ClutchPoints
The Buffalo Bills are currently holding their three-day mandatory minicamp in Orchard Park, running June 9-11. Starting safety Cole Bishop, who was missing from Day 1 of practice on Tuesday without explanation, told reporters Wednesday, that an offseason knee procedure is keeping him off the field.
“Got some stuff cleaned up in the knee,” said Bishop. “So just trying to get back from that. Been running a good bit the past week and making progress.”
Cole Bishop has been dealing with a knee injury and has missed the spring program as he’s rehabbed. He expects to be ready for training camp. pic.twitter.com/VzxU3krm7m
— Matt Parrino (@MattParrino) June 10, 2026
It remains unclear whether the problem stemmed from an acute injury suffered in Buffalo’s playoff loss to the Denver Broncos last season or from routine wear and tear. Either way, Bishop expressed confidence about his recovery, stating he “should be good for camp, for sure” when Bills training camp opens in late July.
“If I’m not ready for camp, stuff went bad,” he added, though he offered no exact timeline beyond that.
Bishop’s absence is huge given his 2025 breakout. Starting all 17 regular-season games alongside veteran Jordan Poyer, he never missed a contest due to injury and paced the team with 85 tackles (53 solo), per Pro Football Reference. He also added four tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, two sacks, a team-leading three interceptions, and seven pass breakups, the latter ranking second on the roster behind former cornerback Tre’Davious White, who remains a free agent.
The timing matters because Buffalo revamped its safety room this offseason. CJ Gardner-Johnson, 28, signed a one-year, $6 million deal on March 12, bringing 20 career interceptions across seven seasons, and is projected to pair with Bishop on the back end. A day later, the Bills signed Geno Stone on a one-year, $1.6 million contract. Stone, who has 14 interceptions in six NFL seasons, could push for snaps if Gardner-Johnson doesn’t secure the job in camp.
With this minicamp serving as the first real glimpse of the 2026 squad under new head coach Joe Brady, Bishop is limited to watching and learning. He is expected to remain in Buffalo rehabbing between now and training camp, where his return to full health will be crucial for building chemistry with his new teammates.
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