4 takeaways: Joey Bosa, James Cook, Maxwell Hairston, more from Bills camp

PITTSFORD, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Bills opened training camp Wednesday with the first of 10 practices at St. John Fisher University. Here are WIVB News 4 takeaways from the session, and media availabilities with coach Sean McDermott, general manager Brandon Beane, quarterback Josh Allen and other players.

Bosa back in action

Pass rusher Joey Bosa was a full participant in the first training camp practice after Buffalo's most notable offseason signing missed spring minicamps and organized team activities with a calf injury.

"I had my first real rep today, which was interesting," Bosa said. "The body is perfectly fine. Calf is no issue anymore. I was feeling good weeks ago, so I was able to get a full offseason in and train really hard. I feel great coming into camp. It's fun to be out there again."

Having played in five Pro Bowls but only three playoff games during his nine seasons with the Chargers, the 30-year-old Bosa is excited to join a Bills organization with Super Bowl aspirations.

"It's fun to be around a bunch of guys that really want to win and know how to win," Bosa said.

Though the injury limited his on-field work during the spring, Bosa spent time getting acclimated to his defensive line teammates and new surroundings in Orchard Park.

"I think I needed a fresh start and new scenery," he said. "I loved my time with the Chargers and everything and I wouldn’t trade it for anything, but I think it was just getting a little redundant, especially with my injuries over the last few years."

"When you get injured, it's easy to kind of fall in the background," Bosa elaborated. "Especially during the season, if everybody's grinding and you're kind of in the training room, you're missing meetings, you're doing this and that. So it's obviously important to be around the guys. It's great here in Buffalo. Guys hang out with each other, and I've probably hung out outside of football more with these guys in the past six weeks when I was here than maybe my entire career."

James Cook 'ready to go'

Pro Bowl running back James Cook might not be any closer to agreement on a new contract with the Bills, but he reported to training camp ready to work after skipping voluntary workouts in the spring.

"I couldn't be more pleased with James and him being here on time and ready to go," McDermott said. "I had a chance to meet him, greet him yesterday, and shake his hand, look him in the eye. And he's ready to go."

Beane said the Bills will maintain a dialogue with Cook's representatives about a new contract and "let the business take care of itself."

"James fits Buffalo," the GM said. "But sometimes you can't get on the same page or sometimes you're trying to fit it in. There's times guys have left here that we really wanted. We just couldn't make it work. But I can tell you, I'm hopeful, when we're sitting here at next year's training camp that James Cooks is out there practicing and still representing the red, white and blue."

Cornerback competition

Returning veteran Tre'Davious White got the first reps opposite entrenched starter Christian Benford at cornerback, but rookie Maxwell Hairston also got some work with the first-team defense.

Allen picked on the first-round pick for completions to receiver Curtis Samuel and a touchdown to tight end Dalton Kincaid during early 7-on-7 drills, but Hairston had a highlight later when displaying his closing speed to breakup Mitchell Trubisky's pass to KJ Hamler in the end zone.

The effort from Hairston, who missed the final minicamp practice with a hamstring injury, drew praise from White, who also was there to pat the rookie on the helmet after allowing the earlier TD.

"Tre is my guy," Hairston said. "That’s someone I looked up to growing up. Seeing him be supportive of me after making a play, it was a great feeling to see a guy I grew up wanting to play like encouraging me on my team. Tre has been like that from day one. Even though we are competing, it’s still a brotherhood. I just love playing alongside him and Christian Benford."

Injuries & transactions

Tight end Dawson Knox did not practice because of a hamstring injury sustained while training this past week, and an old back injury flareup caused the Bills to place right tackle Spencer Brown on the physically unable to perform list.

"Dawson was training the other day and tweaked it," Beane said. "He knows his body, and so he'll do everything. He knows this offense, he knows this team. He and Josh have a great rapport together. So until he's back out there, you always have some concern. But I feel that the medical team and him have a good idea of what it's going to take and hopefully getting back out there sooner rather than later.

"And Spencer, the same. Back flared up a little bit on him. We want to be cautious. It's always different now versus in season. Now you're going to try to be more cautious. You get in season, you're like, hey, I think I can get out there. Maybe I can only do a variety practice and play in the game."

Kick returner Laviska Shenault (leg) and offensive lineman Sedrick Van-Pran Granger (calf) also did not practice due to injuries.

The camp battle between punters ended before it began as roster needs caused by injury prompted the Bills to cut Jake Camarada on Tuesday.

Beane said the Bills "hated to make the move" with Camarada and could still bring the punter back if Brad Robbins doesn't perform well enough during training camp or preseason games.