Bills Training Camp Day 2: DJ Moore Shines, Backup QB Concerns and Early Roster Battles

Patrick Moran is joined by Mike Bundt of Trainwreck Sports for a field-level recap immediately following the Buffalo Bills’ second training camp practice at St. John Fisher University. The rain returned, the pads were still off and the practice remained relatively light, but several early trends began to emerge.

DJ Moore’s growing connection with Josh Allen provided the biggest reason for optimism. Kyle Allen’s uneven performance raised questions about the backup quarterback position, while several rookies and lesser-known players began making their cases in wide-open roster battles. Patrick and Mike also discuss Joe Brady’s early approach to camp, the athletic potential of Buffalo’s secondary, the competition at guard, linebacker and cornerback, and an unexpectedly important part of the punter battle: holding for field goals.

Key Takeaways

DJ Moore already looks capable of becoming Buffalo’s featured receiver. His route running, separation and early chemistry with Josh Allen stood out during both seven-on-seven and team work.

The backup quarterback position is an early concern. Kyle Allen struggled with accuracy and threw the first interception of camp, creating an opening for Shane Buechele to challenge for the No. 2 job.

Joe Brady appears to be emphasizing load management. Established players are receiving short bursts of work, especially along the defensive line, while younger players are getting valuable early reps.

Buffalo’s young secondary may be one of the defense’s most exciting units. Jalen Kilgore, Jordan Hancock, Maxwell Hairston and Kenny Walker are among the players generating early intrigue.

Several presumed roster spots are far from secure. The battles at guard, fourth boundary corner, off-ball linebacker, fullback and punter could remain competitive throughout camp.

Full Episode Notes A Wet but More Eventful Second Practice

For the second consecutive day, the Bills practiced in rainy conditions at St. John Fisher. Patrick and Mike recorded from the hospitality area just off the field, giving them an unusually close look at the players’ size, speed and physical presence.

The field-level perspective offered a better feel for how quickly everything happens, although it made team drills harder to follow once players crowded the sideline. Mike spent part of practice from a higher vantage point, which made it easier to see routes develop and understand the structure of each play.

Practice lasted approximately 90 minutes and continued the gradual pace established on Day 1. With no pads, no receiver-versus-defensive back one-on-ones and limited intensity during eleven-on-eleven periods, both hosts cautioned against drawing major conclusions. The more meaningful observations involved personnel usage, repetitions and early depth-chart positioning.

DJ Moore and Josh Allen Show Early Chemistry

DJ Moore was the most impressive offensive player of the day. He made multiple explosive plays and showed why Buffalo invested a second-round pick to acquire him.

During seven-on-seven work, Moore created significant separation from Dee Alford on a deep play. Josh Allen had more time than he would normally receive in a game, but Moore still clearly won the matchup. Later, in an eleven-on-eleven period, Moore beat IGB on a post route and Allen delivered the ball between the corner and safety Geno Stone for a gain that likely would have exceeded 30 yards.

Patrick and Mike believe Moore gives Buffalo something its receiving corps lacked over the previous two seasons: a legitimate option with No. 1-receiver ability. They stopped short of comparing him to Stefon Diggs or declaring him a top-10 NFL receiver, but both see the potential for Moore to produce a 1,000-yard season.

The “Everybody Eats” approach may still exist, but the early indication is that Moore will receive the largest portion of the offense.

Kyle Allen Struggles and the Backup Quarterback Job Bears Watching

The most concerning development was Kyle Allen’s performance. Patrick was already skeptical of the offseason signing and has not seen anything through two practices to change that opinion.

Allen made several poor throws and was responsible for the first interception of training camp when Joe Andreessen picked off an errant pass over the middle. The second-team offense has lacked rhythm when Josh Allen leaves the field.

The concern is not about replacing Josh Allen for an extended period, because a long-term injury to the franchise quarterback would dramatically alter Buffalo’s season regardless of the backup. The real question is whether the Bills have someone capable of going .500—or slightly better—during a short absence of two to four games. Patrick felt Mitch Trubisky offered that possibility in previous seasons but does not currently have the same confidence in Kyle Allen.

Shane Buechele could have a legitimate opportunity to win the backup job. If neither quarterback improves, the position may become one Buffalo needs to address.

Early Differences Under Joe Brady

The overall structure of camp has not changed dramatically, but the atmosphere feels different with Joe Brady as head coach. Mike has noticed a different musical selection and more visible interaction between Brady and players during practice.

The most obvious football-related change is the frequency of rotations and the apparent focus on workload management. Defensive linemen are often taking only two or three repetitions before rotating out. Spencer Brown also received short stretches of work before another tackle stepped in with the first unit.

Veteran defenders such as Ed Oliver, Greg Rousseau and Bradley Chubb are being brought along carefully. Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams did