Hard Knocks

During a team meeting with McDermott addressing the team. His message is that he wants all phases of the team - the offense, defense and special teams - always to attack. McDermott also reiterates that there are no guarantees in the NFL, and they have to work to be a good team again.

We then see running back James Cook's hold-in end as he signs his extension. He then joins practice in pads to applause from his teammates. After showing clips of Cook running at practice, we get introduced to Ed Oliver and his horses. He has backup running back Ty Johnson with him, and they clean up the stable and ride horses together.

"Hard Knocks' then introduces us to Jimmy Charlo, who played his college ball at Army and was signed a few days before the Bills' first preseason game. He made a big tackle on a kickoff and got praised for it by his team. Charlo tore his ACL in his first preseason game with the Jets in 2024. 

The episode continues with Connor McGovern hosting a pizza party at his house. He was bored during COVID and said he taught himself how to make pizzas. He made them for the team, and they started winning, so he kept the tradition and now hosts the whole team. 

We then go to Chicago, where the Bills will play their second preseason game. There is a joint practice, and a fight breaks out, but it ends relatively quickly with not much drama. The game itself begins, and the Bills get absolutely blown out by the Bears, losing 38-0. 

The official roster cut-down day in the NFL. However, with those roster decisions more likely to be detailed in the final episode, Episode 4 opened with McDermott guiding a late-preseason practice, with the Bills' staff also highlighting what they look for in players to keep them on the roster.

"Hard Knocks" then takes a look at bio-mechanic systems and cameras that are used to break down the Bills quarterbacks' arm motions, including Josh Allen's. Wide receiver K.J. Hamler is once again highlighted as he competes to make the team, and the show looks back on his 2023 pericarditis diagnosis. A spotlight also remains on Ciarlo, who shares how he unexpectedly saw time at nickel in a preseason game, and Frank Gore Jr., who breaks down his relationship with his father.

The episode features a brief segment on DT Casey Rogers helping with a local dog rescue program, then it cuts to general manager Brandon Beane and the front office assessing where they stand on the bubble roster players before a final preseason matchup against the Buccaneers. Prior to the final game action, Allen and some other players sing along to "I Write Sins Not Tragedies," in a highlight sequence.

McDermott sits down for some advice from two NBA Hall of Famers, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady, who are minority owners of the Bills. The head coach later tells his players that he's proud of them and the work they put in, and the final portion of the episode is footage from the Bills vs. Buccaneers preseason matchup.

Included from the game are shots of Vince Carter briefly talking to Allen, Shane Buechele getting the start at quarterback, tight end Zach Davidson being used as an emergency punter, Tampa Bay's Shilo Sanders throwing a punch and being ejected, Ciarlo recovering a fumble and Buffalo claiming a 23-19 win.