Bills safety Cole Bishop reports offseason left knee scope, expects to be ready for training camp

Buffalo Bills safety Cole Bishop is moving into the next phase of the offseason after reporting a left-knee procedure meant to keep him on track. Pro Football Rumors reported that Bishop underwent a left knee scope in the offseason and expects to be back for training camp, citing coverage from ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg.

Bishop’s workload from the 2025 season is part of why the procedure has already drawn attention around the team. According to the report, he started all 19 Bills games during the regular season and postseason, including two playoff contests. He therefore entered the offseason with a significant in-season workload and limited margin for lingering issues.

The knee scope changes the tone, at least for the early parts of the offseason program. While the report does not specify what the procedure addressed or how long a recovery is expected to take, it does frame the situation as something Bishop believes will not derail his training-camp readiness. In other words, the Bills are treating the matter as a maintenance step rather than something that is expected to cause a long absence.

Bishop’s expected availability for camp matters because the Bills have been using the safety position as a flexible piece in their defensive structure. Even without detailing a specific play design, a starter who has handled full-game snaps across the year typically becomes a stabilizing presence for assignments in the back end, especially as coaches install or refine defensive communication and coverage responsibilities.

The timing is also notable for a team heading into a new coaching cycle on defense. Pro Football Rumors’ piece references the Bills installing a new defensive scheme under first-year coordinator Jim, but the name and specifics are truncated in the information provided here. The broader point remains that offseason health can affect how quickly a starting safety can get comfortable with terminology and adjustments made during the changeover.

As with any surgical recovery, the practical question for the Bills is how Bishop progresses through conditioning and practice intensity. The report’s key detail is his expectation to be back for camp, not a guarantee about day-to-day participation levels. Fans and beat reporters will be watching whether he returns to full-squad work as training camp gets underway and whether there are any limitations later in the month.

For Buffalo, the goal is straightforward. A safety who has logged full-season starts provides continuity, and a clean enough recovery gives the coaching staff the ability to plan depth and reps without building in long-term contingencies. Bishop’s offseason procedure, paired with his stated readiness, suggests the team believes it can maintain stability while continuing to shape the defense around its newest framework.