Buffalo Bills 2026 training camp: Dates and key storylines
The Buffalo Bills open 2026 training camp Wednesday, July 29, at St. John Fisher University in Pittsford, New York, running through Aug. 7 before shifting to Orchard Park. New head coach Joe Brady wants camp "extremely tough," with earlier practices and a public session at new Highmark Stadium—key as Buffalo hunts a return to AFC East supremacy.
Key Takeaways
- Camp runs July 29–Aug. 7 in Pittsford, then moves to the practice facility and new Highmark Stadium.
- Joe Brady has pushed practice times up by an hour and 15 minutes versus the Sean McDermott era.
- Coordinator Jim Leonhard is installing a 3-4 base after nine seasons of McDermott’s 4-3 defense.
- Left guard and punter are the clearest open competitions heading into camp.
- One Bills Live visits Pittsford Wegmans Monday at 10 a.m. ahead of Wednesday’s kickoff.
When does Buffalo Bills training camp start?
According to ESPN, the Buffalo Bills’ 2026 training camp runs from July 29 to Aug. 7 at St. John Fisher University. Practices then transition to the team’s facility and new Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.
WHEC reports camp officially starts Wednesday, with One Bills Live at the Pittsford Wegmans Monday morning at 10 a.m. Fans may also get a chance to buy memorabilia from the old stadium, including turf, benches, and seats.
Brady wants camp to be “extremely tough.” The Bills will hold fewer practices in Pittsford than before, but add a public session at the new stadium. For more how-to-watch and alert coverage, check Streaming & TV Alerts on BlasterPost.
What changed on defense—and who has the most to prove?
No unit was hit harder by the offseason reset than the defense. After nine seasons in McDermott’s scheme, Leonhard is shifting the Bills to a 3-4 base and other adjustments. He has acknowledged his vision may not fully arrive in Year 1.
ESPN flags Josh Allen, Dalton Kincaid, and Terrel Bernard as three players to watch. Allen faces outsized pressure amid coaching change. Kincaid, whose left knee injuries have limited him, had his fifth-year option picked up and needs a healthy camp. Bernard’s 2025 form dipped after injuries—what he called probably his “hardest year as a football player”—and his fit in the new system matters.
The Buffalo News notes the Bills enter 2026 as hunters after New England took the AFC East and reached the Super Bowl. Names with stakes include Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer, T.J. Sanders, Landon Jackson, and Dorian Williams, among others.
Which roster battles will define camp for the Buffalo Bills?
Left guard is the lone open offensive-line job, with free-agent addition Austin Corbett entering ahead of Alec Anderson to replace David Edwards. Brady said the spot is hard to judge without pads, so camp contact will matter.
The only specialist competition pits seventh-round pick Tommy Doman Jr. against Mitch Wishnowsky, who averaged 41.8 net yards per punt in 13 games after joining midseason in 2025. Holding for Tyler Bass is also a factor the team values.
Receiver chemistry is another subplot: DJ Moore’s rapport with Allen, Tyrell Shavers’ ACL recovery, work from Coleman and rookie Skyler Bell, and whether free agent Brandin Cooks remains linked to the club. If six wideouts are kept, special teams may decide the last spot.