Bills coach Sean McDermott shares what Isaiah McKenzie did that ‘just gives me chills’
By Jake Rill
Published:
Isaiah McKenzie is entering his fifth NFL season, but the former Georgia standout has yet to had his breakout year. That could change in 2021.
Heading into his fourth season with the Buffalo Bills, McKenzie is trying to do his best to impress during the team’s preseason action. But things didn’t start well for the 26-year-old wide receiver during Buffalo’s 41-15 win over the Chicago Bears on Saturday, as McKenzie muffed a punt early in the game.
However, McKenzie bounced back and finished with a team-high seven receptions, four of which came on the drive that resulted in the Bills’ second touchdown in the first quarter. McKenzie also led Buffalo with 72 receiving yards.
McKenzie’s ability to bounce back after the early miscue impressed Bills head coach Sean McDermott.
“It just gives me chills — when a player can go through a moment that he went through right there, and then reset mentally and stay on the field, and have the ability to contribute like he did, [and what] he did during that series — that says a lot. That’s hard to do,” McDermott said, per Matt Parrino of Syracuse.com. “That’s something we talk about, and I think that was a great example of him doing that in a key moment in the game.”
Last season, McKenzie set career highs in catches (30), receiving yards (282), touchdowns (5) and games played (16). He isn’t going to open the year as a starter for Buffalo — which has Stefon Diggs, Emmanuel Sanders and Cole Beasley — but McKenzie could work his way more into the mix if he continues to impress.
The Bills have one more preseason game (Saturday vs. the Green Bay Packers) before opening the 2021 season with a home matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 12.
Jake Rill contributes to news coverage for Saturday Down South. He has covered the SEC since 2016.
