: Keon, Hoecht & Two Rookies Shine

Patrick Moran shares his firsthand observations from Day 4 of Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fisher University. Despite another rain-soaked practice, the Bills completed an extensive red-zone session featuring encouraging performances from Keon Coleman, Dalton Kincaid, James Cook and several rookies.

Patrick also examines the developing position battles, concerns surrounding the backup quarterbacks, the safety rotation following C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s injury and which players helped or hurt their stock.

Key Takeaways

• Keon Coleman delivered his best practice of camp, catching everything thrown his way and beating Cole Bishop for a touchdown.
• Dalton Kincaid continued his excellent start to camp and avoided a potentially serious injury scare.
• James Cook appears headed for a larger role, particularly as a receiver out of the backfield.
• Several rookies flashed encouraging potential, including the Bills’ second-round cornerback, a fourth-round linebacker and offensive tackle Jude Bowry.
• The backup quarterback situation remains concerning, with Shane Buechele currently looking more reliable than Kyle Allen.
• Damar Hamlin and Geno Stone rotated with the starting defense following C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s injury.
• Michael Hoecht looks surprisingly strong in his recovery from a torn Achilles and could be ready for Week 1.

Full Episode Notes Another Rain-Soaked Practice

Day 4 was dominated by miserable weather conditions. Three of Buffalo’s first four training camp practices have now been affected by rain, with Monday featuring steady precipitation, wind and unusually cool temperatures.

The weather created a difficult experience for fans and forced the Bills to exercise caution. Players were reportedly instructed to operate below full speed at various points to reduce the risk of injuries on the wet field.

The practice focused almost entirely on red-zone work, with most team periods taking place inside the 10-yard line. That eliminated opportunities for long passes, but it still produced several notable performances and position-battle developments.

Keon Coleman Has His Best Day of Camp

Coleman delivered what Patrick considered his best performance through the first four practices.

His biggest play came when he beat safety Cole Bishop by a step and caught a well-placed Josh Allen pass for a touchdown. Coleman also caught every catchable ball thrown in his direction, displayed dependable hands and looked sharp during individual receiver drills.

His routes appeared cleaner, and he showed encouraging quickness while receiving some work from inside alignments. Coleman’s blocking ability could also keep him on the field in one- and two-receiver formations, even if his receiving statistics do not make a dramatic jump.

The performance does not guarantee a breakout season, but Coleman looked like a reliable, physical receiver capable of contributing in several different ways.

Dalton Kincaid Continues His Strong Camp

Kincaid briefly created concern when he remained on the ground following a play and required attention from the training staff. He eventually returned to the offense, and it was later revealed that he had simply taken an accidental knee to a sensitive area.

Outside of that scare, Kincaid enjoyed another excellent practice. He caught a touchdown and continued to display the quickness, agility and soft hands that have stood out throughout camp.

Kincaid did drop one pass during an individual drill, but several players struggled to secure the wet football. Overall, he has put together four encouraging practices and looks healthy after dealing with knee problems previously.

Dawson Knox also had a productive day as Buffalo’s tight ends continued to make an impact in the red zone.

James Cook’s Role Could Become Even Bigger

One of the most important developments through four practices has been the increased involvement of Buffalo’s running backs in the passing game.

Cook caught a touchdown on a route out of the backfield and appears positioned to receive more opportunities as a receiver. Ty Johnson has also been involved, with Ray Davis seeing some passing-game work to a lesser extent.

Patrick believes Joe Brady views Cook as a legitimate offensive star and could increase his snap percentage, receiving targets and overall workload. After leading the NFL in rushing last season, Cook may be given an opportunity to become an even more complete offensive weapon.

For fantasy football players, Cook’s potential receiving volume makes him worthy of consideration among the top running backs available.

Encouraging Progress From the Rookie Cornerback

The Bills’ second-round rookie cornerback entered Monday without having made a significant push in the competition with Max Hairston. Hairston and Christian Benford remain the clear starting outside corners, and there has not yet been a legitimate battle for Hairston’s job.

However, the rookie produced his best practice of camp Monday. His length, athleticism and ability to stay attached to receivers were much more noticeable during the condensed red-zone work.

He still needs to prove that he can consistently run with receivers across the field, but this was an encouraging step after a relatively quiet opening three practices.

Rookie Linebacker Looks the Part

Buffalo’s fourth-round rookie linebacker continued to make a strong physical impression.

He already looks like an NFL linebacker and has displayed an intense, businesslike approach. He consistently finds himself around the football, hits with force during tackling drills and has stayed after practice to complete additional work.

That does not mean the rookie should immediately be declared the starter. D