‘”It was fun. It was super fun,” Hamlin said. “It was a great experience, you know what I’m saying? “It’s just another milestone in the step of getting back to myself in the football space and in the NFL. I’m just chopping this tree down as much as I can one step by one.”‘
BillsBeat - August 15, 2023
Boogie Basham impresses in first pre-season game
‘Basham made 19 tackles last season but actually had his career high of three solo tackles back in 2021 against the Carolina Panthers. If the Bills continue to see his kind of actions from Saturday, he might just make some room for himself on the field during regular season. The Bills are heading to Pennsylvania for their next pre-season game on Saturday the against the Pittsburgh Steelers.’
'Master of his craft' | Why Latavius Murray stands out as an outlier among modern day NFL running backs
‘”We know that the running back position is a physical position, and it’s a rare case that you get guys playing you know, over three or four years,” Murray explained. “I get a lot of questions about how I’ve been able to play the running back position for so long.”
BillsBeat - August 14, 2023
Bills' Khalil Shakir looks to put drop behind him in heated wide receiver competition
‘In a vacuum, Shakir’s drop is just one play in the first preseason game. Given his roster status, though, it’s easy to see how it can be made into a bigger deal. Shakir is locked in a tight competition for playing time at wide receiver behind Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis – the team’s established top two options at the position. Trent Sherfield and Deonte Harty are Shakir’s primary competitors to be the third receiver on the field. A drop like that in that moment is the type of play that’s not easily forgotten.’
Bills Mailbag: Resetting the positional battles after preseason game No. 1
‘Bernard will have to play some serious catch up when he gets back into the lineup for that to change. At No. 2 cornerback, Dane Jackson made a gifted interception against the Colts and played the reps you would expect from a starter, but I’m not convinced there is a favorite for that job yet. The reality is, the Bills really need Kaiir Elam to win it, and are likely to give him every last chance – and then maybe one more – to do so.’
Matt Barkley is the king of preseason as he lit up the Colts Saturday
‘“You have to take advantage of them and it’s hard to not force things to try to make a splash, you know?” Barkley said Saturday after he completed 14 of 15 passes for 172 yards and touchdowns to Tyrell Shavers and Dezmon Patmon to lead the Bills to a 23-19 victory over the Indianapolis Colts at Highmark Stadium.’
Buffalo Bills Safety Damar Hamlin Plays In First NFL Game Since Cardiac Arrest
‘Well, after all those conspiracy theories about Damar Hamlin after he had suffered a cardiac arrest on the field, after all those claims that he had a body double, the Buffalo Bills safety has now returned to playing football. Hamlin took the field in the Bills first preseason game when they hosted the Indianapolis Colts on August 12. And if you still believe that Hamlin has somehow been replaced by a body double, then that body double did quite well, totaling three solo tackles in the Bills 23-19 victory over the Colts.’
McDermott thought a few young players took step forward against Indianapolis
‘The Bills took linebacker Dorian Williams in the third round of this year’s draft. When he first got here, he was getting reps at middle linebacker, but he has since played and will stay outside. McDermott liked Williams first NFL action on Saturday, “I thought he was very physical, we have plenty to work on as does Dorian, but I thought he did a good job with playing fast and physical and you can build off of things like that.”’
Opinion: Observations from Bills' preseason opener
‘Both Kaiir Elam and Christian Benford were on the field for about 30 snaps. The Bills said they wanted to get a long look at both of those players, but the limited action could also mean they’ve decided, at least for now, that Jackson is the best man for the job.’
BillsBeat - August 13, 2023
Observations: Kyle Allen shaky, Matt Barkley shines in Bills' preseason opener against Colts
‘Kyle Allen, who was signed this offseason to be the No. 2 quarterback, had an uneven training camp, to put it kindly. His struggles continued against the Colts, as he finished the game 8 of 15 for 122 yards and one interception – which was returned for a 52-yard touchdown by Indianapolis cornerback Darius Rush. On the play, Allen attempted to throw a wide receiver screen to Tyrell Shavers, but the ball placement wasn’t great. Shavers probably could have done more with it, but the ball went through his hands to Rush, who was then off to the races.’
Ryan O'Halloran: Return of Micah Hyde could make Bills' secondary first-rate unit
‘The next step? Being fine-tuned for the Sept. 11 opener at the New York Jets. The Bills need Hyde healthy to make a deep playoff run. He knows every coverage and pressure and every nuance and nook of coach Sean McDermott’s system.’
'Remarkable' Bills safety Damar Hamlin plays in first game since cardiac arrest
‘“I was feeling everything all at once,” Hamlin said afterward. “It was super fun. It was a great experience, just another milestone.”’
Bills 'generally pleased' with how traffic, parking went Saturday. But the real test comes next month
‘Many other early-arriving Bills fans shared similar experiences on Saturday morning, reporting typical delays before securing a spot in a stadium lot. That’s not to say there weren’t some bumps in the road, however. A few fans voiced frustration on social media around midday Saturday, saying they waited in line for an hour only to make it to a lot that was already full.’
Erik Brady: A 'Go Bills' from star Jennifer Garner surprises Wegmans shopper
‘Garner obliged. And that’s the two of them smiling in the picture at the top of this story. Wiser, as you can see, is wearing a Buffalo Bills T-shirt, which is apparently what prompted Garner’s friendly shout-out.’
Bills beat Colts in preseason opener: Here's what we learned
‘However, let me just remind you that these preseason performances are extremely difficult to gauge because there is no game plan, no real prep for the opponent, and Allen was playing mostly with backups during the two quarters and one series he played during the Bills’ 23-19 victory.’