ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — After making a college FBS record 399 catches at East Carolina, Bills wide receiver Zay Jones has just seven through the first six games of this NFL career; numbers that have Jones really catching criticism.

"I think it's fair," Jones said. "I expect a lot of myself, my coaches do, the players around me do, so I think it's really fair, to be honest. Where ever the ball is, it's my job to catch it and do the best I can. So I accept it fully. I'm not running from it."

When Jones was selected in the second round, it was to be the compliment to Sammy Watkins. Then came Anquan Boldin to take even more of the attention. Both were gone before Jones took his first NFL snap, taking away his opportunity to slowly get a feel for the pro game.

"He's like out there in front," said Bills wide receiver Jordan Matthews. "A lot of the guys he came in with and thought he was going to have, they're all gone and then his veteran is a new guy. So it's a lot different of a situation so I feel for him. I understand there's a lot of pressure on him. I just want to be here for him and be able to encourage him and continue to help him on his road."

Matthews has become a big brother of sorts to Jones, who he was compared to by some scouts at the NFL Combine. Matthews preaches confidence to the rookie, reminding him that he couldn't have had the illustrious college career without top-end ability.

"​Whenever you're going through a problem it seems like everybody else can dissect it," Matthews said. "Everybody's going to give you advice. Everybody's going to tell you what they would do, but your situation is mutually exclusive to you. Only you know what you're going through because there's only one Zay Jones. So I just tell him to embrace that. Embrace the fact that God made you how you are and just understand that it's a process. There's going to be bumps in the road. There's going to be highs. There's going to be lows, but at the same time, you're extremely talented and just have to go out there and play."

 "Just keep working hard. Stay with the process," Jones said. "I don't think I really need to change anything. Things are going to open up. As the season keeps going on, as I just get older and more experienced. Coach calls it time on task. Just really trusting in the gameplan. Just trusting in the development."

And trust that will eventually change the results.