Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard says rookie safety Jalon Kilgore has made significant strides since the start of training camp.
Jalon Kilgore arrived at Buffalo Bills training camp with plenty to learn, but just over a week into practices, defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard believes the rookie safety has already made significant progress.
Asked about Kilgore's development, Leonhard said the young defensive back has taken noticeable strides since the start of camp, particularly when it comes to understanding Buffalo's defense.
"He's taken a huge jump," Leonhard said. "He's eliminated a lot of mental mistakes that he was having early, and he's talented, man."
As Kilgore has become more comfortable with the scheme, Leonhard has seen his confidence grow on the field.
"He's making plays on the football, he's flying around. He's exciting," Leonhard said. "He's soaking it all in, and it's really fun."
That development hasn't gone unnoticed by the coaching staff.
Leonhard said the Bills plan to continue increasing the 2026 fifth-round pick's workload as training camp progresses, giving him more opportunities to show what he can handle within the defense.
"Obviously, as camp goes on and you get more installs, there's different roles that come up for the safeties, and it's just trying to get him at the right time," he said. "But over the next week, week and a half, he's really going to have an opportunity to show his skill set, and we'll put him in a lot of different positions."
For Leonhard, the rookie's improvement isn't just about physical ability. It's the way Kilgore approaches the game that has stood out the most.
"He's wired the right way," Leonhard said. "He's going to be a really good player, I think."
While Kilgore is still early in his NFL career, Leonhard's comments suggest the rookie is earning the trust of Buffalo's coaching staff through both his preparation and his play on the field.
If that trend continues over the remainder of training camp, Kilgore could find himself carving out a larger role in the Bills' defense sooner rather than later.
"I can't wait to get more situations," Leonhard said. "Just more thinking, faster processing, get to the games, but he's done a great job so far."
