Former Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling is reportedly losing ground at the Buffalo Bills’ training camp. The deep threat receiver signed a one-year, $2.25 million deal with Buffalo in May but is no longer a sure thing to earn a spot on the final roster.

Buffalo signed Valdes-Scantling, a two-time Super Bowl Champion, with the expectation that he could provide quarterback Josh Allen with a dangerous downfield threat. But after starting training camp taking first-team reps, the 29-year-old has tumbled down the depth chart.

The Bills’ receiving core is still finding its way after Stefon Diggs’ departure, but Valdes-Scantling is still competing with (and reportedly losing out to) rookie Keon Coleman, fellow free agent acquisitions Curtis Samuel and Chase Claypool, and veterans Khalil Shakir and Mack Hollins. Young tight end Dalton Kincaid is also shaping up for a career season, while veteran Dawson Knox remains an option.

Despite Valdes-Scantling’s dio to second- and third-team status, Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady said Tuesday that the team was simply taking more time to teach the offense to the veteran receiver.

“One of your older guys, he’s going down there with some of the rookies, but it has nothing to do with performance,” Brady told reporters. “It’s more of, like, I want to make sure you get these plays and you’re getting enough time on task to be able to feel it and roll.”

While Valdes-Scantling’s stock is in an uncertain state, young receiver Tyrell Shavers is on the rise and is reportedly getting more first-team reps than many expected. Shavers, who went undrafted in 2023 out of San Diego State, has been treading water on the Bills’ practice squad for the past year but is currently having a breakout summer in training camp. He remains a long shot to make the roster but is turning heads going into the preseason.

In a surprising turn of events, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling and New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers have reunited for some offseason training. Valdes-Scantling, who played with Rodgers during his tenure with the Green Bay Packers from 2018 to 2021, revealed on FS1 that the two former teammates found a practice field in Los Angeles and worked on routes together.

“Me and Aaron have been great friends since I’ve been in Green Bay. I hit him up, told him I was coming out to L.A., and said, ‘Let’s run some routes,’” Valdes-Scantling told NBC Sports. “So we got it in, went out to some high school, and ran some routes together. We’re good. It was good.”

The timing of this news is particularly noteworthy, given Rodgers’ recent absence from the Jets’ mandatory minicamp. The Jets have not explained Rodgers’ unexcused absence, leaving many to speculate about his priorities and commitment to the team. It was later revealed that Rodgers was on a trip to Egypt.

Rodgers, a California native, has been spending time in his home state and is back at work focusing on football, even if it’s in an unconventional setting. The impromptu training session with Valdes-Scantling demonstrates Rodgers’ ongoing dedication to staying sharp and maintaining his skills during the offseason.

For Valdes-Scantling, the opportunity to reconnect with his former quarterback offers a valuable chance to refine his own game and stay prepared for the upcoming NFL season. Their continued friendship and mutual respect were evident in their decision to train together.

Rodgers’ absence from the Jets’ minicamp, coupled with his training session in Los Angeles, has raised questions about his commitment to his new team. Rodgers is still finding ways to stay engaged with the game and keep his skills honed, even if it’s outside the official team activities.

As the NFL season approaches, all eyes will be on Rodgers to see how he integrates with the Jets and whether this unconventional approach to offseason training will pay off on the field. In the meantime, his reunion with Valdes-Scantling serves as a reminder of the strong bonds formed during their time in Green Bay and the importance of maintaining peak performance, regardless of the circumstances.