Bills Beat: WR Sammy Watkins should be close to 100-percent for start of camp

Bills WR Sammy Watkins rehab appears to be on schedule, as he was able to participate in a few team drills before the Bills wrapped up their spring practices. With six weeks between mandatory minicamp and start of training camp, Watkins should be close to 100 percent when camp starts Thursday.

“Credit to Sammy, credit to our training staff and the way he’s attacked the rehab with them," coach Sean McDermott said at that time, according to the Bills' official website. "That has to continue, though. This is one step in that process of getting Sammy back to where he needs to be and where we need him to be."

It's fair to say the Bills still need convincing that will happen. That was evidenced by the decision not to pick up Watkins' fifth-year contract option.

Related players: Zay Jones

The Bills may reduce his practice time and limit appearances in preseason games. The team has taken steps this offseason to prepare for what might happen if Watkins isn't healthy. The team drafted Zay Jones in the second round, and is expected to host veteran Anquan Boldin on a free-agent visit Monday. Of course, neither of those players would be expected to put up the kind of numbers Watkins is capable of when healthy, the story said.