PITTSFORD — The sun beat down and temperatures pushed 90 degrees with no reprieve. The last thing Curtis Samuel wanted as he walked around the field after practice was a milkshake.
But Samuel was drinking the milkshake so he could be on the practice field in the first place. He wasn’t on the field enough during his first season with the Buffalo Bills last year.
Samuel never suffered a serious injury last year, but piled small ones that limited his practice time here and there, along with three games. It started with turf toe during training camp, then a shoulder injury and a rib — Samuel appeared on the injury report at least once in 13 weeks with four different ailments, with a “limited” designation in 20 practices.
Although Samuel never complained or blamed injuries — he still won’t — it all clearly led to a diminished role in the offense after signing a three-year, $24 million contract during free agency. Samuel was fourth among receivers in snaps (378), fourth in receptions (31) and ninth in yards (253).
“A little bit, somewhat,” Samuel told GNN Sports when asked if injuries halted his momentum in 2024. “But I just took a different approach, forget about last year and just come in with a different mindset of ‘what do I have to do to be available?’”
Samuel appeared healthier later in the season and caught a pair of touchdown passes during the playoffs. But he wanted a different approach to start training camp, one designed to keep him healthy and stay away from nagging injuries.
And it starts with something as simple as eating breakfast every day. Samuel doesn’t like to eat breakfast and doesn’t want to eat breakfast, but he’s started doing it because it was a vital part of keeping his body in the condition he desired.
“It’s hard for me to eat breakfast,” Samuel said. “But it’s so important that I’ve got to put everything else before me pretty much and be like, ‘How can I be of help to this team?’ So I just start shoveling food down my mouth.”
So far it seems to be paying off. Samuel made four catches during the second training camp practice Thursday, including a diving grab that Josh Allen may have intended to go to Keon Coleman.
Samuel says nothing specific is bothering him now, but he still doesn’t feel completely 100%, although he’s getting close. Samuel is due $9.065 million — most among Buffalo receivers and eighth on the team overall — this year and he’s had a minimum of 54 catches in the seasons he’s played at least 15 games, but that’s happened just four times in eight years.
“We’re getting there,” Samuel said. “I’ve got to continue stacking days, keep working. I just wake up early in the morning and try to do something to better my game and better myself.”
Notes
Right tackle Spencer Brown (back), tight end Dawson Knox (hamstring), wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (lower leg strain) and center Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (calf) did not practice for a second consecutive day. Defensive tackle Zion Logue also didn’t practice Thursday.
Defensive end A.J. Epenesa and linebacker Dorian Williams also left practice early. Williams appeared to suffer a right leg injury and was walking with a limp after practice.
Running back Ray Davis and defensive tackle DeWayne Carter both suffered lower body injuries during practice, but not serious enough to seek immediate medical attention after practice.
• Mike White was the No. 2 quarterback during practice a day after Mitchell Trubisky got second-team reps. White hit a deep crossing pattern on a play he needed to hold the ball until Elijah Moore came open and then he hit K.J. Hamler on a pass that needed to fit into a tight window.
• Ryan Van Demark got a chunk of the first-team snaps at right tackle during Brown’s absence. Tylan Grable got most of them Wednesday.
• Tre’Davious White got the majority of the first-team snaps over rookie Maxwell Hairston at cornerback for the second consecutive day. Cole Bishop again got most of the starter’s snaps at safety with Taylor Rapp.
• Defensive end Joey Bosa worked with defensive line coach Marcus West during team drills as part of the team’s plan to limit his exposure to injuries. Rookie defensive end Landon Jackson participated in full after not taking part in team drills Wednesday.
The Bills practice again at 9:45 a.m. Friday at St. John Fisher University.