Bills quarterback Josh Allen talks with offensive coordinator Joe Brady between drills.

Bills to be featured on ‘Hard Knocks’ during training camp

The Buffalo Bills will make their “Hard Knocks” debut on HBO this summer, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced Wednesday.

Also, Goodell announced that the NFC East will be featured on the in-season edition of Hard Knocks, the long-running documentary series that began chronicling NFL teams in training camp with behind-the-scenes access in 2001. The in-season version debuted in 2021.

The Bills’ five-part documentary will premiere on Aug. 5 on HBO and Max. Both series will be narrated by Liev Schreiber.

The Bills fit the criteria for selection: They don’t have a first-year coach; they haven’t appeared in the last eight years; and they won’t be part of the in-season edition in the next two seasons, which means the AFC East will not be featured in 2026.

Nine teams were automatically eliminated as choices for this summer, given their appearances over the last eight years: Chicago Bears (2024), New York Jets (2023), Detroit Lions (2022), Dallas Cowboys (2021), Los Angeles Chargers (2020), Los Angeles Rams (2020), Raiders (2019), Cleveland Browns (2018) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2017).

–Field Level Media

Jan 26, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) dives for a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Bills end contract talks with RB James Cook

The Buffalo Bills have halted contract talks with running back James Cook, who is seeking an extension worth $15 million per season.

“I don’t see us getting something done anytime soon. We’re onto the draft. Just because we don’t get something done this year doesn’t mean we can’t get something done before he’s a free agent,” general manager Brandon Beane said at the NFL league meeting in Palm Beach, Fla.

A deal for $15 million per season would rank Cook third among NFL running backs behind the Philadelphia Eagles’ Saquon Barkley ($20.6 million per season) and the San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey ($19 million).

Cook is due to make $5.3 million in the fourth and final season of his rookie deal in 2025. He would become an unrestricted free agent in 2026 if he doesn’t get a new deal with Buffalo.

Cook, 25, made the Pro Bowl and rushed for more than 1,000 yards for the second straight season in 2024, leading the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns.

He has rushed for 2,638 yards and 20 TDs and caught 97 passes for 883 yards and seven scores in 49 games since being drafted in the second round in 2022.

–Field Level Media

Jan 26, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Alec Anderson (70) against the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Bills re-sign OL Alec Anderson to one-year deal

The Buffalo Bills re-signed offensive lineman Alec Anderson to a one-year contract on Wednesday.

Anderson, 25, who was undrafted out of UCLA in 2022, was an exclusive rights free agent.

He made his NFL debut in 2024 and appeared in all 17 regular season games (four starts) and three playoff games for the Bills.

Anderson played 27 percent of the offensive snaps for a Buffalo position group that allowed the fewest sacks (14) in the NFL.

–Field Level Media

Nov 26, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Buffalo Bills safety Micah Hyde (23) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Bills S Micah Hyde announces retirement

Buffalo Bills safety Micah Hyde announced his retirement Tuesday after 11 seasons on the field.

Hyde, 34, also served as a mentor on the team’s practice squad last season.

A Bills team captain for three seasons from 2021-23, Hyde played 158 career games (128 starts) for the Green Bay Packers (2013-16) and Bills. The Iowa product and fifth-round pick by the Packers in 2013 had 644 tackles with 24 interceptions and eight fumble recoveries.

Hyde was named to the Pro Bowl in 2017, his first season in Buffalo, and was a second-team All-Pro selection in 2017 and 2021.

He became a free agent after the 2023 season and was not with a team to start 2024 until he signed with the Bills practice squad in December.

“We’ve always connected with this place,” Hyde said after returning to the Bills two months ago. “To see the reaction that people have with us signing back here is truly amazing.”

The Bills showed their appreciation to Hyde on social media Tuesday.

“Thank you, @Micah_Hyde!!” the Bills posted to X, along with a red and blue emoji heart.

–Field Level Media

Jan 19, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) is tackled by Buffalo Bills safety Taylor Rapp (9) during the first quarter in a 2025 AFC divisional round game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

Bills S Taylor Rapp injures hip, out vs. Ravens

Buffalo Bills safety Taylor Rapp exited Sunday’s AFC divisional playoff game against the visiting Baltimore Ravens with a hip injury.

Rapp was injured in the second quarter and initially termed questionable to return. He was ruled out midway through the third quarter.

Rapp was hurt during a play in which he was on the ground when hit by teammate Damar Hamlin. He was in visible pain when carted off the field with 6:13 left in the second quarter.

Rapp, 27, intercepted Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson in the first quarter. He had two tackles.

In the regular season, Rapp had 82 tackles and two interceptions. He is in his second season with the Bills after playing his first four campaigns with the Los Angeles Rams, who selected him in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Washington.

–Field Level Media

Jan 5, 2025; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III (19) throws a pass against the Buffalo Bills in the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Joe Milton III steps in, guides Patriots past Bills 23-16

Joe Milton III threw for one touchdown and rushed for another in his NFL debut to guide the New England Patriots to a 23-16 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon in Foxborough, Mass.

New England (4-13) would have secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft had it lost.

Instead, the Patriots got an efficient performance from Milton, who hit on 22 of 29 passes for 241 yards. He got off to a roaring start, rattling off 11 straight completions to begin his professional career.

Kayshon Boutte was Milton’s favorite target, hauling in seven receptions for a career-high 117 yards and a TD.

One of the few mistakes Milton made came early in the third quarter, when the 24-year-old fumbled to give Buffalo (13-4) the ball at the New England 16. Five plays later, James Cook ran for a 1-yard touchdown that provided the Bills with a 16-14 edge with 7:56 left in the third quarter.

However, Buffalo never scored again. Joey Slye booted three field goals for the Patriots — from 41, 42 and 50 yards out — for the 20-16 final. The Bills turned the ball over on downs twice and punted twice on their final four drives.

Mitchell Trubisky threw for 101 yards and a TD on 15-for-21 passing for Buffalo, the No. 2 seed in the AFC during the upcoming playoffs. Ray Davis led the Bills’ rushing attack with 64 yards on 15 carries.

Buffalo worked its way to the Patriots’ 45 on its first drive of the game, but Trubisky failed to move the chains with a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-1.

Milton then checked in under center for Drake Maye, who got the start for New England and lasted only one drive. Milton proceeded to direct a 13-play, 55-yard march that ended with his 1-yard rush to the end zone.

Trubisky made up for the turnover on downs with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Davis that made it 7-7 with 12:09 remaining in the second quarter.

Milton continued to look comfortable, putting the Patriots up 14-7 by finding a wide-open Boutte over the middle for a 48-yard score with 9:10 remaining before halftime.

Tyler Bass made a 49-yard field goal with 4:39 left in the first half to get the Bills within 14-10.

–Field Level Media

Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard intercepts a pass.

Bills LB Terrel Bernard (quad) out vs. Patriots

Buffalo Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard will not play versus the host New England Patriots on Sunday, head coach Sean McDermott said on Wednesday.

Per McDermott, Bernard is considered week-to-week due to a quad injury.

The Bills (13-3) can afford to be patient with Bernard entering their game with the Patriots (3-13) in Foxborough, Mass. Buffalo is locked into the No. 2 seed in the AFC.

Bernard, 25, has 104 tackles, two interceptions, a sack and a fumble recovery in 13 games (all starts) this season.

He has totaled 269 tackles, 7.5 sacks, five interceptions and four fumble recoveries in 46 career games (31 starts) since being selected by the Bills in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media