ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Jim Leonhard expects his defensive starters to play in the Buffalo Bills' preseason opener against Carolina on Saturday.
And the first-year coordinator on Tuesday wasn’t afraid to provide a reason why in taking a swipe at what he considered the defense’s biggest flaw last season: Tackling.
“Who can finish, get guys on the ground?” Leonhard said on Tuesday. “That was an Achilles’ heel here last year. So that’s the No. 1 thing we have to correct.”
What better chance to begin doing so than getting his players involved in live action against the Panthers, who are also expected to open the game with their starters.
“I am excited just to continue to push. We’ve only had so many days in pads, right?” he added. “It’s going to be exciting for guys to get out there and just kind of let it rip.”
Leonhard didn’t reveal how much playing time his starters will get. As for playing-time plans for Josh Allen and the offense, head coach Joe Brady isn’t scheduled to address reporters until Thursday.
The outing against Carolina will provide the first competitive glimpse of a Bills team in transition since coach Sean McDermott was fired following his ninth season in January.
Brady is now in charge after previously serving as the team’s offensive coordinator. And he hired the 43-year-old Leonhard to bring his attacking-style vision in transforming a unit that too often sagged under the defensive-minded McDermott.
Under McDermott, the Bills took a bend-but-don’t-break approach in protecting against big plays. Tackling, however, was an issue for Buffalo last season, especially against the run. Though the Bills finished seventh in the NFL in allowing 293 yards per outing, they finished 28th in allowing 136 yards rushing.
The strategy still proved mostly successful in the regular season, with Buffalo winning 10 or more games over seven straight seasons. The defense, however, sagged in the playoffs. Buffalo allowed 27 or more points in each of its six playoff losses since 2020, including a 33-30 overtime loss to Denver in January.
Leonhard has plenty to evaluate in a very short time. Aside from the Bills switching to a three-linemen, four-linebacker system, the defense will feature at least five new starters.
“To me, it’s the physicality up front. Let’s go get that done,” Leonhard said. “There’s going to be mistakes that are made, but can we fly around, be physical, and it’s the first opportunity to finish.”
Injuries could be an issue, with the status of several projected starters uncertain.
Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson went down in practice on Monday in appearing to aggravate an injury to his right calf. Fellow starting safety Cole Bishop and cornerback Maxwell Hairston have also missed time because of undisclosed issues.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard speaks to reporters before practice at the team's NFL football training camp Thursday, July 30, 2026, in Pittsford, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, left, talks to cornerback Maxwell Hairston (31) before practice at the team's NFL football training camp Thursday, July 30, 2026, in Pittsford, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 30, 2026--
IFF (NYSE: IFF), a global leader in flavors, fragrances and health and biosciences, today introduced AQUASCENT™, a new vegan, water-based carrier for fine fragrance. Crafted from a proprietary formula made with biodegradable materials, AQUASCENT™ delivers enhanced olfactive performance and visual clarity for consumers while supporting a more sustainable approach to shipping the product.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260929938674/en/
“AQUASCENT™ reflects our continued investment in new scent technologies and formats that create compelling fragrance experiences while supporting the industry’s growing focus on sustainability,” said Sabrya Meflah, president of Fine Fragrance for IFF Scent. “This technology illustrates our ambition to set a new standard for how fragrance is created, delivered and experienced.”
AQUASCENT™ is part of IFF's Science of Performance platform, which focuses on solutions that enhance fragrance performance by shaping how scent is delivered and experienced over time. The market for water-based fragrance continues to grow as leading brands launch new water-based products and consumers embrace new scent formats and experiences. IFF web-listening data shows that worldwide Google searches for “water-based perfumes” increased 18% year-to-date, while related TikTok content has generated more than 15 million views.
AQUASCENT™ supports fragrance loads from 10% to up to 25%, compared with up to 15% for most comparable systems. Achieving this level of fragrance concentration in water-based formulations can be challenging, as fragrance oils can cause products to become cloudy when mixed with water. AQUASCENT™ overcomes this issue while maintaining transparency, enabling brands to create high-performance, visually clear fragrances.
As a result, fragrance brands can deliver the lastingness and visual elegance consumers associate with fine fragrance products. Formulated without intentionally added ethanol, preservatives or silicone, the technology features a non-sticky formulation with documented skin-hydrating properties for a comfortable skin feel.
AQUASCENT™ also offers a more resource-efficient approach to transportation. The carrier technology can be supplied as a concentrate alone, allowing fragrance brands to add water during final production rather than transporting it as part of the formula. By reducing the volume and weight of material shipped, this compact format can help lower CO 2 emissions from shipping.
“AQUASCENT™ approaches water-based fragrance as a complete fine fragrance system, balancing olfactive performance and visual clarity and a concentrated format designed for efficient transportation,” said Fatimata Dembele-Kuntzmann, Ph.D., senior technical manager for IFF Scent. “For brands, that means the opportunity to embrace a growing fragrance format without compromising the qualities that define the fine fragrance experience.”
Welcome to IFF
At IFF (NYSE: IFF), we make joy through science, creativity and heart. As the global leader in taste, scent and biosciences, we’re innovating for the future. Every day, we deliver groundbreaking, sustainable solutions that elevate products people love — advancing wellness, delighting the senses and enhancing the human experience. Learn more at iff.com, LinkedIn,Instagram and Facebook.
© 2026 by International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. IFF is a Registered Trademark. All Rights Reserved.
AQUASCENT™ is IFF's new water-based fragrance carrier technology that maintains visual clarity while supporting fragrance loads from 10% to up to 25%, compared with up to 15% for most comparable systems.
