The Bills’ offseason mandatory minicamp is being cut short after just two days.
Despite initially planning to make use of all three days, with the minicamp expected to end Thursday, the team’s plans have been altered, and the program ended a day early.
The decision comes on the heels of drama stirred up by wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who was not present for the first day of camp. He was in attendance on Wednesday, however.
Bills coach Sean McDermott initially claimed he was “very concerned” by Diggs’s absence, though he walked back that sentiment Wednesday, indicating the leave was excused.
“I feel like it’s resolved,” McDermott said Wednesday. “It was not Stef leaving unexcused. He was excused by me. And those conversations have gotten us to what I think, and believe, is a great spot.”
Sean McDermott on talks with Stefon Diggs: "I feel like it's resolved."
— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) June 14, 2023
"Those were healthy conversations that happened and I'm extremely appreciative of those conversations. ... It gets you to a good spot. ... I don't ever think you say, 'That's a hard stop.'" #Bills pic.twitter.com/lu1L2GYDtB
McDermott was asked why he said he was “very concerned” about Diggs’s absence, despite it being excused.
“Whenever a player has something going on or who misses [practice] … that’s my sentiment with every player,” McDermott said, although he did not elaborate on a reason for the wide receiver’s absence on Tuesday.
It’s important to note that it’s not uncommon for teams to cancel the final day of offseason minicamp.
The Bills will begin training camp in late July, when they gather at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, N.Y. All signs point toward Diggs being fully available and ready at that point.
