Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane addresses the media after cutting his roster down to 53 players on Tuesday, and then signing 16 players to the practice squad ahead of the 2024 regular season. (Courtesy of the Buffalo Bills)
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00:00All right, I think we just sent out the guys that we've signed so far on practice squad, obviously
00:06Yeah, they're wait overnight and see who gets claimed and some years. We've we've had a few but we were
00:11Selfishly happy to get the guys back that we were able to
00:16You take us a little bit into
00:18The evaluation on day one Hardy seemed like he had a pretty good summer
00:22Was a little bit of a surprise what went in that decision and obviously guys got him back on the press
00:26Yeah
00:28Daquan is a is a young player
00:30Rookie and just felt like his arrow was was up did some good things
00:36You know, there's a lot that goes into the punt return and that was probably
00:41The main reason that we selected him late in the draft was he he had shown some
00:47Some some really good things at Penn State as a punt returner, but you know still probably cleaning up some decision-making
00:54Just all the things that go into that it's more than than just with the ball in his hands, so
01:01Not bad, and I thought it was arrow up, but we
01:05Kind of run run out of time. We got a real game next and we just weren't quite there
01:12But doesn't mean that we wouldn't get him up this year. We're gonna keep working him there and on the defensive side
01:17and so
01:19It's it's hard because you'd love to just let it go
01:23But you know still had a little bit of a gap to close from that standpoint
01:28But we believe in him and we're excited that we're able to get him back
01:38No, no
01:42Codrington
01:45Somebody that you guys
01:51Yeah, I mean we had
01:54We went through a lot of returners in the spring guys that got drafted guys that did not and you're looking at all
02:02different
02:03Numbers of returns some guys did it a little bit some guys did it a lot
02:09Some guys played at big schools in this case some guys played at small schools
02:14You're looking at a lot of different things. You're trying to make the best decision you can
02:19Limited
02:20Exposure for me like seeing him personally or some of our guys
02:23But you know when you watch the film and then you saw it translate to what he did in the preseason again for him
02:31Still a small NFL sample
02:34But saw him felt he made good decisions fielded it cleanly
02:39you know
02:40Muffs or not. Sometimes you see guys
02:43Building them and you're like he called it, but it wasn't clean. We play in one of the hardest
02:50Environments at home with the wind and all that and that'll be an adjustment for him as well
02:56We saw that even we had that windy game against the Bears in preseason
03:01You know the ball moving on the guys a little bit, so I don't know if he's seen that part yet
03:06We're gonna try to get him prepared as much as we can between now and Arizona
03:11But all that goes into it. He did a really nice job
03:15At central and then backed it up. You know again this preseason over there with the Jets
03:21You
03:26Yeah, I mean we've obviously gone against Mike I think everybody in here is very familiar with his career
03:32You know all the time in the AFC East and you know
03:36The thing I always liked about Mike and respected about him was whether he started the game or whether he came in the game
03:42Like he came in guns ablaze and no fear not just check down Charlie like he really did some good things
03:48And I know at times there were people talking out there like
03:51hey, this may be our future starter here with the Jets as they kind of went through some of the quarterbacks and
03:58You know we were always like man
04:00We've got to be ready the games we played against Mike
04:03and I thought it was a good signing by Miami last year to to bring him in and be the backup for Tua and
04:11So you know they have another guy in in Skylar Thompson who we faced you know a couple years ago in the postseason
04:17But Mike a lot of a lot of respect you can tell he's a very smart guy process as well
04:25Loves the game tough. I mean some of the for him to come back in that game
04:30You know some of the hits he took in that home game here
04:33Really, you know I already respected him a lot, but it really raised my level of respect
04:38This guy is out there laying it on the line
04:40We talked about all the time we say it, but this guy you know had some ribs cracked or brought
04:44I don't know the exact diagnosis, but
04:47I'm excited though that we were able to get Mike you never know how it's gonna turn out where guys are gonna land and
04:53You know we we recruited him hard to get him on this peace squad, and you know Mitch is still working his way back
05:00That may be the next question
05:02Truly unknown yet whether Mitch will be ready to play week one, so it's great. We get Mike in here now
05:10get him up to speed and
05:12You know we feel really good that we'll have a you know a good option
05:16You know or two to back up Josh come week one
05:20There's a report that you signed a receiver named J. One Virgil is that true or false we have not signed him
05:27you know he cleared waivers been in contact with him and
05:32Could potentially add him, but you know he's not here at this point, and so you know
05:38he's one of the guys that we're talking to and
05:41I
05:42Haven't signed him yet potentially though coming in here to visit and potentially sign
05:48Risky you said you don't know yet
05:50But is it out there the possibility that you may have to put them on IR and go get a practice squad quarterback if you
05:56Elevate if you'd have to elevate Mike white in that case yeah, that's still part of the calculus here
06:01Um I think you know Mitch is getting better. He's improving
06:05We are not there at that point to put him on IR. We want to give him every chance now
06:11He hasn't gone through a practice yet, so
06:15Nothing's off the table, but you know we're
06:20Cautiously optimistic that we won't need to do that but
06:25Until he's back out there and show that he can do it and do the job protect himself and play the position like he's got
06:31To play it
06:33It's an unknown
06:36To our
06:39Joe man, where do you start Buffalo Joe?
06:43What a story cool really cool story for Joe
06:47You know I don't know where you start the guy just shows up doesn't say a word
06:51and
06:52You know just you know never
06:56You know we there's a saying sometimes
06:58You know
07:00Don't count your reps. You know make the reps make every rep you get count
07:05I would say Joe is that obviously he came in here
07:08Came to our local day
07:11We invited him back. You know did well enough there. We invite him back for our rookie camp and
07:18Fortunately that time we still needed to sign another linebacker and so he he stood out the most there and
07:24He just every step of the way check the box check the box kept himself in play kept himself in play
07:31Never worried about whether he got five reps in practice or 15 depending on when we were healthier to when we faced some injuries there
07:39and
07:41You know we got thin there with Nick
07:43Baylen obviously losing Matt and
07:47Some people are ready for their opportunity and others are not and
07:53I think Joe did everything you could have asked for he's still a rookie, okay?
07:58So I don't want to put him in the Hall of Fame yet, but I think we need to give him credit and kudos
08:04How can you not cheer for him like there's a lot of guys?
08:08We cheer for that don't make it so we still have to make the best decision for the Bills
08:13and
08:15You know to this point. He's done. What's asking he earned the opportunity you know to make our initial 53
08:20I
08:23Mean he took every step of the way, but how much
08:28That Pittsburgh game influence or maybe capture your attention
08:33in
08:34Making you believe that this was possible
08:38Yeah, well you know
08:40One of the things in preseason John is you know?
08:43Who are they going against is it threes verse threes threes verse twos twos verse ones and so?
08:50you know
08:53Matt goes down. We decide to hold TB out just to be cautious and
08:59You know made the decision to put Joe out there and run him with the starters. Let's just see and
09:04nothing else is going to tell us more than putting them with the ones and
09:09First all it didn't faze him
09:11Sure, he was nervous, and you know had adrenaline pumping, but it didn't faze him and
09:15He went out there
09:17Ran the defense is you know?
09:20to what you would say was was was really well for a rookie and
09:24Made plays and made plays in space. You know that was one of the
09:29one of the questions on
09:31Joe is how would he do in space and you saw a play against fields obviously the screen against Jalen Warren?
09:39really good block protect and just getting off blocks and
09:42using his hands we talked about all the time guys using their hands and I
09:47Thought he really passed the test that day and that probably gave us a lot of confidence that
09:54This guy is trending up and deserves this opportunity
10:09Yeah, I mean, it's it's so early Josh. You know he
10:13obviously you know tore the bicep and
10:17Had had that repaired, and it's it's early stages and so
10:23Those can range from various times we have a little bit
10:28But you're not really doing a lot like our people aren't putting their hands doing a lot
10:32You're letting the the wound heal and all that so I think it's
10:37Right now. We're just gonna let Matt do his thing. We're gonna focus on the guys
10:40We got here, and if the medical team tells us as we get in the season
10:45Hey, this is trending well, and we think there's a chance, then we'll start planning accordingly
10:51So ultimately what we did was didn't close the door on the season
10:55but
10:57You know we're not gonna sit here and say we're expecting him by this pointer. I think it's just way too early
11:11First off I cried when I got that injury but second of all
11:15The confidence level in the group yeah, I mean it's
11:19you build your team and
11:22You always tell guys next man up, and you're training every single player and so
11:28Right now you know as guys move up the spot on the depth chart. You're training the next guy for everything
11:34Maybe a guy was not getting as many special teams reps now is getting more guys
11:39Playing more in nickel situations base situations, whatever it is so no we we have confidence in our group
11:46We need to get healthy. That's that's been the big thing you know obviously Nick Morrow missed a lot of camp with his stuff
11:54Balin you know with his and so and then we've got two rookies in Joe and Eddie
12:02You know and and then obviously TB
12:05Leading the group so we got work to do
12:08But we're confident these guys confident in the coaches these guys are getting them as prepared as they can
12:14It's obviously easier to prepare them when they get back on the field so we're getting them back
12:19And I got no doubt these guys will be ready week one
12:23Kingsley last year at the cut down
12:2553 this year it was Casey to Hill you got Kingsley back
12:28But what went into that decision that Casey kind of if it was the last spot or how he kind of fits into the plan
12:33yeah, I mean Casey's done it had good career so far and you know even before he got here and
12:39another you know another tough decision there as far as how many you keep at each spot and
12:45You know there's I would say there's
12:48There's more decisions like that than not at different positions that you're deciding and and you're you're doing special teams
12:55You're doing guys that can go inside and go out. You're just trying to make sure you got enough answers
13:02When your starters go down guys that can play different spots
13:07Just all the nuances of the game
13:10Not an easy call though Matt to your to the point of your question. I would say
13:19Judge us on where we are at the start of the season in September
13:23It's not there yet. The full roster isn't entirely settled yet, but
13:28How I don't want to use the word comfortable
13:31But where are you as far as your vision of where this roster is and where you thought it might be back in May?
13:38yeah, I mean, I think we're you know you're getting through camp and
13:43We've already had a little bit of adversity with some of the injury stuff
13:48You know it's it's it's hard. We you know we feel confident in the group. We have John. You know we would have probably loved to
13:55maybe
13:57Play a little bit more of the offense, but circumstances
14:01Dictated things to be a little different as far as getting Josh and that first group out there a little bit more
14:07But you react the best you can to each situation those guys have had a lot of work
14:12And I think Sean and the coach have done a good job of getting getting them a lot of competitive
14:16One-on-one because once you get in season you kind of do the ones versus the twos and scout team stuff
14:22So we've tried to make it other competitive periods in practice to give them the best game looks you can
14:29You know you still got to be smart and as I said not lose the race before you get to the race so
14:36Are we gonna be a finished product next week? No, but hopefully
14:40We can hit the ground fast and and have a good start and then just continue to get better every time
14:46but very confident in our coaches and
14:48And the players that we have you know in this 53 ready to move forward
15:06Yeah, I think we have a good number of guys like I like the depth
15:11Similar to the linebackers we had some setbacks with guys missing most of camp
15:17you know notably Mike Edwards and
15:20Colt Bishop
15:21So trying to get those guys those guys been doing everything they can at walkthroughs meetings and everything to catch up on mental reps
15:27It's not the same
15:29But you know Damar's gotten some extra play time
15:33You know in year two off of his situation Taylor Rapp having him in year two
15:38He seems very comfortable and confident and then Cam Lewis has been kind of our Swiss army knife back there
15:45Playing all sorts of spots for us including special teams. So I love the group
15:50You know again, like I was saying on offense
15:53I would love for some of those guys to gotten some game experience that they haven't will have to do that on the fly
16:00At this point, but love the group. Hopefully we can not have any injury setbacks going forward
16:15I
16:17Think just the feel of the game
16:19especially more of a
16:21You know, it probably varies for different tight ends Ryan
16:24But I would say, you know, he's definitely more of an F and and receiving tight end for us
16:29So I'm gonna relate in the receiver world just feeling how guys are gonna play him
16:36Some of the press stuff that he probably didn't face as much in college, you know
16:40I would say he saw some of that last year
16:42he may see some more that just working on those releases what people are trying to do to him how to get off those and
16:48then just
16:49the more
16:51Comfort in the system. It helps you play faster. You're thinking less the play comes, you know
16:55The play call all that stuff just allows you to play a little faster
16:58And so I think you even saw that with Dalton if you turned on the film early in the season verse what he was doing late
17:06I mean, I thought he was really making some good plays down the stretch for us including the playoff games
17:11Against Pittsburgh and KC
17:14Much we were able to truly evaluate the wide receiver group. It's new you admitted
17:18They didn't get a lot of run with Josh in the preseason now going into the regular season. Where do you feel this new group is?
17:25Yeah, I mean it's it's definitely a different group lose losing Steph and and Gabe from last year, but like where they're at great
17:34chemistry
17:36Knowledge of the offense. They're all smart. They're interchangeable
17:39I love how they're working together and all that. We've seen more of that in practice than games as I was alluding to earlier
17:46We have to go prove it
17:47I mean I can sit here all day and say I'm confident which I am
17:50But we got to go we got to go prove it talk is talk is cheap at this point
18:02Yeah, just like I was talking about Dalton a minute ago he's in year one of that of
18:07Probably some more press how different you know
18:09He's gonna see a lot more variety of coverages and defense and and higher caliber corners
18:16all those things are gonna be new to him and so he's gonna learn on the way, but
18:21The young man is super competitive. He loves ball. He's not afraid
18:27He's working his tail off his teammates believe in him. He has fun out there
18:32He's serious
18:33I know he's funny behind the mic and stuff like that
18:36but when he's on the field you guys have been out there enough like he's working his craft and
18:41Kind of what I'd said in the spring like there's still gonna be some bumps along the road. He's a rookie playing receiver
18:48It's a big jump. And so he'll he'll have some he'll have some good games
18:52He'll have some some plays he wants back like all players, but especially rookies
18:57But I'm I'm very confident that when his numbers called, you know, he'll step up and and make the plays for us
19:04Your reserve offensive lineman a little younger, but not a whole lot of experience. What went into that decision?
19:09Well, we had Alec here last year. I
19:13Think Alex answered the bell every time we've we you know, he's he's one of those guys. He played tackle in college
19:20We've trained him in here to be center and guard and I think in an emergency could go out there if you know
19:25If disaster struck like the Miami game a couple years ago in the heat when we were running out of linemen
19:31He's just one of those a little bit Swiss army knife guys, but he's answered the bell. He brings an edge
19:37Vandermark last year when he came in and played did a good job
19:40I think Grebel, you know how you know did a really nice job in again preseason
19:46We'll have to see it, you know if and when his numbers called
19:50You know
19:52In the regular season and then said Van Praan. I thought he you know, he young guy
19:57You know rookie played a lot of varsity snaps in the SEC, which shows it's not too big for him
20:03He's still learning
20:05All the nuances to our protections ours, you know, you got to call everything
20:10you're the quarterback of that of that old line at center, but
20:13confident in those guys and and
20:16Fortunate to get some of the guys back on practice squad that we did
20:21you know will clap as well who was a
20:24Last minute release after we traded for the young man from the Jets
20:29But two receivers one wasn't here very long beyond came
20:33Had a nice game out there on Saturday
20:35Obviously made an impression on you guys to bring it back
20:37Then Justin who's been here for two years a draft pick of yours and it appears so moving on from him
20:44Yeah, I mean
20:46I'll start with Justin like Justin is a great young man. Obviously spent most year on our last year worked hard
20:53We just couldn't get him to where we needed to when when we selected him
20:57Were you know hopeful that he would be
21:01He had showed a lot of things in college that would not only translate on fourth down
21:05but just a bigger body possession red zone type receiver and
21:09Just couldn't quite get there in time with with the competition
21:13You know best man wins and and then yeah Dion short short runway still getting to know him. So still
21:20You know keeping him around just to just to be around him a little more and and and see where that goes
21:25Did a good job in the game the other day
21:29Who do we play Carolina, yeah brains running
21:41Man
21:42Got better like a lot better. You're talking about a guy that had never put a helmet on you know before
21:49late May or early June whenever that was
21:52Never played organized football never really did team sports talking to him
21:57But guy just worked his tail off Tim
22:00smart I would say
22:04Learning the nuances of the game, you know
22:06We talked about instincts and all that for a lot of times
22:10When you find out guys that took up the game later hadn't didn't grow up around it
22:14Maybe their instincts are a little further behind
22:17Thought his were pretty good to this point better than I would have expected
22:22he's an undersized guy and
22:27Physics says you wouldn't put him in there, but the wrestler background the mentality
22:33And it wasn't too big for him did some really good things, you know
22:39I'm hopeful that he will stick with this
22:42You know, we wouldn't close the door on bringing him back here at some point he made that kind of impression
22:51Yeah
22:53It's tough, you know good competition I would say
22:56We bring Ely back Ely's been here for some years really good knowledge of the system
23:03Is a run stuffer in there for that's probably at
23:09Gable size probably not
23:12his number one attribute and then we went with an undersized guy a little bit in Branson Dean, so
23:19Branson just got more experience at this point, but we are definitely not closing the door and
23:26You know, I was it was you know, we talked about these fun stories Joe Andreessen
23:32Frank Gorgia, I mean you go on and on about different stories and that's another one that
23:36Probably got lost a little bit in the shuffle of some of these other ones
23:40But to do what he did in the in the short runway that he had I was impressed
23:54Yeah, it's a shoulder he will not be able to return this year
23:58We've been rehabbing it. We were hopeful to get him ready for this last game, but still
24:03He got it early in camp and it's something that may require surgery. We are
24:09Been getting second third opinions on that but
24:13Unfortunately had to end his season, but hopeful
24:16did really good some really good stuff in the spring athletically and
24:21So we're gonna continue to work with him and and hopeful that next year. He'll have a legit shot to help us
24:31Not at this point Jay, I mean we were we've looked at all sorts of things, you know T bass I get the question
24:37I do I understand
24:40If he had a short history here
24:42Probably would have but if you look at his career, I know what's fresh in everybody's mind. I get it
24:50We're all human. What have you done for me lately and the end of the season?
24:54he'd be the first to tell you it was not the way it should go or he wanted to go but
24:59We're confident in him. His teammates are confident in him and you know, we got him the kovat year 2020
25:06He got no preseason games. It didn't like I
25:10Think we just got to relax and give him a chance and and remain confident in him and he knows
25:15I think Sean said it after the game like
25:19He doesn't need
25:20Twitter or the fans or whoever like telling them he he knows he's he's his own worst critic
25:27He works like crazy on his craft
25:31Nobody wants it more than him. Nobody's working harder and
25:35Again, we're very confident in him. Obviously, he'll have to go out there and do it though
25:41Three guys from you be all undrafted. It's kind of a pipeline here
25:45How much have you been able to be fine these guys simply because they're so close. Yeah, it helps. That's the
25:52you know, I would say locally and then just our our inside over there and then also kind of the guys to look at and
25:59The local day that we're allowed to bring, you know, the guys from UB Syracuse and used to be Penn State now, it's Pitt but
26:06getting our hands on those guys and just
26:09Being around them talking ball
26:11it's more than just a workout like we try to get them in the meeting room spend some time with them and
26:16You know, Cam Lewis's is an awesome story
26:20Jamarcus Ingram and bounced around in college and and then you know, obviously the latest and greatest is Joe
26:26So we'd love to keep that that pipeline going. I mean, that's
26:32Those aren't five-star
26:34Recruits and I think it takes all types of people to make a good team
26:38Yeah, you're gonna have some five stars, but you're gonna have the blue-collar
26:42overlooked
26:44Guys and I and I'm excited that that it's worked out that we do have three guys from UB
26:51Has Kyra had the kind of summer and spring
26:54You were hoping for him to have and where do you kind of see him at now entering this very important third season?
26:59Yeah, I'm I'm I think Kyra's done a great job
27:02I think he's I think the thing I've noticed is he's just relaxed himself
27:09you guys interview him you may even feel it like
27:12We all know you want it too bad. Like you just want it
27:16You stand over a golf ball and you just want it so bad you you you know
27:20I mean this guy the care factor is off the charts with Kyra and that's been since he was in college till when we got
27:26him
27:27And he's done some really good things. I think people look at well
27:32Did he start did he not because of the first round status?
27:36It's just the nature of the beast but you know, he's he's made some big plays for us in games a couple of postseason interceptions
27:43I think he got my homes once like he's done some good things in limited play time
27:48It's not all been perfect for him some as we said some rookie young things, but he definitely had his best camp
27:55I think he's when he's when he gets beat or has, you know made a mistake, whatever. I
28:02Think he held on to it a little more in the past
28:04I see him flushing it moving on which corner is probably the position you got to do that the most
28:10Especially at this level so very confident and Kyra, you know, whenever his number will be called we know it's gonna happen
28:31Nothing recent kind of just seeing where it goes but
28:36Love Micah and we have not closed the door on that and as far as I understand, you know
28:41I don't think Micah has either and we'll stay in touch. Love Micah
28:51Yeah, he's eager doesn't say a lot head down just
28:56As he says it yes, sir, like he's just kind of
29:00He's not gonna flinch I would say about about Dorian he's just gonna show up you want him to cover
29:07He's gonna cover you want him to run and hit you want to run down on the kickoff?
29:10Like that's just kind of his mentality
29:13Since he's been here and he's still learning young player
29:17You know his plates obviously gotten bigger since Matt's injury as we were discussing earlier
29:23But he's not gonna flinch and I'm excited for the expanded opportunity for him. You know, I know he's
29:31He'd be the last person to want something to happen to Matt
29:34But at the same time knows hey, it's an opportunity for me to show what I can do and help this team
29:39Thank you