Bills Offseason Update: Week of July 27

Opening

Buffalo Bills training camp kicked into gear this week at St. John Fisher University, and the vibes across Western New York are trending in the right direction. Between a budding quarterback-receiver connection, a healthy return at kicker, and some franchise history teased for the holidays, it was a busy seven days both on the practice fields in Pittsford and outside the walls of the brand-new Highmark Stadium.

Top Stories

Josh Allen and DJ Moore Are Already Cooking

The headline out of camp's opening days has been the rapid development between Josh Allen and new No. 1 receiver DJ Moore. Through the first two days of training camp at St. John Fisher University, the rapidly developing connection between Allen and Moore has stood out above every other storyline. The pair has traded some rocky reps for highlight-reel plays, including a strike from Allen in stride over the middle of the field that Moore caught and raced past the defense for a touchdown.

What's made the story so compelling is Allen's own admission of the process. Allen had missed Moore twice on Day 1, once in quarterback-receiver drills and once in seven-on-seven, later saying, "I feel myself trying to be perfect when I'm throwing him in some of the routes." After that, Allen told Moore, "I'm just going to throw it. I'm going to pick a spot and let it go." The results have followed — even at 29 years old, the 2018 first-round pick has shown elite movement that translates into game-breaking ability, exuding WR1 vibes with two sliding receptions in his first official camp practice.

Tyler Bass Declares Himself Ready to Kick

After missing the entirety of the 2025 season, Tyler Bass addressed the media for the first time since last fall. Speaking to reporters Thursday following practice at St. John Fisher University, Bass said he is healthy and prepared this offseason to be the Bills' kicker in 2026. The 29-year-old also revealed a jersey number change, bringing with him a new number after relinquishing his "2" jersey to wide receiver DJ Moore. Bass explained the rehab process took patience, noting it probably took a few months before he started kicking, working from 20-yarders and 10-yarders before it wasn't until midway through OTAs that he started really feeling like himself again.

Red Helmets Officially Coming Back

Bills fans clamoring for the franchise's beloved throwback look got good news this week. A video by reporter Matt Bové revealed that the Buffalo Bills are expected to bring back the franchise's storied red helmets during the 2026 NFL season. Signs point toward the return coming for the team's Christmas Day game, a 4:30 p.m. EST road contest against the Denver Broncos. The reveal comes on the heels of a lukewarm reaction to the club's new "Nickel City" alternate uniform, which pairs a nickel-gray look with a new helmet that has a blue base color with the Bills' red-colored "charge" portion of their logo on the side.

Quick Hits

• Bison Statues Come to Life: Crews at the new Highmark Stadium tested the smoke and various lighting configurations for the stainless steel bison statues installed outside the venue on July 28, giving fans their first glimpse of the Family Circle's signature nighttime display.
• Camp Officially Underway: Veterans reported to St. John Fisher University to begin the 2026 training camp, marking the first steps toward the Bills' latest Super Bowl push.
• New Alternate Threads: Buffalo's "Nickel City" uniforms have divided the fanbase, with some fans on social media reacting that they'd rather see the red helmets instead of the new gray look.

Roster Watch

The Bills made a pair of notable roster moves this week. Defensive lineman Michael Hoecht returned to full participation in drills Thursday as he works his way back from an Achilles injury , a significant step for Buffalo's pass rush depth heading into the season.

At wide receiver, the club moved quickly to fill a vacancy. With the team already losing wide receiver Tyrell Shavers to the Active/PUP list, the Bills waived Jalen Virgil with a non-football injury designation and hosted several receivers for tryouts, ultimately signing Dante Pettis after Thursday's session.

Pettis, 30, brings eight years of NFL experience with four different teams and has recorded 92 receptions for 1,231 yards and 13 touchdowns across 66 games in his career, with added value as a returner in the punt and kick game.

Looking Ahead

As camp rolls on into next week, all eyes remain on the Allen-Moore chemistry as it's tested against increasingly complex looks from Buffalo's defense. Bass's leg will continue to be monitored closely in team drills, with padded practices offering a clearer picture of his readiness. Fans should also watch for further clarity on the red helmets' official unveiling, along with continued roster churn as the Bills round out their receiver and defensive line depth ahead of the preseason opener.