When DeWayne Carter went to plan his inaugural football camp, the Buffalo Bills defensive tackle knew he could count on a few teammates to show up for the cause.
Safety Darrick Forrest was one of the players to lend a hand, even though he鈥檚 still brand new to the Bills.
鈥淚t鈥檚 cool because actually we grew up about 20 minutes from each other,鈥 Carter said.
Safety Darrick Forrest wants to be a consistent performer for the Bills.
Carter and Forrest didn鈥檛 directly know each other growing up, but they had mutual friends and even overlapping coaches. When Carter鈥檚 camp was rolling around, Forrest knew it was the perfect time to get to know Carter.
With teammates and campers, Forrest also got a small taste of what鈥檚 to come with Bills Mafia.
鈥淭hat was cool to me,鈥 Forrest said. 鈥淢an, never seen something like that, you know? We were out there singing Buffalo chants. It just felt like a good energy, like, I love it.鈥
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Forrest, who signed a one-year deal with the Bills in March, is acclimating quickly. When fellow safeties Cole Bishop and Damar Hamlin both dealt with injuries during mandatory minicamp, Forrest was able to get more time on the field. Forrest still is learning his new team after spending four years with the Washington Commanders, but Bills safeties coach Joe Danna has seen impressive strides.
鈥淕reat attitude,鈥 Danna said of Forrest. 鈥淲orks extremely hard. Obviously, he鈥檚 a little bit 鈥 he鈥檚 not as far along as some of the vets, just because he just got here, but very eager and really excited to see him in the future compete with the guys in the room.鈥
Forrest is open about the fact that he鈥檚 still adjusting 鈥 it鈥檚 only been a few practices, after all. But when Bishop and Hamlin missed time, Forrest got to see what it was like to communicate more with fellow safety Taylor Rapp. Forrest credited all the safety room with getting him up to speed.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been great,鈥 he said. 鈥淪tart off little rocky, but you know how it is: steady climbs.鈥
Forrest, who turned 26 in May, joined the Bills as a free agent this offseason. His four years in Washington, where he was a fifth-round draft pick, gave him a solid understanding of what it takes to make it in the NFL.
鈥淗e鈥檚 been around the league, so it鈥檚 not like he鈥檚 new to it,鈥 Danna said. 鈥淪tudies hard, asks good questions, great attitude, positive outlook 鈥 he鈥檚 just a guy that you enjoy being around. He鈥檚 been a positive addition to our group.鈥
Forrest has heralded the culture of the Bills, and he is a positive addition to it with his own outlook.
鈥淢y personality is very fun, outgoing, but then I could be serious, you know, sometimes I could be angry, so a little bit of everything,鈥 Forrest said.
Bills defender Darrick Forrest catches the ball during minicamp on June 11.
The anger is really just channeled onto the field, where he plays defense hard, until it comes time after to celebrate a play. Forrest鈥檚 ability to tap into a more fierce mindset when it鈥檚 time to work has impressed his teammates, even during spring workouts.
鈥淗e鈥檚 strong as an ox,鈥 Carter said. 鈥淗e plays in the back, but he lifts with like, D-line and linebackers.鈥
With the Commanders, Forrest started 17 games and played in 40 across his four seasons. He was a contributor on special teams as well.
The next challenge for Forrest is maintaining his level of play each and every day on the field. At Bills minicamp, he said Tuesday wasn鈥檛 his best, but Wednesday鈥檚 practice was better. Thursday was about building off Wednesday. His goals with his new team are simple.
鈥淚 want to be consistent. That鈥檚 it. I just want to go out there be consistent,鈥 Forrest said.
