Khalil Shakir finds new ways to motivate himself for Buffalo Bills (2024)

PITTSFORD – When Khalil Shakir is done for the day with his Buffalo Bills obligations, he still has to take care of some self-assigned work.

The wide receiver takes time to read his Bible, writing verses on a dry-erase board. Then, he heads to YouTube.

He’ll look up a video every night of a different legendary athlete in any sport. He’ll watch a video on their mentality, learning how different athletes handle adversity. Sometimes Shakir gets goosebumps.

It’s paying off dividends on the field. Quarterback Josh Allen is seeing it up close.

“There’s a sense of relaxation with him, I think going into his third year with us and understanding his role,” Allen said of Shakir. “He was asked to do a lot of stuff for us last year. And he took it in stride. So, I’m very happy with where he’s at.”

Part of Shakir’s mentality also comes from affirmations every morning.

“At the start of camp, I told myself to show up and be where my two feet are, you know, and have fun, smile,” Shakir said. “It’s kind of been my motto this camp: just have fun and smile. So, I feel like that’s what we’ve been doing.”

The third-year receiver knows this time of year can drag out. He’s working to keep that from impacting him.

“I feel like it’s so easy with the game, and especially this time of year, just to get so uptight,” Shakir said. “So, every morning, just tell myself, have fun, smile.”

Toward the end of training camp Wednesday, Shakir caught a touchdown from Allen, who rolled out to extend the play.

“I was just running my route, and it was more of a feel – Josh back shoulder to me – and I just swiped by the DB and caught it,” Shakir said. “I think that just goes with all the preparation we’ve been doing, knowing that we’re on the same page. I’m running one way, and he’s throwing it back shoulder. So, just, it’s all feel. It’s all knowing, knowing how we play, how each other plays, knowing when he’s gonna throw that ball, when he’s gonna put it over the top.

“It just comes down to the time that we’ve been putting in, in the meeting rooms and after practice.”

The Bills wide receivers are often the last group on the field getting work in when practice ends at training camp. On Wednesday, Shakir got extra reps as injured receiver Chase Claypool threw the ball his way.

Shakir is coming off of a season in which he had 39 catches on 45 targets for 611 yards. He saw an uptick in targets starting a loss to New England in Week 7 of the season, and Allen trusts Shakir’s steady hands.

“He’s a baller,” Allen said. “He makes plays. He does the little things the right way. He’s easy to love. And he’s a guy that gets along with everybody in this locker room, which makes you root for that guy even that much harder.

“But again, we saw the production that he had last year at the end of the season. And we’re expecting nothing but the same from him.”

This year, though, it’s a new wide receiver room, and Shakir is primed for a larger role. With Joe Brady as offensive coordinator and receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis gone and leaving their targets up for grabs, the offense is going to look different. A versatile receiver room gives Brady options.

“I’ve loved how the guys have worked, how they’ve kind of taken to this offense, the identity of the offense, and how they’re going to be utilized,” Brady said Wednesday. “It’s been a lot of fun, just their selfless mindset, and I’m excited to kind of see that kind of take off.”

Shakir is just 24, but of the Bills wide receivers, he’s now played with Allen the longest thanks to all the roster turnover. Because of that, Shakir is continuing through camp to make sure the new guys – whether rookies or veterans – are acclimating well to the Bills. There’s a delicate balance, though.

“I don’t look at myself as a vet yet,” Shakir said in July. “I’m still learning. You got, you know, actual, I guess, vet as far as time with the Bills, yeah. But you know MVS (Marquez Valdes-Scantling), Mack (Hollins), Curtis (Samuel), all those guys, I still look at them as our vets and I’m still, as I’m trying to transition into leading, still also following as well. Learning, picking things up from those guys who’ve been in the league for a while so they’re all great.”

Still, the other receivers are coming to Shakir to pick his brain on the playbook as well. He recognizes the gravity of his role.

“I’ve talked to a couple of people as far as just trying to become a little more vocal, and that doesn’t mean ‘hoorahing’ all over the place, but whether the younger guys – I know I’m probably still the youngest – but whether they have questions on the playbook or whatever it is and knowing and letting them know that you can come to me and talk to me about anything,” Shakir said. “And if I don’t know the answer, I’ll make sure I get it for you.”