ESPN

‘”Yeah, it does. It does 100% for several reasons actually,” the 30-year-old Cooper said. “It’s just that feeling of having a fresh beginning, a new start, a blank canvas that you get to control your destiny, you know?”‘

‘Cooper, 30, fills the No. 1 receiver void for the Bills that was opened when Buffalo traded Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans before the season.’

‘The unit was saved in the game by two missed field goals by Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein in the second half, in addition to a strong red zone defense that allowed the Jets to convert on 1-of-4 red zone trips.’

‘”I won’t lie, Monday nights are a little bit more meaningful to me, but I’m so deep into my process that maybe when it’s all said and done and I’m back reflecting and I’m doing whatever I’m doing after I’m done playing, and watching ‘Monday Night Football’ [will] probably be a lot more special to me,” Hamlin said.’

‘Cook suffered the toe injury during the Week 5 loss to the Houston Texans and did not participate in practice early in the week. Cook was limited in the team’s final practice of the week.’

‘”The NFL and NFLPA have reviewed the reports from the Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant and Booth Spotters and those reports confirm that the steps required by the concussion protocol were followed in the evaluation and clearance of Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen in last Sunday’s game,” the sides said in a statement. “The protocol has been jointly developed and is jointly administered by the NFL and NFLPA. Under that program the parties jointly identify, retain and train the Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultants and Booth Spotters.”‘

‘”The guys, they talk, we talk and we’re entertainers and I’m for sure an entertainer. So, I’m going to entertain it. And why not? I like tension and that’s what I do,” Dawkins said. “‘Showman is going to cause some tension cause that’s what it is. Like who wants to play when, when everybody’s friends? Like let’s push ourselves.”‘

‘”That’s on me, the end-of-game situation on offense,” McDermott said after the 23-20 loss. “We’re in a tough situation … they were holding three timeouts; they got a good field goal kicker. We needed to run the clock and move the chains, and that’s on me. We didn’t do that there, and that’s my fault.”‘

‘”[Allen’s] been very consistent, consistent in his performance on the field, consistent in his approach, consistent in his just willingness to take what the defense is giving him,” coach Sean McDermott said after Week 3. “… Season’s young, and so I’m looking forward to how he’s going to continue to do that. He’ll be defended a little bit different week to week. But you know, his just, his maturation … His development has been fun to watch.”‘

‘Oliver suffered a hamstring injury in practice Thursday, and the other injuries took place in the game. Johnson (oblique), Rapp (concussion protocol) and Shakir (ankle) have not practiced this week. Shakir is the team’s leading receiver through four games, having caught 18 of 19 targets for 230 yards and two touchdowns. Curtis Samuel is among the receivers who will have more of a role in his absence.’

‘The suspension appears to stem from allegations that Miller assaulted his pregnant girlfriend in November 2023 during the Bills’ bye week in suburban Dallas. The NFL did not respond to ESPN’s request for clarity over the nature of the suspension.’

‘Where it went wrong between Diggs and the Bills is not a question that yields a single answer from more than a dozen team, front office and industry sources ESPN contacted for this story. The player is famously mercurial. The team’s level of patience with his personality ebbed and flowed. The offense was headed in a different direction. The ratio of the impact of these three causes on Diggs’ exit depends on who’s doing the talking.’

‘Allen said after Sunday night’s game that it was his “low back” that hit the ground “so we’re good.” Allen didn’t miss a snap following the hit but later sat when the game was out of reach. Tight end Dalton Kincaid also briefly received attention after the play but returned.’

‘”I think the defensive coaching staff has done a really good job, led by Bobby. They’ve done a really good job of developing,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said. “They’ve done a good job of shaping game plans that play to our strengths. … Then the players themselves taking the ownership of, `Hey, this is my opportunity to step up for the team,’ and being ready to do that. And then those players that were already in the starting lineup, continuing to take their game, one by one, up to a new level.”‘

‘”I know there’s a lot of people talking out there, again, I’m not trying to tear down anybody,” Allen said on Wednesday. “I’ve loved everybody that I’ve played with, and you don’t have to tear other people down to build each other up. And we’re building each other up right now and that’s all we’re trying to do and trying to stay together as a team. We’re really caring about each other and everybody in this building’s got that feeling.”‘