Bills WR Khalil Shakir has been an early standout in training camp, with multiple beat writers praising his play. Shakir has "looked sharp," Sal Capaccio wrote. "The rookie wideout was all over the field on Monday, catching passes at all different levels and spots." It's been assumed that Jamison Crowder and Isaiah McKenzie are competing for the starting slot receiver job, but don't count out Shakir.
The Bills opened training camp Sunday morning with WR Isaiah McKenzie running in the slot with the 1st team, according to Aaron Quinn of the Cover 1 Buffalo podcast. Veteran free-agent addition Jamison Crowder, meanwhile, was splitting 2nd-team reps with rookie Khalil Shakir. It could just be the Bills leaning toward the incumbent to open camp, but the Buffalo News also called McKenzie the "slight favorite" to win the starting slot gig earlier in the week. The Bills added Crowder on just a 1-year, $2 million contract -- far from starter money for a WR. We'll keep watching this competition through the summer. It looks like we should at least consider McKenzie the leader for now, though.
Bills insider Vic Carucci believes WR Jamison Crowder will earn the team's slot role. The 29-year-old signed for $2 million on a 1-year deal early in free agency. Carucci also believes WR Isaiah McKenzie will retain "more of a specialty role” for new OC Ken Dorsey. Crowder is the preferred fantasy target, but we'll keep a close eye on this battle come training camp.
After watching OTAs and minicamp, The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia believes WRs Jamison Crowder and Isaiah McKenzie will compete for slot snaps in training camp. "If Crowder and McKenzie keep these positive days going in training camp, the Bills will have a difficult decision to make regarding playing time," Buscaglia writes. Crowder is the more accomplished player of the 2. But both guys are making about the same amount of money this season, and McKenzie has the advantage of experience in this offense and with QB Josh Allen. Crowder is WR66 in recent FFPC ADP, while McKenzie is down at WR94.
The Bills on Sunday announced that they’ve re-signed WR Isaiah McKenzie on 2-year, $8 million deal. McKenzie caught just 20 passes last year and has yet to top 30 receptions in a season. But he carries upside well beyond that if he can wrest the primary slot job from Cole Beasley, a rumored cut candidate
Bills WR Gabriel Davis has been placed on the COVID list. So both Davis and WR Cole Beasley will miss Sunday's pivotal game vs. the Patriots. That leaves Stefon Diggs and Emmanuel Sanders as Buffalo's top 2 WRs, with Isaiah McKenzie likely handling #3 duties. TE Dawson Knox should also play an even bigger role than usual. It's a tough spot for QB Josh Allen against a strong New England defense.
The Bills on Tuesday placed WR Cole Beasley on the COVID list. Beasley, of course, was vocally opposed to getting vaccinated over the summer, and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport has confirmed that Beasley will miss at least 10 days. So he's out for Sunday's game at New England. Isaiah McKenzie will likely take over his role in the slot.
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