Four Bills to watch for this preseason

Bills training camp was full of fun and excitement for both fans and members of the Bills. Aside from a few little skirmishes amongst the team, the practices have went well. There were several standouts throughout camp, including Isaiah McKenzie, James Cook, Gabe Davis, Ed Oliver, etc. However, there are a handful of guys that need to kick it into second gear to show Bills coaches that they’re either ready to be meaningful contributors in Buffalo or they’re ready to take the next step. Listed below are four players who have a chip on their shoulder that you should watch for this preseason:

1. CB Kaiir Elam

Elam got off to a fairly slow start in Bills camp. But to be fair, it’s probably tough having your first-ever NFL practices be against Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, especially with Josh Allen throwing them the football. There have been reports that Elam has been doing a bit of holding of the receivers he’s been matched up with, which will most likely going to get called in a real game setting.

Elam and Diggs got into it a little bit at times, with the two barking at each other during numerous matchups in camp. Diggs looked to get the better of Elam, and Elam was holding him pretty good, much to Diggs’ dismay. You can only think that Diggs had some tough love and constructive criticism for the young rookie, trying to help him prepare for a real game situation. As we know, if Elam is announced a starter while Tre’Davious White is recovering, he will have his hands full with Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson in Week 1.

Elam started to improve as practices rolled on but he needs to step it up and prove he can contribute without being so handsy. He’s most likely going to be counted on to perform this season starting Week 1, and he needs to soak in as much knowledge as he can over these next couple weeks.

2. WR Jamison Crowder

Jamison Crowder started off training camp sidelined with a hamstring injury, but he has worked himself back to practicing, which is a great sign for the Bills. However, in Crowder’s absence, another WR may have stepped up and proven himself more than capable of doing the job that Crowder was brought in to do.

Coming into this camp, the slot WR battle between Crowder and Isaiah McKenzie was the big talk of the team. Who will grab the upper edge? Who will take Beasley’s spot of filling in the slot?

In what was supposed to be a tight competition, the injury to Crowder on the first day of camp put him behind schedule. McKenzie shined in training camp and Josh Allen continued to look for him. He has really impressed with his speed, route running abilities, and his hands. He’s doing a tremendous job of giving Allen a reliable option to look for if his outside guys or tight end are taken away. With this being said, Crowder needs to impress in the preseason to remind the staff why exactly it was that they brought him in.

3. DE Gregory Rousseau

Greg Rousseau is going to be counted on a lot this season. Having him on this list isn’t a dig at him, but it’s more of Bills fans wanting him to reach his full potential.

He’ll be playing opposite Von Miller for the majority of the season, meaning that he will most likely have his chances with one on one protection, assuming that a lot of the attention will go to Miller. While Rousseau had a pretty good camp, you really want to see him take the next step this year, and it starts with having great reps in the preseason.

Rousseau will look to show off his knowledge and the techniques he’s learned. He has so much potential and a very unique build and skill set, and having Von Miller be there to guide him may be what unleashes his powers.

4. TE OJ Howard

There have been reports that Howard hasn’t really caught on yet as a Buffalo Bill, however I don’t think that’s too much to be concerned about.

Howard’s role this year, as it seems, is to contribute a lot in the ground game as a blocking tight end, but he has downfield receiving ability that Bills Mafia would love to see be unleashed. You want to see more of Howard running routes and catching balls, using him as a dual threat tight end option along with Dawson Knox. However they’re going to use him, Howard should find himself on the field at crucial points in games. Bills fans would love to see him step up in the preseason and make some plays of which you saw flashes of in his time in Tampa.