OTAs

OTA Notebook | HC Joe Brady excited about where the team's at + WR Keon Coleman shares focused approach

May 19, 2026 at 08:21 PM

Senior Team Reporter

Phase three of offseason training is officially underway as the Bills hit the field for their first week of OTA practices. Players laced up their cleats and took to the practice field with helmets, t-shirts and shorts.

Before practice, head coach Joe Brady discussed attendance, his goals for OTAs, his impression of certain players and more. Here's what you need to know from Tuesday's practice.

Joe Brady feeling 'excited' about where the team's at

After close to four months of meetings, planning and figuring out who the Bills will be under Joe Brady, Brady finally hit the field for his first week of OTA practices as the head coach.

"We've had an outstanding off season, but it's really cool to kind of see it all come together," Brady said just before the second practice. "We spent a lot of time (working) when guys weren't here. Just getting on the field yesterday, the offense and defense kind of going against each other, it was a lot of fun, a lot of excitement."

"Today was fun, getting back out there in the swing of things," quarterback Josh Allen said. "Obviously, we have some new faces, just trying to get in line with them, and making sure that we're coming out, getting the guys back together and having a good time."

As Brady fully steps into the role of being a head coach, he's no longer overseeing just one side of the ball. He's overseeing both sides, which includes a defense that's making a scheme change. While it's important to make sure players understand the X's and O's, Brady's also emphasizing the importance of being a connected defense.

"It's been a lot of fun seeing it all come together, seeing a lot of the new faces, kind of how they fit," Brady said of the defense. "We had some guys that were injured last year, seeing them be able to get back on the field. So, I'm excited about where we're at."

Brady's also feeling enthusiastic about his team's attendance to start OTAs.

"Maybe (Brandon) Beane just does a really good job of putting that in contracts, so they want to be up here," Brady said joking about the good attendance. "We have a great locker room, we have a great group of guys that want to be here in Buffalo, want to be around the guys … I think the guys enjoy being around here. I think it helps that we have some of the new schemes, but I'm really pleased with our attendance."

There's a core group of players who have diligently worked through the offseason in Buffalo as they rehab from injuries. While they might not be full participants in practice every day, Brady likes the plan in place to get them healthy.

"The reality is guys are injured, this is football. I think we have a great plan for a lot of those guys," Brady shared. "The plan is to have these guys ready to go for training camp. So, it's good to get out on the football field, good to get TB (Terrel Bernard) around these guys, but we have to be smart about what we're doing knowing that training camp is in two months."

As Brady gets accustomed to his first OTAs as head coach, he wants to focus in on the how – how the team is doing things and how the team is connecting. Brady said the coordinators are more focused on the scheme, so he can make sure the team operates in the right way.

"I want to see how we run to the football," Brady said. "I want to see how we celebrate each other's success. I want to see the tempo in and out the huddle, and how are we getting lined up. The communication in the back end from the defense, and are we on the same page?

"I'm not concerned with the big plays right now … We'll make mistakes … but what does it look like the next day? Did we learn from the mistakes? So, I'm really focused on the how by what we're doing right now, and then we'll continue to progress that into the training camp and really hone in on the scheme."

"It's make or break" | Keon Coleman details his focused approached

Wide receiver Keon Coleman isn't pleased with the outcome of his second NFL season. While the receiver hauled in four touchdowns in 13 games, he knows he left a lot on the field. He also wants to show his team he can be trusted and reliable.

"It's make or break," Coleman said. "S---, (if you are) s--- you might not be here. Simple as that, simply put. I know what I'm capable of. So, if I fall anything short of that, I'm doing myself a disservice and to my team."

Brady said the wide receiver owned his missteps from last season and understands he has a new opportunity this year.

"I made sure once I got the job to let him know, he's going to be here, he's going to be a part of our offense," Brady said. "I'm excited about him progressing in this offense and getting with Josh (Allen) and doing those things… I love the work ethic, love how he's kind of been doing it right now."

"He called me the night before his press conference, we had a nice talk," Coleman said of talking to Brady. "… We had a great talk and looking forward to great things this season. I feel like he had that (belief) in me from day one."

Allen also believes in Coleman and has seen the work he's put in throughout the offseason. Buffalo's QB likes where the receiver's at as the team begins OTAs.

"I think he continues to get better. He comes out each and every day, he's been putting his hard hat on," Allen said. "… He's working extremely hard, and people notice that. I notice that. He's having a really good start to this off season and again continuing to grow that chemistry that we have."

Coleman shared it's time to put it all together and show his team the type of player and person he can be.

"I don't need self-motivation. I know what I am here to do and what I am capable of doing," Coleman said.

"All he can control is what he's doing moving forward and not putting any more pressure on himself," Brady said of his receiver. "Just go out there, run the routes, do your job, block in the run game, make the touchdown blocks, do the things that he's capable of doing. And just upholding that standard every single day, and I believe he'll be able to do that."

"Establish myself" | DJ Moore is ready to show the Bills who he is

After trading for wide receiver DJ Moore in March, the Bills are finally getting to see their newest receiver in action. So far, his teammates are loving what they're seeing.

"Some of the cuts that he makes with the ball in his hands already, and we don't have pads on, but he's able to contort his body in different ways that I don't think I've ever seen, and he's not a small guy," Allen said of his newest receiver. "So, it's been pretty fun to watch. He's super smooth. He's faster than you think, and he just kind of glides on people.

"So just trying to learn as much as I can and making sure we get on the same page because he's very fun to throw to."

While Moore is getting acquainted with a new team, offense and quarterback, he wants to show them that he's still ultra productive.

"(I) just (want to) establish myself," Moore said. "Just show everybody that I can still do what I do and just do it with the Bills."

Moore has recorded four seasons of at least 1,100 receiving yards and has scored at least six touchdowns in the last four years. He wants to bring those stats to Buffalo in his ninth NFL season.

"He's everything as advertised and more," tight end Dalton Kincaid said of Moore. "A great addition to the locker room already. A guy that's fit in extremely well. And just his ability on the field, we'll find ways to really utilize him knowing Joe (Brady) and all he does."

Allen knows all about the high-character Moore's bringing to the team because he gets to be around Moore more than most.

"He's my locker mate," Allen said. "We actually go way back. We sat next to each other at the Rookie Premiere, signing Panini cards and autograph cards next to each other. So, I don't know if anybody's talked about that whole situation, but you sit there for legit eight hours just signing your life away, and so getting some good conversations back then, and it's pretty cool to have him here now."