ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams had a few cautionary words of advice for Marcell Dareus, in welcoming his teammate back to practice Tuesday. Its time, Williams said, Dareus realized he has put his young and promising career in jeopardy after being charged in two separate arrests last month involving drug possession and a car accident. "Im hoping that this is kind of a watershed moment for him, because hes at a pivotal point," Williams said after Dareus reported for the start of the Bills three-day mandatory minicamp. "Hopefully, its to a point where its kind of an epiphany, and he comes alive and turns the corner and does his best." Williams, a team captain, is taking a tough-love approach with Dareus, a player hes spent the past three years mentoring. "I think hes heard (advice) from a lot of different levels, whether it be from his teammates or coaches, and Im sure the front office," Williams said. "So if you cant get it from those three levels, maybe youre not going to get it." Dareus, the Bills 2011 first-round draft pick, returned to practice for the first time since he and coach Doug Marrone agreed that the player take two weeks off to sort out his legal problems. Its unclear what Dareus has been doing during his time away. The Bills announced before practice that Dareus will not be made available to reporters this week so that he can focus solely on football. Dareus was escorted off the field by a team official following practice. Hes been off since May 30. Thats when shortly after participating in a voluntary practice, Dareus crashed his 2012 Jaguar into a tree near a busy suburban Buffalo intersection after allegedly racing teammate Jerry Hughes. Dareus was charged with reckless endangerment and ticketed for several traffic violations, including drag-racing. Dareus was scheduled to appear at Hamburg Town court on Tuesday, but that was pushed back to July 1 in part so that he didnt miss practice. Four weeks earlier, Dareus was arrested in his native Alabama and charged with possession of synthetic marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Rod Giddens, the attorney representing Dareus in Alabama, said hes still awaiting word from prosecutors as to whether theyll accept a plea deal in which Dareus entered a pre-trial intervention program to have the charges reduced or dismissed. Dareus troubles actually come from the end of last season when he was benched during each of the Bills final two games because he was late for team meetings. General manager Doug Whaley intends to meet with Dareus following the Bills final practice on Thursday, when the team takes a month before opening training camp July 20. "Ill just have a little sit-down with him when we leave, so everybodys on the same page," Whaley told The Associated Press. "The thing right now is hes back focused straight on football. Its great that hes back. And I think he thrives in a situation like this where its all football." On the field, Dareus returned to his familiar starting spot alongside Williams. In one team drill during the non-contact practice, Dareus showed off his power and speed by bullying past guard Kraig Urbik to break up a potential pass. On the next play, Dareus spun off Urbiks block and filled the hole to stop a run. Coach Marrone has stuck by Dareus, while expressing disappointment in saying the player has made "some poor decisions." "I just want to make sure that Im clear that everyone understands that I believe in Marcell, and I will do everything I can to make sure that we can get him on the right track," Marrone said two weeks ago. "Im going to do everything I can to help a 24-year-old man make better decisions." NOTES: LB Manny Lawson and DL Alan Branch reported for the mandatory minicamp after both skipped the teams voluntary sessions this off-season. Lawson said he found it important to take time off from football and be with his family. ... TE Scott Chandler was excused from practice for personal reasons. Starting LT Cordy Glenn was absent due to an illness. ... Rookie OT Seantrel Henderson missed practice due to travel delays. Hamidou Diallo Thunder Jersey . Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. Defensive Depth TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun is reporting the Toronto Maple Leafs have considerable interest in unrestricted free-agent defenceman Dan Boyle. Patrick Patterson Thunder Jersey . Milan was held to 1-1 at home by Torino. Cagliari scored six minutes from halftime when Mauricio Pinilla blasted home from the penalty spot after Facundo Roncaglia tripped Marco Sau. The home side could have doubled its tally in stoppage time as first Fiorentina defender Stefan Savic almost scored an own goal then Albin Ekdals shot clipped the top of the upright. https://www.thunderrookiesshop.com/Steven-Adams-City-Edition-Jersey/ . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. Kyle Singler Jersey . Stevenson scored the first three goals of the game in the first period for Regina (35-22-6), which has won eight of its last 10 games. Patrick DAmico added two for the Pats, Braden Christoffer had a single and Morgan Klimchuk chipped in a goal and four assists. Danilo Gallinari Thunder Jersey . -- The guys in green raced off the court and into the locker room where they danced and sang, compared whose shot was most likely to end up featured on "One Shining Moment," and checked Twitter to see who was giving them a shoutout.TORONTO - Shortly after Raptors rookie Lucas Bebe Nogueira returned to the locker room following his NBA pre-season debut Wednesday, he received an emotional phone call from back home. His family and friends had watched the game live from Brazil. His mother was first on the line. My mom, shes so emotional, the 22-year-old Nogueira said after scoring eight points and blocking three shots in the Raptors 92-85 victory over Israeli club, Maccabi Haifa. She [was] crying a lot. She cries about everything, but I understand why she is crying, because they adopted me. Nogueira went on to praise his family and his upbringing. They gave me all the support to be, not [only] a basketball player, but a good person and a good human, he continued. I think the most important thing about making money and playing basketball is that you get to be a good person. They gave me a whole education and support so right now to see her son in the NBA, shes so proud. So I understand why shes crying. Leave it to Nogueira, a player who has already become known for his trademark afro and infectious positivity, to make the best of a three-week delay to the start of his first-ever NBA training camp. The seven-foot Brazilian has been a spectator for most of the fall, sitting out practices and the teams first six preseason games with a couple lingering injuries, most notably a hamstring ailment that forced the coaching staff to play it safe with the young centre. Not the ideal start to anyones career, let alone someone who has been waiting a long time for his first NBA opportunity - one of the reasons he could barely hide his excitement when he learned hed be in uniform and available for Wednesdays contest. I was nervous because it was my first game, he admitted when it was all over. I had just two practices with the team, so I was a little bit nervous. Nogueira waited anxiously, standing in front of his locker just over an hour ahead of tip-off. James Johnson, his neighbour and one of his biggest supporters on the team, came over to give him a pep talk. He didnt have to wait long to get his feet wet, checking into the game with fellow rookie and countryman, Bruno Caboclo, midway through the second quarter. He didnt look out of place but, as he pointed out before the game, hes not the typical first-year player. Its my first year in the NBA, [but] it’s not my first professional year, said Nogueira, who has been playing pro ball in Spain since he was 16-years-old. If I have a chance to play, Ill try to show the skills I learned in Spain: protect the rim, rebound [and] I can score sometimes. Less than a minute after entering, Nogueira drained a pair of free throws after he was fouled around the rim. Later in the quarter, he blocked shots on back-to-back possessions, a brief glimpse into the defensive presence the Raptors hope he can become with some added strength and seasoning. With their foreign visitors on a 16-0 run to begin the fourth quarter and take a five-point lead, the Raptors turned to both rookies, Nogueira and Caboclo, to close out the game. Down by one with two-and-a-half minutes remaining, Johnson found Nogueira wide open under the rim for an easy dunk. Moments later, he followed up a missed Caboclo jumper with a put-back lay-up to give Toronto a five-point advantage. Lucas came in and deterred some shots and thats what he should do, coach Dwane Casey said of his young centre. I was really impressed with the way he came in and played. The original timetable for Nogueiras absence - nursing what he called a fatigued hamstring muscle - was six-to-eight weeks.dddddddddddd Asked how long he had been out, he knew instantly. Yesterday was six weeks. We worked so hard, he said. Three weeks ago, I was not 100 per cent, but I was, like 80 per cent, because we worked so hard. Sometimes, it was two sessions a day. So its not surprising to me [to be back]. Maybe if you stay home and do nothing, maybe it’s surprising. But I worked hard to come back early. Even in the middle of the game, during timeouts, Nogueira worked with team trainers to keep his hamstring loose. Given the amount of time hes spent with Alex McKechnie, Raptors director of sports science, of late, one would think they might be tired of each other by now. But thats not in Nogueiras makeup. As Casey says, hes never met a stranger. He’s my guy, the chatty Brazilian said of McKechnie. He’s an amazing guy, an amazing professional. We are friends. I hope I’ll have that friendship all my life. Its that uniquely positive approach that helped him bare the lay-off while he watched the rest of his teammates bond on the court throughout camp. Its also what hes relying on as he plays catch-up. I’m a young player, he said. I dont have problems adapting. Of course, the guys ahead of me are in better shape than me because they didn’t stop working the whole summer. I worked the whole summer too, except right now, my six weeks out. Maybe I’m a little bit [behind], but I don’t have a problem of [getting back into] shape. With the preseason winding down, Nogueira returned just in time to get some run. Wednesday was likely the final opportunity for Casey to get an in-game look at his younger players - and those who are in contention for the teams final roster spot - before he goes back to his regular rotation in Fridays exhibition finale. If all goes right once the season begins for real next week, Nogueira - like Caboclo - will have to develop on the sidelines, in practice and, perhaps, in short stints with the D-League affiliate in Fort Wayne, but hes well aware of what his role will be in year one and doesnt seem remotely fazed by it. I’m okay because I’ve played six years professionally, he reiterated. The first three years, I didn’t play. I stayed on the bench the whole year. Sometimes, the [centre] got hurt, coach put the shooting guard in the post, but didn’t [play] me. I’m okay if I don’t play 82 games. The good thing about it is the D-League, said Casey. We can see [Nogueira and Caboclo] playing in real games against players there if theyre not playing here. Thats going to be very beneficial to both of them, getting those minutes in the D-League and learning in game situations there more so than here. Our goal is totally different now, along with developing them, winning is as important as the development, Casey continued. Theyre going to get their opportunities in practice and, knock on wood something doesnt happen [with injuries], but right now, theyre kind of down on the totem pole as far as rotation is concerned. Wherever Nogueira finds himself - whether its the bench, the D-League, or elsewhere - hell be wearing a smile across his face and perhaps the newest addition to his wardrobe. [Kyle Lowry] gave it to me, he said of the fluffy pink rabbit hat sitting in his locker, a form of rookie hazing. I have a rabbit, [Will Cherry] has a wolf, Bruno has a rabbit too, but a white [one]. ' ' '