(Editor's note: This preview was updated on Monday after running back Nyheim Hines was lost for the season due to a knee injury.)
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills open 2023 NFL training camp Wednesday at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, New York. Here’s a closer look at a few storylines:
Biggest question: Will the offense step forward in Year 2 under Ken Dorsey?
In the second half of last season, the Bills' offense was inconsistent in Ken Dorsey’s first season as coordinator, and quarterback Josh Allen led the league in regular-season turnovers (19). Going into 2023, the front office addressed some of the offensive issues by adding to all of the skill positions and the interior of the offensive line.
The lingering question is if those additions are enough, especially at wide receiver, where teams effectively took away No. 1 receiver Stefon Diggs in the second half of the season, and the offense not doing enough to respond, which appeared to lead to some lingering frustration. Allen has also said this offseason that he understands he needs to adjust his own game to avoid turnovers and to stay as healthy as possible, including by making better decisions on when to take hits.
The most compelling position battle: No. 2 cornerback
This could easily go to the middle linebacker position, which will have all eyes on it to see who takes over the open role that Tremaine Edmunds left behind. But for yet another year, the Bills have a battle to watch at outside corner. Tre’Davious White is now healthy going into camp and has the No. 1 job, but the role opposite him is open for the taking. Despite playing better toward the end of his rookie year, 2022 first-round pick Kaiir Elam has not done enough to secure the role and will be competing with the likes of Dane Jackson and fellow second-year player Christian Benford.
Fiercest fantasy-relevant battle: Running backs
It’s not necessarily as clear of a battle as cornerback, in terms of earning a starting role, as second-year back James Cook is the leader in that category. However, how exactly the workload is shared among the backs on the roster will be key to watch for fantasy purposes. The Bills brought in Damien Harris and Latavius Murray this offseason as options to improve how the team attacks short-yardage situations. But they also lost Nyheim Hines before camp even began to a knee injury, leaving the team without another obvious pass-catching back besides Cook. Adding to the room is on the table before the season.
With Cook in line to see an increase in production from last season (110 touches), how the rest of the room shakes out in terms of the 53-man roster and playing time will be telling to see if they can be relied on for fantasy purposes.
The player with the most to prove: Gabe Davis, WR
Davis is entering the final year of his rookie deal and coming off a season that included dealing with an ankle injury that he suffered in practice before Week 2. He put up career-high numbers in 2022, including 48 receptions for 836 receiving yards, but he caught only 51.6% of his targets (the highest percentage of his career) and had the fourth-highest drop percentage in the NFL last season (9.7%).
Davis is also important to the offense as a run blocker, and while the team added to the receiver and tight end rooms this offseason, they did not add a clear No. 2, giving Davis another opportunity to show what he can do in that role. General manager Brandon Beane has spoken highly of Davis and his work ethic in the past, and he’ll have a chance to continue to show what he can do in a contract year.
Moments to watch in camp: Von Miller’s injury timeline and Damar Hamlin’s progress
Overall, the Bills roster doesn’t have a tremendous amount of questions going into the 2023 season. However, there will be a couple of players whose statuses will be important storylines throughout camp. Miller is continuing his journey back from a right ACL injury suffered on Thanksgiving that carried a recovery timeline of about nine months. The always optimistic pass-rusher said he is shooting to return for Week 1, but his health will be prioritized with an emphasis on the long haul of the season, not rushing him back.
Hamlin returned to fully participating during offseason work and is in line to participate in his first practices with contact since suffering cardiac arrest on Jan. 2. The Bills have continued to say they will take things with the safety one day at a time.