Joint practices often come with fireworks, as the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys proved — and were punished for.
Thursday’s joint practice between the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns in Berea, Ohio, was feisty but won’t result in any fines. There was still plenty to discuss.
The Athletic’s Bills writer Joe Buscaglia and Browns writer Zac Jackson teamed up to break down the practice, including their overall impressions, biggest surprises, standout performers and what they’re looking forward to in Saturday’s preseason game between the teams.
Overall thoughts from practice on the team you cover?
Jackson: The Browns probably mostly feel good about their day of work. It was a much-needed day of punching way up from their current weight class and just getting full-speed reps. For a lot of the Browns’ starters, it might end up being the only time all month they face another team’s best lineup. The lower body injury suffered by defensive end Alex Wright appeared to be significant, and the defensive line has already been hit hard by injuries. The defense didn’t have a good day overall, which happens against that Josh Allen guy. But the Browns — who are miles from respectability in the bigger picture — represented themselves fairly well from my point of view.
Buscaglia: I think the Bills were looking at this as their best opportunity to get work that simulates the regular season as best as possible, without putting Allen at risk of taking unnecessary contact. Especially with how many times the quarterback dealt with contact in their preseason opener, a more controlled environment was a welcomed change against another team. But it was also a chance to see how this version of the Bills would operate in a new setting under new head coach Joe Brady. Because it was against the Browns, who are a long way away from where the Bills have been as a perennial Super Bowl contender, there could have been some temptation to not take it as seriously as the Browns. The Bills, and Brady, passed that test as they played with energy and for the most part, pretty well on both sides of the ball.
Who was Thursday’s practice MVP for the team you cover, and why?
Jackson: KC Concepcion. The rookie wide receiver had the day’s two longest catches, and both were similar to the kinds of catches he’s been making over the course of camp. Concepcion and fellow rookie wide receiver Denzel Boston have juice the Browns just haven’t had at the position the last couple seasons, and both are off to strong starts. Concepcion shows both savvy and fearlessness going over the middle, traits that not every rookie wide receiver has – or wants to even try to put on display. He’s going to be a focal point of the offense when the season begins.
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Buscaglia: I know, it’s boring, but Allen was outstanding for most of the practice and he got plenty of work — possibly the most team drill work he’s had all summer. Allen received six different sets of 11-on-11 reps throughout the practice and shined in his accuracy and decision making. Of all the things Allen will face in the buildup to the regular season, I’d argue today was his most difficult test. For one, the Browns defense is a very respectable unit even without Myles Garrett around anymore, and because it’s a practice setting rather than a preseason game, they were more apt to try different pressure packages than they would on Saturday. And two, the Bills were without four of their top nine receivers, as Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, rookie Skyler Bell and Dante Pettis all sat. Allen had a rotating cast of characters at receiver all practice, including some who won’t make the 53-man roster, and still had a highly effective day. If I had to guess, Allen did more than enough to warrant getting to rest during Saturday night’s preseason game.
What or who impressed you most about the opposing team?
Jackson: Allen throws rockets, the kind rarely seen on these Northeast Ohio practice fields the last several years (or decades). The Bills have a massive and experienced offensive line, too, and the tempo at which the whole offensive group operates demonstrates the difference between a real AFC contender and team still trying to find itself such as the Browns. The Buffalo secondary was feisty and competitive, too, which made for good work for the young Cleveland receiving corps. The Browns have a totally new offensive line and didn’t have starting running back Quinshon Judkins, but still had some good moments through multiple offensive drills.
Buscaglia: This is an easy answer: rookie wide receiver Denzel Boston. I was most interested to see how the Bills younger cornerbacks, Maxwell Hairston and Davison Igbinosun, would fare against someone who has drawn rave reviews so far through camp. Boston mostly got the better of those matchups, with Hairston taking the worse of it despite one solid pass break up near the end of practice. Boston even won his one-on-one against Bills top cornerback Christian Benford on a third-and-2, where Boston released off the line and got a step on Benford with an inside slant for an 8-yard gain to extend the drive. It was only one day for us seeing him, but the hype on Boston seemed warranted today.
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What was the most revealing or memorable matchup or sequence from practice?
Jackson: Boston’s wins in the two-minute drill were important for the young receiver’s growing confidence. Earlier in practice, Igbinosun had celebrated a pass breakup against Boston before the back judge threw the flag and awarded the Browns a first down. The Bills’ sideline was openly mocking both Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson for throwing too many checkdowns early in practice, but the Browns ended up having as much success in the intermediate pass game as they’ve had in any session all summer.
Buscaglia: I found it interesting that, during special teams drills, the Bills had their entire roster on their sideline with an emphasis on being as vocal as possible to increase the energy. Usually in special teams drills, the Bills will send all their non-essential special team players off to another part of the field to get some individual work in, but that wasn’t the case Thursday. The Browns had all of their non special teams players off elsewhere. But for the Bills, everyone including Josh Allen, was right there and heavily invested. That, plus nickel corner Jordan Hancock’s interception of Watson with nowhere in the general vicinity showed the very large difference between what the Bills have under center and what the Browns are dealing with in 2026.
Which player or players have the most to prove in Saturday’s preseason game?
Jackson: This is complicated — as most things involving the perpetual Browns quarterback carousel are. If coach Todd Monken hasn’t made up his mind, then Sanders gets one last chance to compete and make an impression. Because Monken probably has decided to go with Watson in a decision the first-year coach will surely regret sooner than later, then you have to look towards second-year players like running back Rocket Sanders and wide receiver Isaiah Bond as Saturday’s spotlight players. Monken repeated after practice that his Saturday plans haven’t changed: Sanders gets the first half and Watson will play the third quarter, though none of the team’s older starters will play (and the others won’t play much).
Buscaglia: I think it’s the Bills young defensive linemen who are fighting for playing time and for some, a spot on the 53-man roster. With starter Ed Oliver sitting out of Thursday’s practice, that means it’s quite likely he won’t play on Saturday either. Especially against a Browns offense still trying to find its way, the group of recent young draft investments that includes TJ Sanders (2025 second round), Landon Jackson (2025 third round), DeWayne Carter (2024 third round) and Zane Durant (2026 fifth round) is likely to get a bunch of time. It’s an especially imporatnt day for Sanders and Carter. Sanders didn’t play in the first half of the first preseason game, and is trying to hang onto his starting job in base defense ahead of Jackson. Carter is the Bills’ primary backup nose tackle to starter Deone Walker, though the Bills went out and signed free agent Greg Gaines this week for even more competition, and it at least makes you wonder if Carter is in jeopardy of not making the 53-man roster. Both Sanders and Carter need good days Saturday.
