Latest news with #MitchTrubisky
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Bears QB Mitch Trubisky shares advice for Caleb Williams
The Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills shared a joint practice on Friday ahead of their preseason matchup on Sunday. All eyes during training camp have been on quarterback Caleb Williams as he hopes to improve from an up-and-down rookie season. Chicago also saw a familiar face in Bills backup quarterback -- and former Bears' No. 2 overall pick -- Mitch Trubisky, who led Chicago to wild-card playoff appearances in 2018 and 2020, losing both games. The Bears' 2018 wild-card loss concluded Trubisky's lone Pro Bowl season of his career, where he threw for 3,223 yards, 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Trubisky's 2020 wild-card loss to the New Orleans Saints marked his final game as a Bear. Following Friday's practice, Trubisky shared some words of wisdom with Williams through a post-practice media scrum. He reminisced on his four years quarterbacking the Bears but said he wished he "had it longer" and followed by suggesting Williams "take it in [and] enjoy the process." "All eyes are on you in this city," Trubisky said. "It's really a privilege and there's a lot of pressure that comes with that ... I miss that and it's a lot of fun to be the franchise guy especially in a city like this. I would just say to have fun with it and enjoy the process." Trubisky also reminisced about his emotions leading the Bears' offense from 2017-20, saying he did it enjoy it in the moment, but now wishes he enjoyed it "a little it more." "Not regret but I think just perspective now that I'm older," Trubisky said. Williams, among other Bears' starters, will make his debut under new head coach Ben Johnson on Sunday against Buffalo. Meanwhile, Trubisky is expected to see ample playing time as QB2 for the Bills. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Former Bears QB Mitch Trubisky shares advice for Caleb Williams
Yahoo
12-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
4 observations, players who stood out in Bills preseason loss to Giants
ORCHARD PARK - The battle to become Josh Allen's backup got off to a spirited start Saturday afternoon during the Buffalo Bills' preseason-opening 34-25 loss to the New York Giants. Mitch Trubisky and Mike White each made solid opening statements as they begin to state their cases for the job, and it certainly looks like this will end up being one of the tougher decisions Sean McDermott and his coaching staff will have to make later this month when the roster is cut to 53. Trubisky got the start in what was the final exhibition game in the history of 53-year-old Highmark Stadium and he played the entire first half and produced scoring drives of 65 and 68 yards resulting in 10 points. 'It was great to get some reps with the ones, build some chemistry with them,' Trubisky said. 'I just thought our communication in the huddle was solid. Just wanted to start a little faster and be better on third down.' The highlight came with four seconds left in the second quarter when he delivered a perfect deep ball down the middle of the field to Tyrell Shavers for a 58-yard gain that set up a Caden Davis field goal. Trubisky finished 9 of 13 for 138 yards and also threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Dawson Knox. 'I thought he got a good jump and a good release,' Trubisky said. 'He got up behind the safety and I just threw the ball up to him and he made a play. We were able to get points before half, ended up with a field goal. I thought it was going to be a touchdown so I was like kind of celebrating and walking away looking kind of silly. But it was fun to be out there with those guys.' White took over at the start of the third quarter and after nearly throwing an interception on his first attempt and going three-and-out, he quickly picked things up as he produced two touchdown drives which briefly gave the Bills a 25-24 lead in the fourth quarter. The first score came when he hit KJ Hamler for a 39-yard strike on a fourth-and-4 play, and then in the fourth, he found Darrynton Evans for a seven-yard TD and then followed with a two-point conversion pass to Laviska Shenault. White finished 8 of 13 for 112 yards, and he was also hurt by a couple drops. 'Yeah, it started off obviously not how you want it to, it was kind of hard to get a completion there at first, but I think everybody settled down, had some fun, and we caught fire,' he said. 'We ended up moving the ball down the field, scoring two touchdowns, and getting a two-point. It was fun. I think it finished well.' Here are some of my other observations: Sean McDermott wants James Cook back It was pretty clear that the coach is getting irritated by the running back's continued absence. Cook has skipped the last four practices in protest over his lack of a contract extension, and while he showed up Saturday, got into his uniform and took part in the pre-game warmup, he had no intention of playing. 'James and I had a good conversation (Friday),' McDermott said. 'We talked about warming up. He agreed to warm up but not play due to his situation right now. So that's where we're at, so no change really overall.' When asked to elaborate, McDermott said, 'We wanted him to play. I wanted him to play, but I don't really want to go into it any further. There's really no change at this point in time, what it was going into this weekend and the game today. So he warmed up, like I said, but at this point, due to his situation and the position he's in, was not willing to play.' Asked if he expects Cook to return to practice this week, McDermott said, 'Yeah, again, let's just move on. We can talk about the guys who played. I think that's the right thing to do and a fair thing to do right now. So James' situation is James' situation, and let's talk about the team.' Tyrell Shavers is going to be tough to cut The Bills have a numbers crunch at wide receiver, and barring injuries, it's easy to project the top five being pretty much locked in with Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, Josh Palmer, Elijah Moore and Curtis Samuel. I include Samuel, who has pretty much done nothing since signing with Buffalo as a free agent before 2024 and has missed the entire training camp with yet another injury, only because his dead salary cap hit is an ugly $12 million so yeah, they're stuck with him. Which is a dilemma when it comes to Shavers. He has made a case for being the best receiver on the team this summer. At Fisher he was making plays all over the field, and then Saturday he made the big play late in the first half, and he also had a 12-yard reception and played a few snaps on special teams. 'We had quarters coverage, we had a post route call,' Shavers said of the 58-yarder. 'You get your chops when you get quarters coverage on a post route. So just made sure I was running, getting to my spot to where the quarterback was going to be. Actually, you don't really see the post-route much on quarters, but I made sure I was running so I knew I could get the ball.' The Bills are looking at Shenault as a possible kickoff return man, and if he excels, he might be first in line to get a sixth receiver spot, if the Bills decide to keep six. But Shavers, who has been with the Bills since 2023, has opened plenty of eyes. He spent most of last year on the practice squad, but the more tape he puts out, the better chance he'd have of getting signed elsewhere if the Bills cut him. 'It hurt, obviously,' he said of not making the final roster in 2024. 'That's the one goal I had, still the same goal that I have now. I don't really try too much to think about it. I'm on to this year now, I'm just trying to be better than I was last year. Maybe that will get me to where I'm trying to go.' Ray Davis made his one extra point With Tyler Bass still sidelined by a pelvic injury, the Bills had to sign kicker Caden Davis this week. However, McDermott did say that he wanted to give running back Ray Davis a chance to kick extra points because during the season, he may be called on to be an emergency kicker. 'I think it's good for Ray to get a little bit of as an emergency kicker during the season, to get maybe a little small warm-up or maybe an extra point. See if we can score and get an extra points there for him,' McDermott said Thursday. Davis made two of three kicks last week in the Blue and Red practice at Highmark, and after the Bills' first TD Saturday, McDermott sent him out to kick and he line-drived it through the uprights. 'We've been on the other side of it where a team has lost their kicker, I think it was in pre-game warmups a few years back, so you kind of make a mental note of that,' McDermott said. 'What if it happened to us, with T-Bass out, even though we signed a kicker, I wanted to see what it would look like. 'It's different doing it in practice. We've always practiced it, but the transition, right, the pit stop, we score, Ray is on the sideline, they're hitting his lug nut in the pit stop with the (drill noise). We're getting the shoe off and getting the other shoe on. I think coach Tabor may have tied his shoe for him. I'm not sure, but it was a really good pit stop, and then the execution, so really cool to watch.' McDermott did say that this will be it for Davis because he doesn't want to risk him getting hurt. 'Now we're a little bit tested at least,' he said. 'I don't plan on doing it again this preseason. I think once is enough. I don't want him to pull a hamstring or whatever trying to kick an extra point or a field goal, but it was good for us to do it.' Bills vs Giants extra points Trubisky made a nice escape of a sack and found Josh Palmer for a nine-yard gain; Davis was ineffective as a runner with four carries for seven yards, but Ty Johnson popped with three carries for 26 yards; DT Ed Oliver, who McDermott was praising the other day, had a nice stop for a short gain on a run play; LB Matt Milano didn't play long, but he looked fast and instinctive as usual and was credited with three tackles; CB Tre'Davious White was targeted a few times while he was out there and he missed a tackle on one completion, and got beat by Wan'Dale Robinson for an 11-yard gain; Rookie DT TJ Sanders teamed up for a pressure with Jordan Hancock who came on a blitz, causing a Jameis Winston incompletion; DE Michael Hoecht had a pass deflection that nearly became an interception by Joe Andreessen. Andreessen had a nice game otherwise with five tackles. C Jacob Bayer cost the Bills a chance at a late victory when he sailed a shotgun snap over the head of Shane Buechele and the Giants recovered at the Buffalo 14 and scored the clinching TD three plays later; CB Daequan Hardy suffered a shoulder injury and did not return to the game. Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for four decades including 35 years as the full-time beat writer for the D&C, he has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at maiorana@ and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @ This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills preseason: 4 things we learned in loss to New York Giants
Yahoo
11-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Takeaways from Bills' preseason loss to Giants
Though All-22 analysis isn't yet available, leveraging social media for good allows us to look back at Buffalo's Week 1 preseason loss The preseason wounds are still fresh following the Buffalo Bills' 34-25 home loss to the New York Giants. If you weren't able or interested in giving the game your attention, first understand that NFL MVP quarterback Josh Allen didn't take a snap on Saturday afternoon. It was the Mitch Trubisky show, with head coach Sean McDermott and offensive coordinator anxious to see how QB11 did with (most of) the team's starting offense. Bills searching for QB answer behind Josh Allen By all accounts, Trubisky performed well, finishing 9-of-13 for 138 yards with one passing touchdown. Though he wasn't credited with any rushing stats, Trubisky did show off a bit of behind-the-line / pocket mobility a fair amount of Bills Mafia had never seen before. The quarterback battle holds heat only as far as the idea of QB2 behind Allen gets a person. Regardless of who's available and rostered behind the reigning MVP, things are going to play out much different than is ideal. Did anyone else in the room make noise to rattle Trubisky's chances at the role? Mike White may hold some sway in the argument, with him finishing 8-of-13 for 112 yards and two passing touchdowns. As for Shane Buechele, he went a perfect 8-of-8 for 89 yards. Remember, Trubisky's efforts came against a very talented group of starting Giants defenders. All told, Bills quarterbacks went a combined 25-of-34 for 339 yards, with three touchdowns. Three Bills questions entering 2025 season Since exiting the playoffs once again at the hands (and feet) of the Kansas City Chiefs, three things stood out with Bills Mafia: Buffalo must figure out their defensive line woes; the Bills need a more potent group of pass catchers; what will the team do about James Cook, and why isn't he on the field when they need him most? With those three ideas in mind, let's take a look back at more of what went down in Orchard Park, NY on Saturday. Bills DL additions making early impact Regarding the defensive line, general manager Brandon Beane once again made a concerted effort to overhaul the unit where it was most observably deficient. Gone now is edge rusher Von Miller, replaced, in part, by edge rusher Joey Bosa. But also by other significant additions such as defensive end Michael Hoecht and rookie edge rusher Landon Jackson. How did that trio perform? Bosa didn't record an official stat, but he did have a couple pressures and he looked dominant in the early going. Hoecht had one tackle, and Jackson appeared to struggle in his first live action, receiving a penalty that negated a would-be-turnover. That said, it's too challenging to get a true read on these guys simply because of their limited time on the field, their relative newness to the team and, in the case of Jackson, seeing his first action as a rookie. It's best for the Bills if Bosa stays healthy early in the season, given Hoecht's six-game suspension and Jackson's wet-behind-the-ears status. Bills rookie DTs have promising debut against Giants Beane also made a series of moves at defensive tackle despite the presence of Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones. Buffalo drafted a pair of defensive tackles in T.J. Sanders and Deone Walker, and both rookies stole the show. The future looks bright for the interior of the Bills' d-line. Deone Walker is going to be a problem: T.J. Sanders also joined the party, but just a moment too late against what was an incredibly quick throw by Dart: Plenty of passes, lots to dissect Looking at the pass catchers, from receivers wide and otherwise, to tight ends and running backs, well… there's promise all around, but plenty of opportunity to redirect and improve on. A combined 18 players were targeted on Saturday, with 17 catching at least one pass. That's more revealing of the evaluation process than any game plan (a plan that's fully absent, per McDermott). Who fared best? That's a nuanced discussion since one must consider something Bruce Nolan is quick to remind: It's who plays, and when, that matters most in the preseason. With wide receivers Khalil Shakir and Curtis Samuel both sidelined against the Giants, there was room for others to shine as starters. It was a mixed bag, honestly. Let's dive in… Arrow Up, Arrow Down: WRs Arrow down: Keon Coleman did catch his only target, but it went for zero yards. He was involved in 14 offensive plays in three drives with the starters. For now, let's chalk this up to a lack of chemistry with Trubisky. Arrow up: Joshua Palmer seemed to have the most chemistry with Trubisky, grabbing two of three targets sent his way for 21 yards. Palmer's work with Allen has been highlighted often this summer. Arrow steady: Elijah Moore (no recorded stats) would have likely had a much better afternoon if Trubisky saw him open in the first half. Watch 18 here, and just imagine Josh Allen working through his reads: Arrow up: Tyrell Shavers put together a fantastic afternoon, catching 2-of-4 passes for 70 yards. It may be difficult keeping him off the 53-man roster. Here's his 58-yard reception that would have been a touchdown with a better throw: Arrow up: K.J. Hamler (of 'Hard Knock' scooter fame) only caught one pass, but what a moment it was for Hamler — a 39-yard touchdown pass from Mike White in the third quarter: Arrow Up, Arrow Down: TEs Buffalo's tight ends had a solid, if mostly unmemorable day — even with a touchdown grab in the picture. Dawson Knox ran two routes on five snaps played, catching his only target for 11 yards and a score. Dalton Kincaid played four snaps, running three routes and catching his only target for 10 yards. Zach Davidson Arrow up: Tight end Dawson Knox doing what he does best, catching touchdowns. Try as many wish the Bills might, Buffalo has a reliable end zone receiver in Knox and it would be foolish to hide him on the bench in critical scoring moments: Arrow down: The biggest concern with Dalton Kincaid right now is how and when he's used. Knox appears to be the go-to over Kincaid — with the younger 'DK' seeing a 50% snap share and 60% route participation rate per Pro Football Focus. It isn't that Kincaid lacks for ability with the Bills. It's that offensive coordinator Joe Brady has yet to scheme more for Kincaid's involvement as a receiver. But don't overreact yet: His latest stats came during preseason play. Arrow steady: Jackson Hawes and Zach Davidson. Hawes flashed as a run blocker, which may bode well for him during final roster decisions. How, for Davidson, if he didn't manage to catch his only target? Davidson made a heck of a play to knock a near-certain interception away. Davidson brings a lot to the table as a third tight end, and one long incomplete pass shouldn't change that situation. This may be an unpopular opinion, I understand. View Link Arrow steady: Offensive roster depth. No one targeted by Buechele dropped a pass, which means that for as impressive as running back Frank Gore Jr.'s five-for-five for 50 yards effort looks and rookie wide receiver Stephen Gosnell's four-for-four for 30 yards performance, they came while playing late in action with the third-string quarterback. LB Matt Milano playing throwback football If you haven't heard it yet this summer, linebacker Matt Milano looks like his old, healthy self again. DB Jordan Hancock continues turning heads Plenty of people have noticed the play by rookie defensive back Jordan Hancock, including that of his head coach, who said: 'There are certain players you could feel showed up… Jordan being one of them,' per Ryan Talbot. Keep an eye on number 37. What's the Bills' plan at RB? Like anything in life, opinions are divided on what the Bills should about running back James Cook. He's the team's second-best offensive weapon beyond Josh Allen, and he wants to be paid well. None of that's news to those following the team. With Cook warming up on Saturday but not playing, it's anyone's guess as to when and how things will sort out for 2025 and beyond. Immediately, that opened things up a bit for Ray Davis, Ty Johnson, Darrynton Evans, and Frank Gore Jr. to see more playing time. How'd they fare? Ray Davis got the start, rushing four times for seven yards / one catch (two targets) for seven yards / one successful XP; Ty Johnson carried the ball three times for 26 yards; Darrynton Evans had two runs for four yards / two catches (two targets) for 14 yards and one touchdown; Frank Gore Jr. — five carries for 21 yards / five catches (five targets) for 50 yards. On the surface, it would seem that Gore had the most productive day outside the end zone, with Evans the only back to hit pay dirt. Ray Davis posted the most underwhelming stats, but did so against the Giants' starters. For some reason, Ty Johnson wasn't targeted in the passing game. Right now, the Bills' running back room has the feel of 'solid, not spectacular.' Cook has proven capable of taking this team to the next level, with the rest of the room showing best in relief. That's not a knock among any of Davis, Johnson, Evans, or Gore. It's just that Buffalo would be wise to see that they don't lose a premiere player at a position too often underappreciated. That caveat about this being preseason football also rears its head again, certainly. Will Cook find reason to hold-in once the games count and sizeable checks are subtracted from his salary? Who and what else stood out? Sound off in the comments!
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Josh Allen Making An Impact at Buffalo Bills OTAs Despite Absence
Josh Allen Making An Impact at Buffalo Bills OTAs Despite Absence originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Josh Allen has had a killer past few months. First, Allen was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player - his first. Allen also tied the knot with his longtime superstar fiancé Hailee Steinfeld over the weekend. Advertisement Allen did not appear on Tuesday for the Bills' Phase 3 practice. It's unknown if Allen and Steinfeld are off on their honeymoon - that would obviously make sense - but the assumption is that the reigning MVP will be back in Orchard Park for mandatory minicamp June 10-12. As for Allen's teammates that were present at the California wedding, everybody seemed to be in attendance at practice despite Allen's absence, including backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who filled in as QB1 for practice. Trubisky, practice squad quarterback Shane Buechele, tight end Dawson Knox, right tackle Spencer Brown and left tackle Dion Dawkins were all spotted at both Allen's wedding and Bills' practice. Allen's impact was still felt on the team, despite his absence, according to offensive coordinator Joe Brady. Advertisement "What I love about Josh is his demeanor, his approach, his mindset — it is as impressive as it gets and it's infectious around the team," said Brady. Despite being named as the most valuable player in the NFL and inking a $330 million contract, Brady has not noticed a change in Allen's approach or demeanor. "When he walks in the building, you don't feel a guy that just won the MVP last year," said Brady. "You feel a guy that's hungry and is trying to figure out ways to get better. Embracing his new teammates and trying to get them on the same page as him. It's impressive." When Allen is present, he effectively acts as an additional coach on the Bills' staff while setting records on the field. Advertisement "Year after year, I'm having to do a little less because he's doing more. That's what's impressive about him as a leader," said Brady. Allen is the only man in NFL history to total 40+ touchdowns in five consecutive seasons, and he's hoping to reproduce that mark for a sixth consecutive season in 2025, but, more importantly, Allen wants to bring the Lombardi Trophy to Buffalo. Related: Bills Signing Josh Allen to New $330 Million Contract About To Pay Off Related: Bills' Josh Allen And Hailee Steinfeld Wedding Guest List Revealed This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
24-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL Draft 2025 first-round grades: Live grades for every pick
NFL Draft 2025 first-round grades: Live grades for every pick Finally, finally, finally: It's NFL Draft time. The NFL calendar has three flagship days: the opening day of the regular season, Super Bowl Sunday and, of course, the first night of the NFL Draft. After a long (and, at times, silly) grind of an offseason, we have finally reached the first round of the NFL Draft. Dearest readers, let us rejoice. The 2025 NFL Draft is finally here. 2025 NFL DRAFT: Every team's biggest needs, from the Titans to the Eagles The NFL Draft is unique because it is effectively a sale of hope. It is football fans' official respite that things might, one day, be different for their teams. Nothing sells optimism quite like a young, doe-eyed prospect with the potential to take over a game. Grading these respective NFL Draft selections is by no means an exact science. A great or poor grade is nowhere close to a referendum on someone's capacity at the highest level of this sport. With all of that said, we come from an informed place with our first-round grades. They are our best estimate of a prospect's talent, fit with their new team and whether someone might have 'reached' a bit too much. We will hit a few home runs. We will also inevitably strike out in an embarrassing fashion. Full stop. NFL DRAFT BUSTS: Every NFL team's worst first-round pick (from Ryan Leaf to Mitch Trubisky) In the end, know that we come from a good place with each and every grade below. Live 2025 NFL Draft grades: First round No. 1 Tennessee Titans: No. 2 Cleveland Browns: No. 3 New York Giants: No. 4 New England Patriots: No. 5 Jacksonville Jaguars: No. 6 Las Vegas Raiders: No. 7 New York Jets: No. 8 Carolina Panthers: No. 9 New Orleans Saints: No. 10 Chicago Bears: No. 11 San Francisco 49ers: No. 12 Dallas Cowboys: No. 13 Miami Dolphins: No. 14 Indianapolis Colts: No. 15 Atlanta Falcons: No. 16 Arizona Cardinals: No. 17 Cincinnati Bengals: No. 18 Seattle Seahawks: No. 19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: No. 20 Denver Broncos: No. 21 Pittsburgh Steelers: No. 22 Los Angeles Chargers: No. 23 Green Bay Packers: No. 24 Minnesota Vikings: No. 25 Houston Texans: No. 26 Los Angeles Rams: No. 27 Baltimore Ravens: No. 28 Detroit Lions: No. 29 Washington Commanders: No. 30 Buffalo Bills: No. 31 Kansas City Chiefs: No. 32 Philadelphia Eagles: How to watch the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft is set for Thursday at 8 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network, along with streaming options, including ESPN+, YouTube TV, Fubo TV and more.
