The Buffalo Bills hit the turf for their fifth day of training camp at St. John Fisher University this summer, the first padded camp session in 2025. It was an oppressively hot and humid morning, but that didn’t throw a wet blanket on the competition happening within the fields around Growney Stadium.
With so much content to digest and often little time to catch everything as it happens, a review of the day’s action feels in order. We’ll try to catch you up from a 30,000-foot view, with key social
media posts below aiding the discussion.
Ready? Here we go...
We’ll cover this in a separate article, but injuries are the biggest news for Buffalo roster-wide right now. The Bills are banged up, especially at wide receiver and tight end. Much of it can be chalked up to players having quickly ramped up their efforts, such as with wide receiver Elijah Moore (general leg soreness), wide receivers Curtis Samuel and Kaden Prather sustaining hamstring injuries, and Tyrell Shavers suffering an ankle injury that has him day to day.
Tight end Dalton Kincaid is dealing with some type of knee injury. Additionally, while Dawson Knox was activated from the non-football injury list, he was also a non-participant on Monday thanks to hamstring trouble.
Elsewhere, two of Buffalo’s top three linebackers are ailing — Terrel Bernard has his own hamstring injury, while Dorian Williams has an unspecific lower leg concern. Neither ‘backer practiced on Monday.
The #Bills injury list of non-participants today per coach McDermott:
— Chris Brown (@ChrisBrownBills) July 28, 2025
WR Shavers-ankle (not serious)
WR Samuel-hamstring
WR Moore-gen soreness
WR Prather-hamstring
TE Kincaid-knee soreness
TE Knox-hamstring
LB Bernard-hamstring
LB D. Williams - lower leg
K Bass-pelvis soreness…
But all’s not doom and gloom around One Bills Drive East.
Wide receiver Keon Coleman continues to impress, with plenty of camp highlights showing just how valuable his basketball background is for the offense. Reports on wide receivers Joshua Palmer and Elijah Moore, new additions to the team in 2025, have painted pictures of a strong connection building between the pair and quarterback Josh Allen.
Rave reviews continue flowing in about linebacker Matt Milano, who just turned 31 on Monday. Several have stated that he looks back to his former All-Pro self. Buffalo will be a far more dangerous team if Milano is able to stay healthy and available all season.
Cornerback Christian Benford continues dominating the competition, with a clear physical advantage against most receivers matched up against him (including Coleman). Nickel cornerback Taron Johnson had a message for the media about Benford:
Taron Johnson: “I think Christian Benford is THE best corner in the NFL”
— Sal Capaccio (@SalSports) July 28, 2025
Christian Benford was an absolute beast today.
— Jon Scott (@JonScottTV) July 28, 2025
Matt Milano also flying around.
Those 2 most noticeable on first day of pads here at #BillsCamp.
The #Bills CB1 was arguably the top dog in the first padded practice of camp.
— Jonathan Acosta (@_jacosta) July 28, 2025
Taron Johnson today on who's brought the most swagger to Bills defense this training camp: "probably Christian Benford. I think he is *the* best corner in the NFL."#BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/hCovldlyVD
While Allen continues throwing up passes for the defense, now is the time to do it. Testing everything out now and those results should not be viewed as a barometer for how the regular season will play out. If we understand anything, it’s that offensive coordinator Joe Brady will do all he can to put Allen in the best position to succeed.
That said, there have been several highlight-worthy play made against Allen, such as this:
Here is the Groot near interception on Josh Allen… Rousseau had himself a really good day pic.twitter.com/f6mooMe3Ra
— Patrick Moran (Talking Buffalo) (@PatrickMoranTB) July 28, 2025
With so many players to highlight, let’s allow social media to do what it does best, and filter the great moments out quickly to you:
camp really starts when the pads come on #billsmafia @wkbw pic.twitter.com/5dc10dmIKw
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) July 28, 2025
Deone 'Dancing Bear' Walker
— Jonathan Acosta (@_jacosta) July 28, 2025
First padded practice for the big rookie DT.#BillsMafia @WGRZ pic.twitter.com/gUbPxTmzZ7
From my observations today, gonna throw a name out there who's impressed me that many wouldn't expect me to say. Damar Hamlin. He was solid in run support several times today, and I think he's got a stranglehold on the primary backup safety spot (both spots) right now.
— Patrick Moran (Talking Buffalo) (@PatrickMoranTB) July 28, 2025
Defensive back/wide receiver 1 on 1s:
— alex brasky (@alexbrasky) July 28, 2025
-Khalil Shakir down left sideline, Christian Benford helps knock it away
-Dane Jackson phenomenal pass breakup on a slant from Josh Palmer
-Keon Coleman great catch with Dorian Strong draped all over him
-Josh Allen misses Coleman high…
Day 5 of #Bills training camp is in the books. Here are my observations/takeaways from the practice field:
— alex brasky (@alexbrasky) July 28, 2025
Kincaid out
Injuries abound
Pads come on
⚡️Milano
Josh Palmer finding his groove
More later on Buffalo Pregame https://t.co/RIetYCmmXD#BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/vLbbzhK7Oi
Recapping all of Bills Training Camp Day 5
— BillsMuse (@BillsMusee) July 28, 2025
(Press conference recaps, takeaways, how everyone did, injuries, etc)
(A BillsMusee Thread ) pic.twitter.com/GOIiU0r1Eb
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