Buffalo Bills: Khalil Shakir Makes Presence Known In Preseason Opener

The Buffalo Bills started their preseason at home against the Colts, and Khalil Shakir made the most of his time on the field.

The first week of preseason is not often one where the starters get a ton of reps. It varies by team of course, but the Buffalo Bills put more focus on the developmental guys and those on the roster bubble. They made some early plays on defense, with Carlos Basham forcing a strip sack that resulted in a touchdown, and Kaiir Elam playing some impressive press against Colts receivers.

Perhaps the most notable performance though came from rookie receiver Khalil Shakir. Shakir, a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, was deemed a steal by most of the NFL Draft community. His ability to succeed in all three phases of the game was impressive, and there’s a chance he can push for the starting slot position in what’s sure to be a high-powered offense.

Shakir had five catches on Saturday for 92 yards, one of the best rookie performances (if not the best) to this point in the weekend. He found plenty of space working in the slot, and picked up yardage after the catch with his quick twitch and competitive toughness. He has such attention to detail as a route runner, and displayed the ability to dip through contact to avoid disruption in his stem. He’s space-aware as well, and will find the cushion in zone coverage to give his quarterback plenty of room.

It remains to be seen if he will get any reps with Josh Allen during the preseason, but he’s showing out in practice. Competition will be fierce to get on the field, as he’ll have to contend with Isaiah McKenzie and Jamison Crowder for slot reps. Still, he’s off to a great start in his path to contribute as a rookie, and it’ll be fascinating to see how the Bills view him as we draw closer to the regular season.