Bills to hold training camp at their facility due to 'complexities' of COVID-19 protocols

The Buffalo Bills held training camp sessions at St. John Fisher College in Rochester every year from 2000 through 2019 but couldn't last summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Per a statement on their website, the Bills confirmed Monday they are holding camp at their club facility starting next month. 

"The Bills informed St. John Fisher of their intentions over the weekend and appreciate their efforts to try to accommodate the Bills this summer," the team explained in a brief statement. "However, due to the complexities of the NFL's current COVID-19 health protocols in place, the team decided to stay in Orchard Park for a second consecutive summer. 

"Bills training camp is slated to begin in late July. Exact days and times of practice will be announced at a later date."

While no other information was listed Monday, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported last month that fans will be permitted to attend some training camp events this summer despite continued concerns related to the coronavirus. 

Also last month, Bills head coach Sean McDermott told reporters he was "concerned" about the number of his players who hadn't yet received COVID-19 vaccine shots. The NFL and NFL Players Association aren't mandating players be vaccinated to participate in mandatory minicamps, training camps, or any preseason or regular-season games. 

NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith and NFL executive vice president and general counsel Jeff Pash confirmed in May teams cannot cut players just because they haven't been vaccinated against the coronavirus. However, assistant coaches who refuse to get their shots could lose their Tier 1 status as soon as next week and, as a result, be banned from having direct interactions with players and also prohibited from entering meeting rooms and working on football fields.