5 things to know about Bills mandatory minicamp

The Bills had full attendance for their first day of mandatory minicamp according to head coach Sean McDermott. Veteran safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer were back together and picked up where they left off as if no time had passed since the last time they were on the field.

Hyde said without Poyer in the lineup, the defense isn’t the same, so the group was happy to get their guy back.

“He’s a big part of this defense,” Hyde shared. “When he’s not here, it’s different. Whether it’s making calls, getting guys lined up, making plays, being a leader, it’s different. That’s a guy that I feel like you can’t replace so to have him back is a big part of the puzzle that we have on defense.”

“I’m glad he’s here,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said. “We missed him in OTAs, and I know he missed being here. Again, he’s All-Pro Po. And when he’s on the field, he’s one of the best, if not the best safeties. We’ve got the best safety tandem in the league. I’ve said that since I’ve been here and I’m going to continue to say that.”

Poyer is heading into his 10th season and tied a career-high five interceptions last year. Hyde and Poyer together had 10 interceptions last season, which was the most out of any safety tandem in the NFL. Hyde said what impresses him most about Poyer is his ability to defend all sorts of offensive weapons.

“He’s very special, very special,” Hyde explained. “I think that I wouldn’t be the player I am today without him. And I think it’s safe to say that he wouldn’t be the player he is without me. I’ve told you guys this before, every single day we push each other.

“(The) night before a big practice we’re texting each other, giving each other energy, we’re waking up early, we’re lifting together, just setting the tone for the day. I think that we just push each other. We kind of always had that the underdog mentality.”