4 things Bills fans need to closely watch for in first preseason game vs Bears
By Joe Cook
As fast as Buffalo Bills training camp returned, it’s now over. The Bills wrapped up their final training camp practice at St. John Fisher University on Thursday morning. Now with the team leaving Rochester and heading back to Orchard Park, they are ready to dive into their first game action of the season as they battle the Chicago Bears and officially enter the preseason. Head coach Sean McDermott announced that the starters, including Josh Allen, will play about a quarter or so. With that, there will be plenty of things for fans to keep an eye on, but these few storylines are the ones Bills Mafia should pay close attention to.
No. 1: Josh Allen's connection with the newest Buffalo Bills receivers
The Buffalo Bills decided to do a smaller youth movement this off-season. Included in that was an overhaul of their receiver room that has been a staple over the last few seasons. With Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis out, the much talked about early-round rookie Keon Coleman, and electric Curtis Samuel are in.
For Allen, there’s only one guy who is returning from his old receiving core, and that’s Khalil Shakir. He exploded down the stretch last season and was the Bills' most productive receiver over that same span and in the playoffs. With guys like Mack Hollins and Tyrell Shavers getting plenty of first-team reps in training camp, it’s going to be interesting to see how much Allen and all the new guys are on the same page.
Hollins and Allen reportedly already have chemistry from off-season workouts together. Samuel has made some nice plays in camp and brings a home-run threat element to the Bills offense they haven’t had in a while. Coleman has been tearing it up, making highlight reel catches almost every practice, and Shakir has continued to look good out of the slot. Tyrell Shavers has been turning heads since day one of camp and is making a serious push for the 53-man roster. He could even have Marquez Valdez-Scantling on the hot seat, who's having a quiet summer thus far.
Now it’s time to see who steps up in their first real game action with the Bills (besides Shakir). Allen has been red-hot throughout camp as well. There’s been some chatter from local reporters that this Bills’ receiving core is underrated and it will be fun to watch on Saturday afternoon.