BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Rookie running back Devin Singletary knew he was going to be used in the Buffalo Bills backfield this season. What he didn't anticipate was how much work he was actually going to get.
"I didn't know what to expect," Singletary said. "I knew I was going to come in and work hard. I had guys in front of me so I knew I was going to be a sponge and definitely didn't see this coming."
On Saturday, the Bills released veteran running back LeSean McCoy, leaving Singletary second on the depth chart behind Frank Gore. The rookie is ready for the challenge ahead of him.
"It shows that they believe in me, so now it's time to see how it turns out," he said. "They believe in me, I believe in myself and the sky's the limit from here."
"We believe he can ascend and develop. That's what we do as coaches and that's what our players do," head coach Sean McDermott added. "That's the DNA of our players, these guys take a lot of pride in what they do."
Singletary played in four games during the preseason and finished with 12 carries for 42 yards and a touchdown. He says there's always more room to grow.
"There's still some things I have to clean up on," he said. "But I felt like it went pretty solid for me."
Singletary will be playing behind Gore on the depth chart. Gore is taking on a leadership role this season with so many young guys behind him, but while he can teach some of the younger guys a few things, he's already impressed with what he's seen from this year's Draft pick.
"When he got here, he just was so natural, he understood the game," Gore said about Singletary. "He picked up everything so fast, you know, just the whole off-season and this summer going into training camp. He was in my hip pocket every day. I tell him to come at a certain time-- he's there, working out with me and my son, and even also with McCoy. He works his behind off, and he just wants to learn."
The Bills open up the regular season on Sunday, September 8th against the New York Jets.
You can find full interviews from Gore and Singletary following Monday's first practice of the regular season above this article.
