Bills Pro Bowl OT leaves practice due to 'personal matter'

Buffalo Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins left Wednesday's training camp practice due to a personal matter.

Bills offensive lineman Dion Dawkins pulls on the helmet at the start of day six. / Shawn Dowd/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK

UPDATE: The Bills clarified on Wednesday afternoon that Dion Dawkins left practice due to a non-injury related personal matter.

Bills injury updates from Wednesday:

LT Dion Dawkins was excused for a personal matter. His exit was not injury related.

DT DaQuan Jones is day to day with a groin injury

DE Casey Toohill left practice with a groin injury and is now considered day to day.

— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) August 7, 2024

The rest of the article is presented below in its original format.

---

Buffalo Bills stalwart left tackle Dion Dawkins departed Wednesday’s training camp practice early with an undisclosed injury and did not return. Former undrafted free agent lineman Ryan Van Demark took first-team left tackle reps in his place.

Bills starting LT Dion Dawkins left midway through Wednesday’s practice and did not return.

— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) August 7, 2024

Dawkins walked off the field alongside a trainer but under his own power. The location or severity of his injury is unknown at this time.

The veteran is fresh off a 2023 season that was one of his best as a professional, standing out as one of the areas of strength on a Buffalo offensive line that played some of its best football in years. He earned his third consecutive Pro Bowl nod last season, allowing 34 total quarterback pressures and just one sack, per Pro Football Focus. He earned a spot on the NFL Top 100 Players list for the first time in his career thanks to his excellence.

Related: Bills release first depth chart of 2024 NFL season

Dawkins, who took over as the Bills’ starting left tackle midway through his 2017 rookie season, has stayed relatively healthy throughout his professional career, appearing in 112 games over the past seven seasons while never missing a significant stretch due to injury. 

Van Demark, who signed Buffalo’s practice squad in 2022 after being waived by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent, spent the 2023 season on the Bills’ active roster. He took 46 snaps throughout the 2023 campaign, all but three of which came at left tackle.

Keep an eye on Buffalo Bills on SI, as we’ll have updates on Dawkins’ injury and availability as they become available.

—  Enjoy free coverage of the Bills from Buffalo Bills on SI  —

More Buffalo Bills News:

• Bills vs. Bears: 7 players to watch in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL preseason

• Bills veteran starter sees glaring difference from O'Cyrus Torrence in Year 2

• Veteran Bills DE sees growing confidence from intriguing rookie pass-rusher

• Former Bills first-round pick's renewed confidence leads to Josh Allen INT

• DC Bobby Babich explains team tradition that fires up Bills' defense