The Buffalo Bills have not yet begun organized team activities, but the team has already taken hits via injuries to star wide receiver Sammy Watkins (foot) and its 2016 first-round pick, outside linebacker Shaq Lawson (shoulder).
Lawson, who underwent shoulder surgery Tuesday and is expected to miss the next five to six months, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, initially denied reports that he needed the procedure. Likewise, general manager Doug Whaley brushed off talk of surgery immediately after selecting Lawson with the 19th overall pick.
Meanwhile, Watkins had surgery earlier this offseason to repair a broken bone in his foot, the team confirmed, and Schefter reported that Watkins isn't expected to participate in training camp or the preseason.
Neither Watkins, Lawson nor Whaley has spoken to reporters since news of the injuries broke this week, but rookie sixth-round pick Kevon Seymour -- who has been a member of the team for less than three weeks -- took the airwaves to provide what the team's official Twitter termed as "injury updates" for Watkins and Lawson:
.@KevonSeymour's injury updates on @nflnetwork:
— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) May 18, 2016
Sammy: "He's going to be fine."
Shaq: "We're not worried at all."https://t.co/L1k4OcABuR
On Lawson, Seymour said, "I talked to Shaq. Shaq is a professional. He knows what it's going to take for him to get back to 100 percent, to get back out there on the field with us. So we're not worried at all. When he comes back, he's going to be a great help for us."
As for Watkins, Seymour said, "Sammy's going to be fine," and later added, "We don't want to rush anything with Sammy. I'd love to have him back on the field with us in training camp, so I can learn from a great one."
I guess that clears that up.
