BUFFALO, N.Y. — Daequan Hardy has been making plays of late at Bills training camp.
“It definitely raises my confidence level," Hardy said after practice Monday morning. "Can show I can be in this league, I can make plays, I can produce in this league. It’s definitely boosted it.”
Play-making continued today, with Hardy reeling in another interception.
This on the heels of a one-handed INT in the end zone during the Return of the Blue and Red inside Highmark Stadium.
It's a play that earned praise from Bills head coach Sean McDermott days later.
Still, McDermott making it clear there's more to playing the position than defending the pass.
“The physicality that you have to bring in our defense," McDermott said. "We don’t play with ten guys out there when it’s a run and 11 when it’s a pass. Corners in our defense are expected to play physical in the run game as well.”
Message received by 5'9" rookie.
“Just show my physicality as a smaller guy," Hardy said. "Just continue to make plays on the football and I think my play will speak for itself."
"You have to combat physicality with certain techniques. Obviously I’m a great leaper as well, so just have to learn how to combat things.”
Hardy saw most of his run early in training camp in the nickel corner spot, but has since expanded to play outside on the boundary as well.
The best shot for the 6th round pick to make the team is likely going to be winning the punt return competition.
Hardy and K.J. Hamler seem to be the two currently vying for the job.
It's something Hardy has had great success doing in just a small sample size, taking two of his 17 career punt returns for a touchdown and leading the Big Ten in punt return average at 14.6 YPR in 2023.
“I was telling them since I was a freshman that I wanted to do punt return," Hardy explained. "It was just some other things that Coach [James] Franklin had decided that limited me from doing that, but eventually I got some returns and showed them my abilities.”
“The return element is really why he was drafted," McDermott said. "That was the biggest reason why he was drafted. From spring to now he’s done a great job of getting more and more comfortable under the ball in the return game. The punt return in particular.”
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