The Buffalo Bills have officially released their initial 53-man roster and practice squad. There were a few surprises among the 70 players kept by the Bills with Week 1 less than two weeks away.

Quarterback: Josh Allen, Kyle Allen

Practice squad: Shane Buechele

The quarterback position was pretty cut and dry entering cutdown day, as Kyle Allen outperformed Shane Buechele during the preseason to secure the QB2 role behind Josh Allen.

Kyle Allen fired just four incompletions during two exhibition games, disproving my notion that the Bills entered training camp with one of the most lackluster quarterback rooms in the NFL. I’m still not sure he can be trusted to win the Bills a critical game if Josh Allen is to go down with an injury at some point during the regular season, but Kyle Allen deserves praise for how he fared against the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns.

Running back: James Cook, Ray Davis, Ty Johnson

Practice squad: Frank Gore Jr.

A bit of a surprise in the Bills’ final cuts was that they didn’t keep a fullback, releasing Ben VanSumeren. To begin the offseason, VanSumeren was expected to replace former Bills FB Reggie Gilliam, but instead, it appears as if Buffalo is set to move forward without a player at the position this season.

Frank Gore Jr. won the preseason competition with Ian Wheeler for a position on the practice squad. This remains one of the top running back rooms in the league, given Johnson can return from a preseason injury in time for the start of the regular season.

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Tight end: Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Jackson Hawes, Keleki Latu

Practice squad: None

While the Bills didn’t keep a fullback, they did hold onto four tight ends, including Keleki Latu, who was not included in the vast majority, if not all, roster projections that were published leading up to Sunday night’s 6 p.m. deadline.

Without a FB on the roster, that may mean the Bills plan to use Hawes, or even Latu, as an H-back to replace what Gilliam offered during his time with the team. However, it remains to be seen just how Joe Brady’s offense will operate in his first season as head coach.

Wide receiver: DJ Moore, Khalil Shakir, Joshua Palmer, Keon Coleman, Skyler Bell

PUP: Tyrell Shavers

Practice squad: Ja’Mori Maclin, Stephen Gosnell, Trent Sherfield, Greg Dortch

I thought the Bills would keep Trent Sherfield on the 53-man roster, but instead they signed him to the practice squad. Rookie Skyler Bell’s performance during Buffalo’s preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers likely made the team more confident in their top options with Week 1 less than two weeks away.

Another interesting addition to the practice squad is Greg Dortch, who could be the answer at the punt return position. Dortch previously played under the Bills’ new special teams coach, Jeff Rodgers, with the Arizona Cardinals and has plenty of punt-return experience. It wouldn’t surprise me if Dortch and/or Sherfield were active on game day against the Houston Texans.

I think this group is much improved from what we saw the Bills trot out at the position in 2025. I have high hopes for Buffalo’s wide receiver corps, with Moore and Shakir leading the way, while a breakout season for Joshua Palmer is brewing.

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Offensive line: Dion Dawkins, Alec Anderson, Connor McGovern, Spencer Brown, Lloyd Cushenberry III, O’Cyrus Torrence, Jude Bowry, Austin Corbett, Ar’maj Reed-Adams, Tylan Grable

Practice squad: Jedrick Willis Jr., Chase Lundt, Nick Broeker

The Bills’ starting five up front offensively was decided when it was reported that Alec Anderson won the starting left guard job. I think that’s the right decision. I will say that I was a bit surprised that the Bills kept 10 offensive linemen, particularly that Ar’maj Reed-Adams made the initial 53-man roster.

The rookie had some impressive moments throughout the preseason, but I didn’t feel it would be enough for him to earn a spot. But with the value placed on young offensive linemen, perhaps the Bills felt it wasn’t wise to risk the 2026 seventh-round pick on waivers.

Elsewhere, the group the Bills settled on was expected, although I did believe there was a chance that Bowry would be placed on Injured Reserve after he was seen in a walking boot at practice days ago. But that did not turn out to be the case, as it appears the rookie fourth-rounder still has a chance at the swing tackle role in his first professional season.

Buffalo lost its former swing tackle, Ryan VanDemark, in free agency this offseason, leaving Bowry and Tylan Grable to compete for the job. Neither player proved to be a surefire option through camp and preseason, which may have led the team to add former first-round pick Jedrick Willis Jr. to the practice squad. So we will see what Buffalo does if either Dion Dawkins or Spencer Brown misses time during the regular season.

Also on the injury front, center Connor McGovern’s status for Week 1 remains up in the air after a preseason injury. If he can’t suit up against the Texans on Sept. 13, it will be Lloyd Cushenberry III filling his spot after the Bills traded former fifth-round pick Sedrick Van Pran-Granger and a 2027 seventh-round selection to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick. Corbett will be the first man off the bench at the guard position.

Overall, I am a bit concerned this group is set for a step back in 2026. With a new offensive line coach, Pat Meyer, replacing the legendary Aaron Kromer, it remains to be seen how Buffalo will adjust to a new starter and a few other changes expected in the trenches. Additionally, Dawkins isn’t getting any younger and displayed signs of decline in 2025. If McGovern is absent to begin the season, that would create a gaping hole that I’m not sure Cushenberry is capable of filling adequately enough to keep Josh Allen clean and allow the running game to operate at its full efficacy.

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Defensive tackle: Ed Oliver, Deone Walker, DeWayne Carter, T.J. Sanders, Landon Jackson, Greg Gaines

IR: Zane Durant

Suspended: Phidarian Mathis

Practice squad: Travis Clayton

A lot to break down when it comes to the defensive tackle position, as the Bills unexpectedly kept both DeWayne Carter and Greg Gaines, both of whom were expected to compete for the backup nose tackle role behind Deone Walker. Rather than one winning out and the other being sent packing, both stuck around, largely because Durant was placed on IR.

If the Bills’ rookie fifth-round pick wasn’t injured, he would have likely pushed either Carter or Gaines off the roster, which could still happen once he is healthy enough to return. Phidarian Mathis could do the same once he is off the suspension list after the first three games of the year.

As much as I’m worried about the Bills’ offensive line, I’m even more concerned with the team’s defensive tackle position. Ed Oliver has already been injured during the preseason, and while Deone Walker appears to be ready for a breakout campaign, the rest of this group is unproven, or in Gaines’ case, past his prime.

I liked what I saw from Landon Jackson during training camp and the preseason, and it seems as if him adding a bit of weight will allow him to adjust well to his new position on the interior of Buffalo’s defensive line. But T.J. Sanders hasn’t shown much this summer, and I have no faith that Carter will develop into an above-replacement-level player.

Edge rusher: Bradley Chubb, Greg Rousseau, Michael Hoecht, TJ Parker, Mike Danna, Javon Solomon

Practice squad: Andre Jones Jr.

The first four names listed above were all but guaranteed to make the roster, but whether the Bills would hang on to Mike Danna or Javon Solomon appeared to be a toss-up. Well, as it turns out, the Bills kept both players, giving them 12 total defensive linemen.

Danna had a strong preseason and has plenty of experience as an NFL-caliber pass rusher, while Solomon hasn’t exactly displayed much pass-rush prowess but is a valuable special teams contributor. Neither player moves the needle much, but I do expect this group as a whole to perform at a level above what we saw from the Bills’ group of edge defenders last season.

Bradley Chubb is a much stronger offseason addition than Joey Bosa was last year. His presence should help Greg Rousseau reach another level of production, while Michael Hoecht showed what he could do, albeit in limited action, in 2025. I also have higher hopes for TJ Parker than I did when the Bills drafted him. I thought he had a strong preseason.

Linebacker: Terrel Bernard, Dorian Williams, Kaleb Elarms-Orr, Joe Andreessen

Practice squad: Keonta Jenkins, Shaq Thompson

Throughout training camp and the preseason, the Bills seemed to favor Keonta Jenkins over Joe Andreessen at the linebacker position. But with Andreessen returning as the NFL’s second-leading tackler on special teams, his value in that phase of the game likely pushed him ahead of his competition for a roster spot.

Still, Jenkins was retained on the practice squad and gives Buffalo a reasonable option if one of their rostered players is to go down with an injury, along with veteran Shaq Thompson, who returns to the team after a successful stint in 2025.

I don’t think it will be long before this position group is proven to be a lackluster unit. Terrel Bernard has been injury-prone the past couple of seasons, while Dorian Williams has yet to prove he is a starting-caliber player. Kaleb Elarms-Orr began this summer with plenty of hype, but he didn’t do much during the preseason to show that he can be relied upon in a prominent role.

Cornerback: Christian Benford, Maxwell Hairston, Davison Igbinosun, Dee Alford, Jordan Hancock

Practice squad: Kani Walker, Te’Cory Couch, Anthony Kendall

After many Bills fans, along with myself, ended the weekend worried that undrafted free agent cornerback Kani Walker would be claimed, he made it through waivers and back to Buffalo’s practice squad. He will likely be the Bills’ first option to be elevated if Christian Benford, Maxwell Hairston or Davison Igbinosun are to go down with an injury at any point this season.

It was sort of stunning to see the Bills keep just three boundary CBs, but with Dee Alford proving capable on the outside during camp, coupled with Jordan Hancock’s emergence to begin his second NFL season, that likely gave Buffalo the flexibility to use a roster spot that many had pegged for a CB at another position.

Much like linebacker, I don’t have much faith in the Bills’ group of cornerbacks. Christian Benford is a solid CB1, but elsewhere, I have significant concerns about Maxwell Hairston’s ability to transform into a solid CB2 in Year 2 of his career. At this point, I think Davison Igbinosun would be the better option to start, but by no means am I sold on the rookie second-rounder.

Much like in recent seasons, the Bills are bordering on catastrophe at cornerback.

Safety: C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Cole Bishop, Damar Hamlin, Jalon Kilgore, Sam Franklin Jr.

Practice squad: Geno Stone

It’s somewhat surprising that the Bills kept five players at the safety position. But when you consider Sam Franklin Jr. was rostered due to his production on special teams, it makes a bit more sense.

At this point, Damar Hamlin will be the first man off the bench if C.J. Gardner-Johnson or Cole Bishop, both of whom dealt with injury during training camp, are unable to suit up at any point during the regular season. Kilgore had some bright moments during camp, but he also found himself banged up in recent weeks, which slowed his momentum. He might end up behind practice-squad addition Geno Stone, who, according to Jordan Schultz, has been informed that the plan is to have him active for game days.

It will be interesting to see how this position plays out, considering injury and otherwise, but I do believe it’s an improved safety group from what Buffalo had a year ago.

Kicker: Tyler Bass

Practice squad: None

Tyler Bass had an up-and-down training camp and preseason. I think the Bills should’ve brought in another option on their practice squad in case Bass fails to measure up once the regular season is in full swing.

Punter: Tommy Doman Jr.

Practice squad: None

No shock here, as Tommy Doman Jr. outperformed Mitch Wishnowsky during the preseason and training camp. Wishnowsky has since been signed to the New England Patriots’ practice squad.

Long snapper: Reid Ferguson

Practice squad: None

Reid Ferguson is back for his 10th season as Buffalo’s long snapper. An impressive milestone for the 32-year-old.

On the latest episode of Alex Brasky: Unfiltered, we discuss the Buffalo Bills' final roster cuts and 53-man roster leading up to the league wide deadline at 6 p.m. Sunday night.

Kani Walker has been waived, drawing a shocking reaction from Bills fans. What were the other surprises. Also, some other news and notes that have come to light and a brief review of Skyler Bell's performance in the Bills' preseason finale.

Please like, share, subscribe and rate, and also leave a comment on the Alex Brasky: Unfiltered YouTube, Apple feed, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

With the start of the regular season approaching, we reached out to members of Bills Mafia to see what’s on their mind before Week 1.

@a_flagthetake: What notable differences have you seen under this new regime when it comes to overall vibe and culture?

I think it’s a little bit of both. McDermott ran a much more militant-style operation, while Brady has let loose and allowed players to be themselves, as you said. The one concern I had during training camp was when offensive lineman Alec Anderson basically said Brady is the fun uncle that lets the players get away with whatever they want.

In order for a team to have success, it must have discipline. And I’m not sure Brady has instilled enough of that into a team that has a number of young players in key roles this year.

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@ConveriXGaming: What are your thoughts on the new-look defense so far? And are there a few players that you think could break out this season?

There has been a lot to be encouraged about when it comes to the performance of Jim Leonhard and his defense. With that said, it’s still very early and we’ll have to wait and see how things turn out once the regular season begins.

As far as players who have been on the team who could break out, I think Greg Rousseau is a strong candidate, while his fellow pass rusher, Bradley Chubb, is a new addition whose performance has encouraged me.

@CircleTheWgns17: How is the defense adjusting to the new scheme? Because the offense has kinda been cooking them.

The one area I am a bit concerned with when it comes to the Bills’ defense is its ability to defend the deep ball. Josh Allen has never been the most proficient deep-ball-thrower since he entered the NFL, but he has made several plays down the field throughout training camp against various Buffalo defenders.

The play that stands out most is when DJ Moore hauled in a deep throw from Allen while he was surrounded by the team’s top three coverage men in cornerbacks Christian Benford and Maxwell Hairston, along with safety Cole Bishop. Allen and the Bills’ passing game have really opened things up, and it’s been hard to tell if that is more a product of the offense coming alive or the defense struggling to keep pace.

We’ll see as the regular season gets going.

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@joegoho: Are the Bills playing with fire going with a raw rookie Kaleb Elarms-Orr and an injury-prone Dorian Williams at linebacker, considering there are a couple of viable veteran free agents still waiting out there? Are they also playing with fire at CB2?

Yes and yes. As I mentioned in my Future Forecast earlier within this issue of Shout!, those are the two positions I am most concerned about heading into the season.

Elarms-Orr started off strong, but has faded a bit over the past few weeks, while Williams has been an uninspiring option since he was drafted. At cornerback, I do not have faith that Maxwell Hairston is the future at the position, while Davison Igbinosun is just a rookie and the team’s third-best option.

I thought the Bills should have reached out to Shaq Thompson or Tre’Davious White to fill depth at LB and CB, respectively, but it seems as if those ships have sailed.

@olkingkj: You’ve been at practice, what are your thoughts on Maxwell Hairston vs. Davison Igbinosun for the CB2 job?

I think the Bills are set to go with Hairston to begin the season, but by no means am I confident he will finish the season as the team’s starter. He dealt with a couple of injuries that kept him off the field last year and has already been on the mend for an extended time during training camp in 2026.

I think we may see a rotation between the two at times and perhaps Igbinosun taking over the first-team role by season’s end.

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@BisonAtTheGate: Has there been any sign of James Cook being involved more in the passing game?

Yes, there have been signs. Throughout training camp, the Bills have not only made a concerted effort to get Cook more touches as a pass catcher, but also to get his fellow running backs involved through the air as well. With Pete Carmichael as the team’s new offensive coordinator and Joe Brady taking full control of the team, I think one change we’ll see this season is more throws to RBs.

@jacksonhaweslvr: Do you think the Bills would explore trading DeWayne Carter when Phidarian Mathis’ suspension is up? Or even before?

Yes, but I don’t think any team in their right mind would offer anything for Carter, based on what he’s produced early in his career. In fact, I think the Bills will wind up cutting Carter and potentially get him back on their practice squad.

There isn‘t a market for an undersized player with an injury history who has produced a lick of tangible evidence that he can be a steady contributor in the NFL.

Carter may be out of the league in a year or two and might be better suited for the UFL.

@CMnobacon: Who is the best player you think will end up on the wrong side of roster cuts? Seems like they will have some tough decisions.

I’m not sure about the best player, but the player I’ve been most impressed with this preseason is running back Ian Wheeler. He likely doesn’t have a chance to make the team due to three players — James Cook, Ty Johnson and Ray Davis — all clearly ahead of him on the depth chart. But it would behoove the Bills to attempt to get him back on the practice squad.

Wheeler has flashed speed, athleticism and physicality as both a ball carrier and pass catcher over the past several weeks, and if Cook, Johnson or Davis are to go down, I would be interested to see what Wheeler has to offer in a critical situation during the regular season.

@mchavez999: Have you heard anything about a running back roster spot battle between Frank Gore Jr. and Ian Wheeler?

I think the true battle here is for a practice squad role. As I wrote previously, I don’t think either player has a chance to crack the Bills’ 53-man roster, but Wheeler is ahead of Gore Jr. in the fight for a PS job, at least from my perspective. Wheeler is a more complete player with much more to offer than Gore Jr., and I think it would be wise to try and keep Wheeler around if he isn’t scooped up by another team once he is likely cut by the Bills at the end of August.

@rand84: Which player looks ready to play a much bigger role than most Bills fans are expecting?

Damar Hamlin. I know Bills fans won’t want to hear it, but Hamlin has been the third safety for the Bills throughout training camp and the preseason, and we could see him on the field when the Buffalo defense goes to dime formation this year.

Hamlin had an interception against the Browns, which came off a tipped pass, and has been pretty solid for the team throughout the past several weeks. Barring injury, Hamlin won’t play starter’s reps. But he will likely be a key depth piece for the Bills after re-signing with the team in free agency.

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@BufBillsStats: With Aaron Kromer’s retirement, what have been the biggest changes to the offensive line play and run game design so far this offseason?

I don’t think we will know the answer to this question until the regular season starts. Teams don’t game plan for the preseason and do little to tip their hand throughout training camp.

Also, I am no offensive line guru, so I am waiting with anticipation to see how things play out up front.

One distinct change will be Buffalo moving forward with a new left guard after former starter David Edwards departed in free agency. Additionally, they will be on the hunt for a new swing tackle after Ryan Van Demark left to sign an offer sheet with the Minnesota Vikings.

Changes are coming to the Bills’ offensive line, but it remains to be seen how things will look in the trenches in 2026.

@Joek1981: We’ve seen the Bills stick with continuity. What’s your thoughts on if continuity still doesn’t succeed in getting to a Super Bowl? Say the Bills go 1-3, 0-4 at worst — what are your thoughts on how Brady or Beane might handle that adversity?

If the Bills start 1-3 or 0-4, there will be an uprising among the fanbase, and I’m not sure there is anything Beane or Brady will be able to do to stop it. When it comes to the team’s Super Bowl hopes, if they are dashed once again in 2026, that should mean the end of Beane’s tenure as GM, which would likely lead to whoever the Bills hire next to reconsider Brady’s position atop the coaching staff.

@efix3: The early-season schedule is rough. If the Bills get off to a slow start do you see Pete Carmichael taking over play calling to ease the burden on Brady?

I doubt it. Brady was hired in large part due to his success as the Bills’ play caller the past few seasons. He has developed a strong rapport with Josh Allen, and I don’t think a change to an unfamiliar face would do the team much good.

With that said, the fanbase could call for a switch if the offense gets off to a rough start and fails to make the strides it’s expected to, particularly in the passing game.

@Tb12goat7x: Is this the year?

I haven’t found many fans who believe this is the year the Bills finally win a Super Bowl, and you can count me in with that group of doubters. I think the hiring of Brady is going to prove disastrous, and by the end of the season, we will be wondering what the hell the team was thinking when they promoted him and Beane in the first place.

There have been many reasons to be encouraged throughout training camp and the preseason, but once the regular season rolls around, I think the Bills will be exposed as a team with a number of roster holes created by its GM’s mismanagement and with the wrong man calling the shots from the head-coaching role.

With the final preseason game in the books, it’s time to project how the Buffalo Bills’ 53-man roster will look when the team is forced to trim its roster to 53 players by the league-wide deadline of Sunday at 6 p.m.

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Quarterback (2)

Keep: Josh Allen, Kyle Allen

Cut: Shane Buechele

Kyle Allen solidified his position as the Bills’ backup quarterback with a stellar performance through two preseason games. Allen finished with just four incompletions during matchups against the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns, solidifying his spot behind his buddy, Josh Allen.

Beuchele should land on the team’s practice squad.

Running back (4)

Keep: James Cook, Ty Johnson, Ray Davis, Ben VanSumeren

Cut: Frank Gore Jr., Ian Wheeler

I loved how Ian Wheeler performed throughout training camp and the preseason, while Frank Gore Jr. has come on strong over the past few weeks. It’s too bad that there isn’t any room for either player on the Bills’ 53-man roster. I doubt both of them make it to the practice squad, so it will be interesting to see which player Buffalo keeps to begin the season.

At this point, I think the Bills will keep a fullback, giving Ben VanSumeren a roster spot, along with the team’s three-headed monster at running back: James Cook, Ty Johnson and Ray Davis, who may have lost himself the punt return job with a muffed opportunity on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Wide receiver (6)

Keep: DJ Moore, Khalil Shakir, Joshua Palmer, Keon Coleman, Skyler Bell, Trent Sherfield

PUP list: Tyrell Shavers

Cut: Mecole Hardman Jr., Ja’Mori Maclin, Dante Pettis, Stephen Gosnell, Max Tomczak, Quentin Skinner

Mecole Hardman Jr. was a disaster at the wide receiver position throughout training camp and the preseason, dropping a number of passes in critical situations. While his fight for a roster spot likely came down to his special teams contributions as a punt returner, he can’t be relied upon at all in the passing game, which makes him a one-trick pony.

Trent Sherfield makes the team as a placeholder for Tyrell Shavers, who will slot into that WR/special teams role once he is healthy enough to return from a knee injury that ended his 2025 season during the playoffs. Ja’Mori Maclin and Dante Pettis are two players I would love for the Bills to get back on their practice squad.

Tight end (3)

Keep: Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Jackson Hawes

Cut: Keleki Latu, Shane Zylstra

Not much to see here. Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox and Jackson Hawes compose the team’s top trio, while Keleki Latu is surely the top option to be retained on the practice squad.

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Offensive line (8)

Keep: Dion Dawkins, Alec Anderson, Connor McGovern, O’Cyrus Torrence, Spencer Brown, Lloyd Cushenberry, Austin Corbett, Tylan Grable

IR: Jude Bowry

Cut: Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, Chase Lundt, Da’Metrius Weatherspoon, Ar’maj Reed-Adams, Bruno Fina, Nick Broeker, Sincere Haynesworth

Lloyd Cushenberry was a healthy scratch in the final two preseason games, which points toward his spot on the roster being locked up entering the weekend. The same can’t be said for former fifth-round pick Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, who I believe missed his opportunity to stick around beyond cutdown day.

This year’s fourth-round pick Jude Bowry sustained an injury during the second preseason game against the Browns, and I think he is a strong candidate to be placed on Injured Reserve. Also, 2026 seventh-round pick Ar’maj Reed-Adams should sneak onto Buffalo’s practice squad. Former sixth-round pick Chase Lundt gets cut, while former fifth-rounder Tylan Grable regains the swing tackle role after missing much of last season due to injury.

Defensive line (6)

Keep: Ed Oliver, Deone Walker, T.J. Sanders, Landon Jackson, Greg Gaines, Zane Durant

Suspended: Phidarian Mathis

Cut: DeWayne Carter, Zion Logue, Travis Clayton

DeWayne Carter didn’t record his lone tackle against the Steelers until late in the fourth quarter, while his only other statistic during what seemed to be a make-or-break game for the former third-round pick was an unnecessary roughness penalty on an extra-point attempt. Carter hasn’t done enough this summer to warrant a roster spot, and I believe his time on the roster has run out. With that said, he could be brought back to the practice squad, as I don’t see much of a market for him on the waiver wire.

Greg Gaines will begin the season as the backup to Deone Walker, but I could see Phidarian Mathis replacing him once Mathis is ready to return from injured reserve. Mathis has had a strong preseason.

Edge rusher (6)

Keep: Bradley Chubb, Greg Rousseau, TJ Parker, Michael Hoecht, Javon Solomon, Mike Danna

Cut: Andre Jones Jr., Cade Denhoff

I initially had the Bills keeping five edge rushers, but with Mike Danna proving he still has some gas left in the tank, and Javon Solomon remaining a key special teams contributor, I’m going to bump that number up to six. From what I’ve seen this preseason and training camp, I think this unit could be much improved from a season ago.

Linebacker (4)

Keep: Terrel Bernard, Dorian Williams, Kaleb Elarms-Orr, Joe Andreessen

Cut: Keonta Jenkins, Jimmy Ciarlo, Theron Gaines, Otis Reese IV

I’m really worried about the linebacker position. Having said that, Keonta Jenkins impressed me this summer, which made this the most difficult decision within my 53-man roster projection. Jenkins appeared to be ahead of Joe Andreessen in the linebacker pecking order and also had a sack on the first play of the Bills’ win in the preseason finale.

Jenkins did what he could to earn a roster spot, but I think Andreessen’s experience as a top-tier special teams contributor will be enough to earn him what I believe is one roster spot up for grabs between the two. Jenkins is a strong practice squad candidate if he is indeed cut, but another team may want to scoop him up after what he put on display during the summer.

Cornerback (6)

Keep: Christian Benford, Maxwell Hairston, Davison Igbinosun, Dee Alford, Jordan Hancock, Kani Walker

Cut: Toriano Pride Jr., Te’Cory Couch, Jordan Dunbar, D.J. Miller, Anthony Kendall

I loved what I saw from Kani Walker throughout training camp and the preseason. I think he has done enough to force his way onto the team, ahead of rookie seventh-round pick Toriano Pride Jr., who is a prime practice squad candidate.

Safety (5)

Keep: Cole Bishop, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Damar Hamlin, Jalon Kilgore, Sam Franklin Jr.

Cut: Geno Stone, Wande Owens

The Bills likely had high hopes for Geno Stone as their backup safety when they signed him as a free agent this offseason, but he has done nothing to prove worthy of a roster spot over the past several weeks. Instead, it’s been Damar Hamlin who has risen to the challenge with a couple of interceptions during preseason play.

Hamlin isn’t every Bills fan’s favorite choice, but I think he will be the Bills’ choice as the team’s backup safety this year. Sam Franklin Jr. is kept as an elite special teams player, while Stone could wind up on the practice squad.

Special teams (3)

Keep: Tyler Bass, Tommy Doman Jr., Reid Ferguson

Cut: Mitch Wishnowsky

After the Bills drafted Tommy Doman Jr., Mitch Wishnowsky was going to have to outperform the rookie by a great deal to win the job out of training camp. That didn’t happen. This is Doman Jr.’s job.

What a debut for Buffalo Bills rookie wide receiver Skyler Bell.

Despite the Bills getting off to a slow start, Bell put forth quite the performance while tasting NFL action for the very first time during the Bills’ 28-27 win over the Steelers on Thursday night. Although he missed extended time during training camp and Buffalo’s first two exhibition games due to a groin injury, Bell had no trouble gaining separation from Steelers defenders during the preseason finale and turned in a noteworthy effort.

The No. 125 overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft displayed high-level ability throughout the evening, albeit against Pittsburgh’s backups, and made his case for targets in the Bills’ passing game once the regular season begins.

On the Bills’ first drive, reserve quarterback Shane Buechele missed Bell on his fourth passing attempt of the game near the right sideline, but the duo responded later with a nice 15-yard hookup over the middle to help the Bills get inside the red zone. That was the start of a fine night for the first-year WR, who finished the first half with four receptions for 35 yards.

Later, Bell added to his strong start with a 28-yard touchdown run down the right sideline to help the Bills trim their deficit to 21-17 with 4 minutes 49 seconds remaining in the third quarter. He finished the game with seven receptions for 49 yards.

Thursday was the rookie fourth-rounder’s coming out party and it couldn’t have gone much better. Buffalo’s wide receiver room, which was undermanned a year ago, now appears to be bursting with talent, as DJ Moore was acquired via trade this offseason, 2025 free-agent addition Joshua Palmer has shown well during camp and preseason and now Bell has broken out early to start his career.

This position went from one of the worst on the Bills’ roster to a potential strength in the drop of a hat. I’m excited to see what the regular season holds for this group.

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Bills start rough

The Bills’ sluggish start began with a stalled opening possession that ended in a 33-yard field goal from kicker Tyler Bass, which gave Buffalo a 3-0 lead with 9 minutes 33 seconds left in the first quarter. The drive initially appeared destined for the end zone, as reserve Buechele helped the Bills convert a third-and-7 along with a third-and-10. But the Bills’ offensive momentum was thwarted by a second-down drop from WR Mecole Hardman near the right sideline, which was followed by an incompletion on third-and-11.

Hardman has dropped a number of passes this preseason and his latest seemed to be the last straw in his fight for a roster spot at the punt returner position. However, running back Ray Davis had something to say about that, when later, he let a Steelers punt go right through his arms before Pittsburgh jumped on it for the recovery at the Bills’ 13-yard line.

After Davis’ muff, it took just one play for the Steelers’ offense to score a touchdown, with RB Germie Bernard running through Maxwell Hairston, who completely whiffed on a tackle en route to the end zone. Just like that, it was 7-3 Steelers with 7 minutes 10 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Bills went three-and-out on their next possession, with a horrendous Mitch Wishnowsky punt ending the drive and allowing the Steelers to take over at the Bills’ 28-yard line. Five plays later, Pittsburgh found the end zone again, this time on a 10-yard TD pass from QB Will Howard to tight end Lake McRee.

The opening stanza set the tone for the rest of the the first half, which did not go well for the Bills, as they headed to halftime trailing 14-10.

The most significant concern early on was the poor performance from the two leading candidates in the punt return competition. Davis nor Hardman has done anything to solidify their case for the job, and on Thursday, they each took a significant step back in different respects.

Additionally, Hairston’s attempt to tackle Bernard was as bad as it gets. Hairston was drafted for his speed, not his physically. But the 5-foot-11, 192-pound cornerback must prove he has the ability to bring down NFL ball carriers and so far, not so good.

To make matters worse for Hairston, second-round rookie CB Davison Igbinosun made a heck of a play later during the first half, coming up to lay the lumber while recording a tackle on Steelers WR Brandon Smith. Igbinosun has been the better player between the two this summer by my estimation.

I don’t think the Bills will give the first-year pro the starting job over Hairston, a 2025 first-round pick. But I think they should.

Also, Wishnowsky’s performance likely gives rookie Tommy Doman Jr. a leg up in the battle to be the Bills’ punter. Doman Jr. had an up-and-down day against the Browns last week but his effort was no where near as bad as Wishnowsky’s against the Steelers, as the veteran’s first punt went for 19 net yards and had a hang time of just over three seconds. His second punt went 49 net yards, but the damage was done.

Doman Jr. came on before the first half was through and boomed two punts that traveled 56 and 49 yards, the second of which was perfectly placed inside the Steelers’ 10-yard line. Further evidence that the rookie should win the job.

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Frank Gore Jr. makes presence felt

All the talk regarding the Bills’ running back room this summer has surrounded Ian Wheeler. The former UFL standout has been a training camp darling, displaying great physicality coupled with impressive speed and explosiveness.

But on Thursday, Frank Gore Jr. reminded Bills fans of his presence, finishing a nice day with five receptions for 45 yards. He also carried the ball 10 times for 27 yards and the TD.

His best play of the day came before a one-yard rushing touchdown helped trim the Bills’ deficit to 14-10 with 9 minutes 19 seconds left in the first half. Before reaching the end zone on the next play, Gore Jr. recorded an 18-yard catch and run, putting a nice move on a Steelers defender to break free toward pay dirt.

Wheeler had his moments as well, recording a two-yard TD run to help the Bills take the lead late in the fourth quarter. He finished the game with nine carries for 23 yards and added two catches for 10 yards.

With both of the Bills’ reserve RBs performing well this preseason, they may force the team to keep two players at the position on its practice squad.

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DeWayne Carter might be out of luck

On the television broadcast before the game, Bills president of football operations/general manager Brandon Beane stated the team had decided on about 50 of its available roster spots before the team has to trim to 53 players by the league wide deadline of Sunday at 6 p.m. One of the three positions likely up for grabs entering Thursday’s game was the backup nose tackle role, which appeared to be between former third-round pick DeWayne Carter and recent free-agent signing Greg Gaines.

Not only did Gaines appear to be ahead of Carter in the pecking order for playing time against the Steelers, Carter was also called for an unnecessary roughness penalty on a Pittsburgh extra-point attempt. Carter played into the fourth quarter and finished with a single tackle.

I think we have seen enough from Carter. If the Bills can get him back on the practice squad, great. But he is not worthy of a roster spot at this point. Buffalo should go with Gaines if that is indeed the choice they must make.

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Keon Coleman out of walking boot

There was some positive news on the injury front to report, as WR Keon Coleman was out of the walking boot he had previously worn the past several days to protect an apparent toe/foot injury. Coleman did not suit up to play against the Steelers, still, it was a good sign to see him moving around without the boot.

He is trending toward being ready for Week 1 against the Houston Texans.

Also, edge rusher Michael Hoecht made his return to the game field after an Achilles injury ended his season last year. Hoecht played sparingly in the first half, and was kept off the stat sheet. But the most important takeaway for him was he appeared to come out of the game healthy.

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Kicking (B)Ass

Bills kicker Tyler Bass had a clean day on Thursday, recording made field goals from 33 and 42 yards, and draining all three of his extra-point attempts. It’s been an up-and-down summer for Bass, so it was good to see him get out of this week’s game successfully.

Wind was very confused

A quick note on the Bills’ new Highmark Stadium: it was very windy outside of the gates before kickoff, but once inside the building, there was not much wind to speak of, particularly at field level. One of the features of the Bills’ new home is the mesh exterior, which is supposed to create “wind confusion.” It certainly seemed to work on Thursday night.

The Bills have now completed the preseason and look ahead to their season opener against the Houston Texans on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m.

On tonight's show, we recap the Buffalo Bills preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. Who were the Bills' standout performers? Other takeaways as well.

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A dark, rainy cloud has followed the Buffalo Bills since the start of training camp at St. John Fisher University in late July.

And it continued to cast its shadow over the Bills in their second preseason game of the season, a 31-7 win over the Cleveland Browns on Saturday afternoon.

After just 1 minute 49 seconds of on-field action, the game was suspended due to lightning in the area of Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland. The first three plays of the game were two runs from Bills running back Ray Davis that went for a combined 13 yards, while wide receiver Trent Sherfield hauled in an 18-yard pass from backup quarterback Kyle Allen, who started in place of Josh Allen, who had the day off against the Browns.

Action ceased at 1:12 p.m. and did not resume until teams emerged from the locker room following a 1-hour, 6-minute delay.

The wet weather in the Bills’ second exhibition game continued a common theme that has extended through camp and the preseason, as the Bills have had several practices, including the Return of the Blue and Red open practice at Highmark Stadium, disrupted by heavy precipitation similar to that which we saw in Cleveland.

An ominous sign, indeed.

Things got going for the Bills’ offense after the rain

Once the two teams got back to business, Davis and Sherfield continued their assault, with Allen heating up as the day continued. He hit Sherfield down the field for 17 yards before a six-yard carry from Davis placed the Bills inside the red zone. Then, tight end Jackson Hawes drew a penalty for defensive pass interference, placing the ball at the one-yard line.

Davis was held out of the end zone on his first two rushing attempts from the one-yard line before forcing his way across the goal line for the score on third down to help Buffalo take a 7-0 lead with 9 minutes 32 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Sherfield had a big day, finishing with four receptions for 54 yards. He and Allen were on the money in the first half, which was Allen’s second straight solid preseason performance. The veteran QB later connected with WR Ja’Mori Maclin on a 37-yard pitch-and-catch, leading to Buffalo’s second touchdown of the game.

Allen finished the first half 10 of 12 passing for 128 yards and a touchdown. He is starting to put a stranglehold on the QB2 competition.

Shane Buechele played the second half, with the highlight of his performance coming on a throw, catch and run from the Bills’ QB to Maclin, who went all the way for a 71-yard touchdown. Maclin finished the game with two receptions for 108 yards and a TD , while Buechele went 5 of 10 passing for 111 yards with a passing and rushing touchdown.

A couple of other notes, as far as the Bills punt return battle is concerned, Davis had a chance to return the Browns’ first punt, but the ball sailed on him before going out of bounds for no return. Not a great first step toward potentially locking down that role this season.

Davis’ second try went much better, as he was able to haul in the punt before recording a 12-yard return. His primary competition, wide receiver Mecole Hardman, dropped two passes on third down during the first half, leading to a couple of punts. With that said, he later finished off the Bills’ final drive of the first half with a nine-yard touchdown on a short flip from Allen.

It seems that competition has yet to be decided.

Joe Brady passes key test

Allen’s exciting performance was capped by a phenomenal two-minute drive in which the Bills managed the clock well en route to the end zone. It was just Brady’s second game on the sideline as Bills head coach, and he appeared comfortable and proved effective in a critical situation.

Another step for Buffalo’s first-year head coach, who has looked poised through two preseason games. With that said, the Bills have yet to hit any adversity, as they’ve played two inferior opponents in exhibition matchups. We’ll see what happens once the regular season starts.

Bills defensive depth has rough start

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The Bills’ defense struggled on the Browns’ first drive of the game, allowing quarterback Shedeur Sanders to finish the possession a perfect 4 of 4 passing, including an eight-yard touchdown pass, helping the Browns tie the game at 7-7 with 2 minutes 56 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

With many of Buffalo’s starting defenders on the sideline resting, the team’s depth was tested and didn’t offer inspiring results on the opening drive. Along with the TD, which came on third-and-7, the Bills also allowed the Browns to convert on a fourth-and-2 to extend their drive before the score.

On the touchdown, there appeared to be a miscommunication on the back end, while Buffalo also had trouble slowing the Browns’ running game early on, particularly on attempts that went up the middle. While it finished the first half with just 42 yards rushing on 16 attempts, Cleveland recorded runs of eight, five, and six yards leading to their first score of the game.

Things got better as the first half wore on, but it wasn’t a great start for Buffalo’s second-team unit.

TJ Parker was Bills’ best defender

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Two bright spots during the Bills’ defense’s first-half performance were rookie edge rusher TJ Parker and linebacker Joe Andreessen.

Parker was the Bills’ best defender against the Browns, consistently setting up camp in the backfield and creating pressure throughout the day. He finished the first two quarters of play with a couple of tackles and just missed a sack, which helped lead to fellow rookie, defensive tackle Zane Durant, drawing a holding penalty called against a Browns offensive lineman.

Parker picked up right where he left off to begin the second half, recording a quarterback pressure on first down and a run stop on second down of Cleveland’s opening drive of the third quarter. It looks like the Bills have a good one in their first-year pass rusher.

Andreessen played as if his hair was on fire, flying around the football field while helping create a number of negative plays. The most significant play made by Andreessen came on an interception from Damar Hamlin, as the Bills’ LB got his hand on a Sanders pass that was thrown behind its intended target, popping it up into the air before Hamlin ran under it to pick it off.

Andreessen has appeared to be behind Keonta Jenkins in the LB pecking order throughout camp and the preseason, but his performance on Saturday might make the Bills’ coaching staff think twice about his position on the depth chart.

In the second half, cornerback Te’Cory Couch came away with an interception, helping lead to the Bills’ third touchdown of the game. All in all, it was a solid day for the Bills’ defense after a an undesirable start to the game.

Doman Jr.’s up and down day

After rookie punter Tommy Doman Jr.’s first punt of the game, it seemed as if the Bills’ punter competition may have been decided. The seventh-round pick’s first attempt went for 50 yards, coming down at the 11-yard line before a three-yard return from the Browns return man. It was a high-arching punt that was directed to the left sideline. A succesful start for the first-year pro.

However, his good fortune didn’t last long, as his next punt was just 42 yards, which allowed a 17-yard return from the Browns. His third punt went for just 37 yards, traveling from the Bills’ 46-yard line to the Browns’ 17-yard line before a fair catch was called for.

Veteran Mitch Wishnowsky bombed a 59-yard punt in the second half. This battle suddenly seems likely to extend into the final game of the preseason.

Bass comes through

There was an encouraging moment for the Bills’ special teams, as kicker Tyler Bass pushed a kick from 52 yards through the uprights to increase Buffalo’s lead to 17-7 midway through the third quarter.

Bass missed a 45-yard field goal during the Bills’ preseason win over the Carolina Panthers and missed a couple of kicks during the team’s week of practice leading into their game against the Browns. The successful attempt from beyond 50 yards is a much-needed confidence booster.

A rookie might not be ready

Before heading for the medical tent midway through the first half, Bills fourth-round offensive lineman Jude Bowry provided further evidence that he may not be ready to become the team’s swing tackle in his rookie season. Bowry was beaten for a sack, which continues a stretch of subpar play from the first-year pro.

With Ryan Van Demark departing this offseason, the hope was that the fourth-rounder would be ready to fill his shoes. But not so fast.

I was encouraged with his start to training camp, but once the preseason games started, his performance has dipped.

Tragedy for Ed Oliver

Before the start of Saturday’s game, NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe reported that Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver is mourning the tragic passing of his son. Oliver is also dealing with an injury and did not travel to Cleveland with the team.

The Bills will get back to practice this week before their preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers, scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. at Highmark Stadium.

With the NFL Draft having spent four months in the rearview mirror, it’s time to reevaluate the Buffalo Bills’ 10 drafted rookies.

The team’s crop of first-year players has had plenty of time to ingratiate themselves within their new surroundings, while they’ve also had the opportunity to perform on the field both during training camp and the first of the Bills’ three exhibition games. Buffalo didn’t make a first-round pick this season, but a number of their selections are competing for significant roles both offensively and defensively in Year 1. That will sure make it interesting to follow this group throughout 2026 and beyond.

Each player will have to prove themselves in their first professional campaign. However, as they get set to dive into the deep end in Week 1, there have been hints as to what we should expect from each rookie entering the regular season.

Here are my projections for each member of the Bills’ 2026 rookie class, beginning with second-round pass rusher TJ Parker.

EDGE TJ Parker, Round 2, No. 35 overall

Parker recorded a sack during the Bills’ win over the Panthers, which got his rookie year off to a strong start. It was a play in which the Carolina quarterback ran right into the Buffalo first-year defensive lineman, so it wasn’t necessarily the moment of the day. Still, it was a good sign for Parker, who has plenty on his plate this year.

Projection: While I don’t think he will instantly become a top-tier pass rusher in his first season, I’m expecting Parker to contribute 4-6 sacks while serving as the No. 3 option in Buffalo’s pass-rush rotation.

CB Davison Igbinosun, Round 2, No. 62 overall

With former first-round pick Maxwell Hairston sidelined for an extended period during training camp, Igbinosun got valuable reps with the Bills’ first-team defense. He was one of the standouts during the open practice at Highmark Stadium on Aug. 18, recording a number of pass breakups throughout the session.

Projection: It appears, if Hairston is healthy to start the year (which is a big if), that Igbinosun will be the team’s No. 3 cornerback. However, if Hairston falters, the Bills may be quick to insert Igbinosun for a change of pace, or perhaps even rotate him in immediately to start the year. From my perspective, he isn’t that far behind Hairston as it stands today.

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OL Jude Bowry, Round 4, No. 102 overall

Bowry has had an up-and-down training camp and preseason. He doesn’t appear ready to become the team’s swing tackle in Year 1, but the Bills may have no better option on their roster, forcing him into that spot. We’ll see how it plays out, but he could still use some seasoning before being relied upon in a significant role.

Projection: It would benefit Bowry and the Bills if he isn’t pushed into significant playing time in 2026. Still, he could be first in line if Dion Dawkins or Spencer Brown go down during the regular season.

WR Skyler Bell, Round 4, No. 125 overall

I was super high on Bell when the Bills drafted him in the fourth round. But injuries and a few dropped passes have slowed the start to his NFL career. With the Bills featuring DJ Moore, Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman and Joshua Palmer at the wide receiver position this summer, Bell is No. 4 on the depth chart at best entering the regular season. If he is healthy, that is.

Projection: A reasonable projection for Bell in Year 1 is 25 receptions for 250 yards and a couple of touchdowns. I just don’t think he will be used enough to produce more than that.

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LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr, Round 4, No. 126 overall

Elarms-Orr has been one of the standouts of training camp, delivering a pro-ready performance that has placed him at the forefront of a preseason positional battle with Dorian Williams at linebacker.

Projection: While Terrel Bernard is set to assume one of the starting roles at the position, it remains to be seen whether the Bills will choose Elarms-Orr or Williams as their other first-teamer entering the regular season. With that said, I think Elarms-Orr is a prime candidate to take on starters’ reps by the end of the year. Bernard can never stay healthy, and I don’t think he or Williams are surefire starting-caliber players.

S Jalon Kilgore, Round 5, No. 167 overall

Kilgore burst onto the scene with a strong start to training camp, but an injury midway through the preseason slowed his progress.

Projection: The future is bright for the fifth-round pick, but he may not contribute all that significantly on defense in Year 1. Special teams will likely be his area of expertise in 2026.

DT Zane Durant, Round 5, No. 181 overall

Durant made a noticeable impact at the start of training camp before sustaining an injury that forced him to miss some time.

Projection: He may not be one of the top options at DT to start the year, but if those ahead of Durant on the depth chart fail to measure up, he will be waiting in the wings to rise to the occasion. I think he can be a steady contributor in this league.

CB Toriano Pride Jr., Round 7, No. 220 overall

Pride Jr. hasn’t shown many flashes, whether it be during training camp or the preseason.

Projection: I think he will be a prime candidate to be developed on the Bills’ practice squad.

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P Tommy Doman Jr., Round 7, No. 239 overall

Entering the Bills’ preseason game against the Cleveland Browns, Doman Jr. appears to have a stranglehold on the starting punter job.

Projection: He should be the answer at the position well into the future.

OL Ar’maj Reed-Adams, Round 7, No. 241 overall

Like Pride Jr., Reed-Adams has not done enough to force his way onto the roster from my perspective.

Projection: Another candidate for the practice squad.

On today's show, the Buffalo Bills are preparing for their second preseason game against the Cleveland Browns with a joint practice in Berea, OH. Josh Allen and the Bills' tight ends propelled a hot day for the Buffalo passing game, while there remains work to do at various positions defensively.

Also, plenty of injuries to update: are they still Sean McDermott's fault? A look back at preseason Week 1 and a preview for this weekend's game in Cleveland.

Please like, share, subscribe and rate, and also leave a comment on the Alex Brasky: Unfiltered YouTube, Apple feed, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

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There were plenty of injury updates to report following the Buffalo Bills’ final open practice of training camp.

Over 41,000 Bills fans flooded through the gates at the new Highmark Stadium on Tuesday morning and were treated to a session filled with action, energy and a bit of hostility.

First, the injury updates.

There was some good news, as both safety Cole Bishop and Maxwell Hairston returned to practice after extended absences, which included the Bills’ preseason opener, due to lower body injuries. Both players participated in team drills, which is a great sign for two of the team’s most important coverage men.

However, there was a bit of bad news as well. Wide receiver Keon Coleman was in a walking boot and did not participate in Tuesday’s practice, joining a list of non-participants, which included rookie safety Jalon Kilgore. The nature and extent of Coleman’s injury remain unclear. It’s disappointing for the Bills’ embattled WR, who caught the first touchdown pass inside new Highmark Stadium this past Saturday against the Panthers.

Kilgore is a new addition to the team’s list of ailing players, which also features rookie WR Skyler Bell, running back Ty Johnson, center Connor McGovern and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson. None of those players participated on Tuesday, nor did WR Khalil Shakir and defensive tackle Ed Oliver, but those two appeared to be enjoying veteran rest days based on their demeanor on the sideline.

After sustaining an apparent lower body injury against the Panthers, DJ Moore was on the field to start Tuesday’s practice, but was later sidelined during team drills. His abbreviated practice could be precautionary, as the Bills have been extremely careful with those players who have been banged up throughout training camp.

Before he exited for team drills, Moore was running routes and appeared to be moving and cutting well. It will be interesting to see if he participates in the Bills’ joint practice with the Cleveland Browns on Thursday, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the Bills held him and a several others out of that session just to be safe.

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Two Fights at Bills Practice

Tempers flared at two points during the session, with the first involving fullback Ben VanSumeren and linebacker Otis Reese IV, and the other featured rookie offensive lineman Jude Bowry. Both were relatively brief and mild.

VanSumeren appears set to win the Bills’ fullback competition, if they keep a player at that position, that is. Undrafted rookie FB Jackson Acker was released this week.

The Bills’ draft class has shown no fear throughout camp, with Bowry the latest first-year pro to mix it up with his teammates. Earlier in camp, it was TJ Parker and Kaleb Elarms-Orr in the center of a couple of scuffles. It’s great to see the rookies displaying their aggression.

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Bills’ Rookie Defensive Back Shining

The star of Tuesday’s practice was rookie cornerback Davison Igbinosun, who made a number of pass breakups throughout the session.

The first came while he was working against WR Stephen Gosnell in coverage, with Igbinosun going up high to knock a Josh Allen pass away from its intended target. Another came when he cut in front of WR Joshua Palmer and nearly finished with an interception. Finally, he got his hand in to bat down a Josh Allen pass intended for WR Dante Pettis down the left sideline.

Igbinosun’s strength lies in physical, man to man coverage and he put that on display on Tuesday, continuing a strong stretch of action for the first-year pro. Since joining the Bills, his performance has been up and down. But he had a magnificent day during the open practice.

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Josh Allen Continues to Connect Deep

The Bills’ passing game has been the talk of training camp so far, particularly Allen’s connection with Moore and how the new duo has flourished throughout the offseason. But Allen hasn’t limited his targets to the new Bills pass catcher, connecting with a number of weapons down the field since the team began its time at St. John Fisher University.

Allen and his arsenal were at it again on Tuesday, as the former MVP completed deep throws to tight end Dalton Kincaid and WR Quentin Skinner during 1 on 1s before finding WRs Joshua Palmer and Dante Pettis during 11 on 11 work.

The play of the day was Allen to Pettis, who broke free on a deep corner route for a 45-yard touchdown. Pettis has been a steady producer during practices since he was acquired as a free agent midway through camp, while Allen continues to refine his performance, particularly down the field, with each opportunity he’s given during camp and the preseason.

Video updates from Tuesday’s practice can be found @AlexBrasky on X. The Bills are off on Wednesday as they will head to Cleveland for the two teams’ joint session on Thursday, which precedes the second preseason game of the year on Saturday.

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The Joe Brady era got off to a strong start during the Buffalo Bills’ 29-14 win over the Carolina Panthers in Buffalo’s preseason opener on Saturday.

The Bills elected to play their starters in their first exhibition game of the year, and after there was some cause for concern initially, things took a turn for the better as the first half wore on.

Buffalo’s offensive starters were on the field for the first two series of the game, both of which ended in points. The Bills started things off with a seven-play 54-yard scoring drive that ended in a 33-yard field goal for kicker Tyler Bass to give Buffalo a 3-0, the first points scored in new Highmark Stadium.

The Bills converted the first touchdown drive inside the stadium on their next possession, as Josh Allen connected with wide receiver Keon Coleman, because of course, for a nine-yard touchdown to help increase the lead to 10-0 with 5 minutes 12 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

During the drive, WR DJ Moore exited with an apparent lower-leg injury and was quickly surrounded by athletic trainers and team doctors, along with Allen. But after a quick examination, the team’s medical staff left the bench area and Moore could later be seen interacting with teammates while in good spirits. He returned to the sideline for the second half in gym shorts, as his day was done after appearing to avoid a serious ailment.

All in all, it was a strong start for the Bills’ attack, as Allen went 6 of 8 passing for 111 yards and the touchdown to Coleman, while Moore finished with three receptions for 61 yards and Khalil Shakir added two receptions for 41 yards. Running back James Cook even got in on the action, taking five carries for 21 yards.

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Backup quarterback Kyle Allen, who is competing with Shane Buechele for the job, has a phenomenal first half, finishing 14 of 16 passing while leading a scoring drive. Buechele played the entire second half, finishing 6 of 9 passing for 50 yards. He led an 11-play scoring drive that ended in a Bass field goal to start the third quarter, while RB Ian Wheeler later ran in a six-yard touchdown to complete an eight-play, 49-yard scoring drive to increase Buffalo’s lead to 22-7 midway through the fourth quarter.

A quick aside, Wheeler has been impressive throughout training camp and the preseason. While Ray Davis is coming off an All-Pro season as a kick returner, the Bills should consider offering him up as a trade chip. Wheeler is more than capable of filling his role.

The lone concern offensively was the performance of the offensive line, which allowed Allen to be sacked twice (one was negated by penalty) and pressured a few more times. Left tackle Dion Dawkins was also called for a false start penalty after leading the team in penalties a year ago.

New offensive line coach Pat Meyer will have to get things cleaned up before Buffalo takes on a ferocious Texans defense in the season opener.

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Defense Dominates During Bills’ Win

The Bills’ starting defense performed exceptionally well under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, forcing three three-and-outs during its time on the field.

Second-year defensive tackle Deone Walker was the most significant standout over the first two quarters of play, recording a sack, quarterback pressure and tackle for loss. Walker was a monster for the Bills during his rookie season and may be set for an even bigger breakout campaign in Year 2.

The Panthers’ lone score of the first half was a six-yard touchdown pass from Kenny Pickett to WR Ja’seem Reed, who beat Stone on a slant route over the middle before coming away with the reception in the end zone. Carolina later scored on a nine-yard TD pass from Kyle Trask to John Metchie III late in the fourth quarter.

Stone is battling with Damar Hamlin to see who will back up starters Cole Bishop and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who were both out due to injury on Saturday. That left Stone and Hamlin to participate with the first team.

If I were to predict who will earn the reserve role between the two, I would say Hamlin is the front runner at this point.

There were a few other Bills players who did not play against the Panthers, including McGovern, cornerback Maxwell Hairston RB Ty Johnson and rookie WR Skyler Bell. The nature or extent of each player’s injury is unknown at this time, but Bishop and Hairston were on the field pregame going through a good workout. They both appear close to returning to action.

With Hairston out, rookie CB Davison Igbinosun earned the start, while Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams started at inside linebacker.

Elsewhere at CB, undrafted free agent Kani Walker continues to rise. He recorded an interception late in the fourth quarter, turning the ball back over to the Buffalo offense before RB Frank Gore Jr. punched in a three-yard run to help increase Buffalo’s lead to 29-7.

Walker has had a strong training camp and he carried his performance over to the game field. He is a near shoo-in to make the 53-man roster.

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Get His (B)Ass Outta Here

Despite starting with a successful kick, things quickly went south for Bass, who missed his second attempt from 45 yards. He finished the day 3 for 4 with additional makes from 46 and 29 yards. Still, his inconsistency reared its ugly head once again, proving the Bills should add another player to compete with him before the regular season begins.

Even before he missed the entirety of last season due to a sports hernia, Bass wasn’t all that reliable. He converted just over 82% of his field goals during both the 2023 and 2024 campaigns.

If Matt Prater is willing to come back and kick at age-42, the Bills should give him a call.

One more note on special teams: rookie Tommy Doman Jr. was Bass’ holder throughout the game, which points to the punter competition between Doman Jr. and veteran Mitch Wishnowsky being all but over.

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Grass Field Review

Saturday was not only the first game played inside Highmark Stadium, but it was also the first game played on the stadium’s new grass field. There were moments throughout the game where members of the grounds crew were forced to go onto the field to repair spots where divots had been created or the grass had been otherwise chewed up.

There are plenty of benefits to playing on a natural surface, particularly when it comes to injury avoidance. But one drawback is the quality of the surface being worn down over the course of a game or long season.

It will be interesting to see how the field holds up in Year 1 of the new building.

The Bills get back to practice this week before their second preseason game, scheduled for next Saturday in Cleveland against the Browns.

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On the latest episode, we take a look inside the Bills' new Highmark Stadium after the team held its annual Return of the Blue and Red practice. What stood out? Any disappointments?

Also, some on-field takeaways from Saturday's practice and the final few days of training camp at St. John Fisher University.

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Please like, share, subscribe and rate, and also leave a comment on the Alex Brasky: Unfiltered YouTube, Apple feed, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

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The day Buffalo Bills fans had been long waiting for finally arrived on Saturday, as the team opened the doors on its new Highmark Stadium to Bills Mafia for the first time for the Return of the Blue and Red practice.

Along with my firsthand observations from walking throughout the concourse and visiting various areas of the stadium, I also left with a few takeaways from the action on the field.

Rain disrupted the practice for quite some time, but the team was still able to get in valuable work throughout a lengthy period of team drills. However, two key injuries popped up over the course of the event, with a couple of critical pieces to the Bills’ offense exiting the session early.

Cornerback Maxwell Hairston was out for the second straight practice, but it was the ailments sustained by two others that are most concerning at this point. Starting center Connor McGovern was injured twice near the start of team drills, exiting briefly before returning, only to exit again due to what appeared to be a hamstring injury.

McGovern was chasing down a defensive player who had just made an interception, and before he reached the wave of players rushing down the sideline, he collapsed to the turf, clutching the back of his upper leg. When he was out, both Sedrick Van Pran-Granger and Lloyd Cushenberry mixed in with the first team.

Earlier, running back Ty Johnson suffered a similar fate, as he went down and grabbed at his hamstring after running a route against defense down the right sideline during live drills. Neither player returned to practice, and we will have to monitor their condition moving forward.

Punter Mitch Wishnowsky also missed his second straight practice, which led to rookie Tommy Doman Jr. taking all of the reps at punter while also serving as the holder on field goals. He bombed a few punts close to 70 yards in the air during his time participating in special teams work. At this point, it would shock me if Doman Jr. doesn’t win the competition for the starting job.

Additionally, rookie defensive tackle Zane Durant was absent after exiting Friday’s practice early, while cornerback Dee Alford, who also went down on Friday, was good to go for the open session.

Two lesser-known Bills players, wide receiver Mac Dalena and defensive back D.J. Miller, also did not practice.

Uniforms Galore at Bills Return of Blue and Red

Fans in attendance not only got their first look at the new stadium, but also got to witness Josh Allen don a Nickel City uniform and Charge helmet for the first time. The all-gray get-up was much maligned by fans and many others upon theirreveal, so the Bills made sure to trot out their franchise quarterback wearing the new threads in an effort to create some good PR.

I was surprised that I also saw a lot of fans wearing the new jerseys, proudly displaying their new groutfit in public view.

Josh Allen’s Ups and Downs

After firing what I believe was his first interception of training camp late last week at St. John Fisher University, Allen was off the mark a bit more often on Saturday.

Some in attendance had him throwing as many as four interceptions, although one appeared to be called back during team drills due to a flag thrown on a pass intended for WR Keon Coleman, when CB Christian Benford tugged at the pass catcher’s jersey before making the play on the ball.

Another pick was created by Cole Bishop during 1-on-1s, when Bishop was able to win in coverage against tight end Dalton Kincaid before stealing the ball out of the air. Bishop also delivered a big blow to WR Joshua Palmer despite most Bills defenders straying away from contact throughout the practice.

A third was recorded by Damar Hamlin, as the veteran safety came away with a ball that went right through WR Joshua Palmer’s hands.

Allen has been phenomenal throughout camp, so I’m not sure one rough day is enough for me to be worried about him entering the team’s preseason slate, particularly considering some of the big plays he made during the open practice.

The first bomb was to WR DJ Moore, who has been Allen’s favorite target since camp started. It was another deep strike, as the team’s top duo in the passing game continued its positive trend of lighting it up down the field for the past few weeks.

Another WR who showed up with a catch on an Allen bomb was Khalil Shakir, who left safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson in the dust before making a sliding grab in the end zone.

Shakir is more known for his work near the line of scrimmage and run-after-catch ability. However, on Saturday, his downfield talent was on display, and we could see more of that this season, as the Bills make a few transitions under head coach Joe Brady.

So, while Allen wasn’t at his best on Saturday, it’s certainly not time to panic about the former MVP.

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Tyler Kicked Some (B)Ass at Bills Practice

After missing a couple of field goals during his work at Friday’s practice, Bills kicker Tyler Bass responded with a perfect day in front of the fans at Highmark Stadium. Bass made all eight of the kicks he attempted at the Return of the Blue and Red, with the attempts ranging from 33 to 43 yards.

It was an encouraging sign for Bass, who missed all of last season with hip and groin injuries. Not only was he able to practice without any sign of struggle, he performed exceptionally well, which may cause me to back off my “Matt Prater to Buffalo” campaign I had been building the past few weeks.

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An Undrafted Rookie Continues to Shine

With Maxwell Hairston out due to injury, every CB on the Bills’ depth chart jumped up a spot, including UDFA Kani Walker, who has been a training camp darling through the first few weeks.

After a successful run at St. John Fisher University, Walker continued his stretch of solid play on Saturday at the Return of the Blue and Red, participating with the second-team defense and coming away with a couple of pass breakups.

The Bills are desperate for depth at the cornerback position, and Walker is looking more and more like a roster lock as time goes on at camp.

The team will return to practice this week, but will do so out of public view, as only the credentialed media will be permitted to watch each training camp session moving forward. That is, with the exception of the August 18 open practice at Highmark Stadium, where non-season-ticket holders will have a chance to take in the sights and sounds of the team’s new home.

But until then, we are at the mercy of the Bills beat and what they decide to post about each practice, which must fall within the confines of team rules and unwritten expectations for reporters covering the team. That will lead to far less information being available leading into the regular season.

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What a night.

The Buffalo Bills showed off the new, $2.1 billion Highmark Stadium to 51,807 of their loyal fans for the very first time on Saturday night, opening the gates for the annual Return of the Blue and Red practice.

Plenty of pomp and circumstance surrounded the event, as fans poured into the impressive venue, packing the stands for a night filled with excitement and a boatload of action that helped create countless memories for everyone in attendance. Before a fireworks show put a cherry on top of what was a phenomenal evening in Orchard Park, the Bills held a two-hour practice that produced a few noteworthy updates.

But first, before the Bills took the field in various forms of attire (more on that later), I began the evening by exploring the exterior of the stadium, most notably the Family Circle, which featured plaques honoring franchise legends (and Bills Mafia!), not including O.J. Simpson.

The circle is also home to the three sizable bison statues. The statues are glorious and come to life at night, when bright blue light accentuates their appeal.

I wasn’t a big fan of the bison statues when the renderings were first introduced. But I must say, they have grown on me. And now, having seen them in person both during the daytime and at night, I am a big fan.

And I haven’t even seen them blow smoke yet!

Next, shortly after my sweaty ass took refuge from the hot summer sun in the shade of Gate D, I made my long-awaited entrance when the gatekeepers got word from Big Brother at 4 p.m. sharp to allow a wave of Bills Mafia to flood into what the team has deemed the secure perimeter and fan plaza zone, which sounds like a fast food play-place inside a military base.

Once secure within the perimeter, fans got a close-up view of their team’s new home as they waited patiently while enjoying the new amenities added throughout the gated area, before actually setting foot inside the stadium.

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There was a mini football field where a DJ played music, and families enjoyed games, such as miniature golf and a football toss, along with various merchandise tents, as well as a few sections for photo opportunities. There was even a booth where kids were getting their hair cut just mere yards away from where Josh Allen is now set to do business.

On each side of the mini field are two concession areas, one of which offered a Chiavetta’s chicken dinner, which I devoured in mere moments. The dinner came with a leg and a breast, along with three sides: Chiavetta’s-seasoned potato chips, potato salad and a piece of cornbread. I scored the dinner an 8 out of 10 in my review, which I posted to YouTube.

Next time I’m there, I’ll have to try the Southern Junction barbecue, which I attempted to sample on Saturday only to be forced from a slow-moving, long line at about 4:40 p.m. After all, the stadium was about to open when the clock struck 5 p.m.

When it did, I entered the stadium. And boy, was I awestruck.

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The house that Josh Allen built

Blown away by the sound system reverberating throughout the building, I made my way to the landing near Gate 5, where I looked out over the field from the West end zone, struck by what my eyes were witnessing.

A grass field. Multi-colored seats (not bleachers), running all the way up to the 400 level, where a canopy protects fans seated in the upper deck from the elements.

This wasn’t just a football stadium. It looked more like the Colosseum.

Especially considering where this all started: across the street in a building half the size and without any new-age feel. I loved the old Highmark Stadium. But after stepping foot inside the new one, I can see why the team needed a change.

Now, this isn’t Jerry World. This isn’t the Taj Mahal. There aren’t many aspects of the general admission area that are all that unique.

But for an old-school football town like Buffalo, with a fan base that was raised in a stadium built in a hole in the ground, the new Highmark Stadium is a significant upgrade.

And let me tell you why.

A big boost for Bills fans

For starters, the concourses are cavernous. Whereas in the old stadium, fans were packed like sardines as they made their way from their seats to the bathroom or concession area, in the new stadium, the walkways are vast enough to allow traffic to pass through without much threat of a jam.

Additionally, the food and beverage areas are tucked away, out of fans’ path as they move from one section to another. That also aids the flow of traffic throughout the stadium.

As you move around the 100 level, you see a broken table monument, an ode to Bills fans. And also seemingly sponsored by Verizon, because of course. It wouldn’t surprise me if they find a sponsor for the toilet paper at some point.

But let’s stay on track here.

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Along with the broken table monument, plenty of other art covers the walls around the stadium, making otherwise dull sections more vibrant and full of life.

Speaking of life, the food. Oh, the food.

Beyond my delicious Chiavetta’s chicken, there was new, thick-crust Buffalo-style pizza. Chicken wings. Beef on Weck. Chicken finger subs.

That’s not to mention what they’re going to unveil when the regular season gets here. Or what all of the rich people are eating in the premium seating areas.

Don’t get me started on the expansive drink menu that dwarfs what was available in the old stadium.

The opportunities are endless!

I’ll tell you what else is endless: the legroom. As I made my way up to the 400 level, which no longer feels as if you’re staring off the edge of a cliff, I was taken aback by the luxurious space fans had between them and the seat in front of them. Another big improvement from the old stadium.

The new bathrooms are spacious and clean, with plenty of them spread throughout the concourse. It doesn’t appear as if fans will be forced to spend as long waiting in line for a chance to relieve themselves, but don’t hold me to that.

Another massive upgrade: no more piss troughs in the men’s bathroom. Those things generated nostalgia for many, but speaking from experience, I’m pretty happy I will no longer have to worry about catching a stray drop of urine in the eye when I use the facilities at the game.

I also never want to hear the term “hog mogging” (ask your son, nephew or kid down the block) ever again and hopefully, with the transition to a more private space to do your business, I never will.

Another feature of the stadium is the beautiful Skyline Deck in the West end of the 300 level. The deck provides fans with quite the view of the Buffalo skyline. With the sun setting in the background, the view from the deck near the end of the practice was unforgettable.

There is also incredible WiFi service available. In the old stadium, you couldn’t even place a phone call during a game. Now, I was able to livestream Saturday’s entire practice on my YouTube Channel with over 51,000 other fans in the building. Talk about a steady connection (please like, share and subscribe).

Mind you, all of these observations came from just a single walk through the stadium and its surrounding area. I will continue to explore as I return to the stadium over the course of the year.

I had one significant complaint at the end of the night, and it pertained to the video boards at each end of the field. I found them to be small and underwhelming.

Then again, most fans don’t go to a game to watch it on the board. So, for that to be my most significant critique says a lot.

Now, back to the field itself, which has not yet been painted, as the Bills wait to unveil their midfield and end zone design, perhaps until the home opener against the Detroit Lions in Week 2.

The fresh grass is a nice touch, but the best part about the field is its proximity to the stands. The closer you get to the sideline, the more it feels like you’re on the field with the team, which you are if you’re lucky enough to score tickets to the Field Club, a field-level patio directly behind the Bills’ bench area.

All in all, if you expected the stadium to be some palace, you will ultimately be disappointed from a general admission perspective. The new Highmark Stadium is not a Rolls-Royce or a Bentley. It’s a Range Rover SV Ultra.

Built with class, but also rugged enough to endure the harsh Western New York winter. And that’s just fine for Buffalo.

I can’t wait to see that place popping when the stakes are high.

PITTSFORD — A slow day at Buffalo Bills training camp produced a few injury updates before the team heads back to Orchard Park, where it will host the Return of the Blue and Red practice on Saturday night at the new Highmark Stadium.

Maxwell Hairston did not practice on Friday, Day 7 and the final session at St. John Fisher University. Hairston was removed from practice late on Day 6, according to reports, and on Friday, head coach Joe Brady updated his status.

“Max will be out today,” he said. “We’re trying to just be precautionary with some of this stuff with guys… But it’s nothing that we are concerned about.”

The oft-injured cornerback is expected to start opposite the team’s top cornerback, Christian Benford, this season, a year after his rookie campaign was disrupted twice due to injury. Hairston missed the first six games of his first professional season due to a knee injury sustained during training camp, while he later missed Buffalo’s two postseason games after going down in Week 18 with an ankle injury.

It’s great news that Hairston will not be out for an extended time, but he is starting to appear injury-prone. Hopefully it’s just a hiccup in his progression toward earning a starting role and the Bills get him back on the field in short order.

I wouldn’t expect him to participate in Saturday’s open practice at the stadium. Then again, I didn’t expect C.J. Gardner-Johnson to return as quickly as he did from his lower calf strain. We’ll see when the Bills will take the field in front of their fans for the first time inside their new building.

Zane Durant, Dee Alford Also Go Down at Bills Camp

Two other players sustained apparent injuries during the Bills’ practice, as rookie fifth-round defensive tackle Zane Durant headed for the medical tent and I did not see him return, while Alford remained on the sideline, but without a helmet after he hit the deck. We will await a possible update from Saturday’s session, whether it be a simple attendance update or one provided by Brady after the event concludes.

I’m not quite sure how Durant’s injury occurred, but Alford went down on a contested catch opportunity for wide receiver Joshua Palmer, who came away with the grab. Alford was sent to the turf after the two fought for the ball in the air, but was quick to his feet and headed for the sideline, where he appeared in good spirits.

Alford is a key piece for the Bills this season, as he is set to replace former All-Pro nickel cornerback Taron Johnson in first-year defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s new defensive system. Alford has been impressive early in camp, as he has been in on a number of pass breakups throughout the team’s seven-day stretch in Pittsford.

Durant has also displayed flashes of brilliance, particularly early in camp before the pads came on. His quickness and athleticism presented a challenge for some of the Bills’ reserve offensive linemen, as he burst through for a couple of would-be sacks over the first few days at St. John Fisher, including one against veteran Lloyd Cushenberry. It will be interesting to see how he fares as the team continues to practice in full pads during the rest of the preseason.

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Another Young Bills DL Making His Move

After gaining weight to help facilitate a shift inside to a 4i technique, second-year Bills defensive lineman Landon Jackson is starting to come on strong. Jackson has quietly been productive throughout camp, but his performance jumped out on Friday.

Early during team drills, he tossed Bills offensive lineman Chase Lundt to the side before stuffing a run from Ty Johnson off the left side. Later, he broke free from the grasp of tight end Jackson Hawes and got his arm on Frank Gore Jr. for another near-stop.

Jackson has become a hulking presence in the Bills’ defensive huddle and has been around the ball throughout training camp. It’s time to take him seriously as a candidate for a Year 2 jump this season.

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Rookie’s Spot in Bills’ Pecking Order is Clear

To begin training camp, one of the questions surrounding the Bills’ offensive line concerned the team’s replacement for Ryan Van Demark at swing tackle. Thus far, it appears as if rookie fourth-round pick Jude Bowry is in line to assume that role.

Bowry rotated with former sixth-round pick Tylan Grable at left tackle as starter Dion Dawkins was sidelined during team drills for a veteran rest day, and while Bowry was called for a false start, the blemish does not define how he has looked at camp thus far. Between him, Grable and the other options at the tackle position behind starters Dawkins and right tackle Spencer Brown, Bowry has been the most impressive throughout camp, and the team is clearly favoring him at this point in the race to take over behind its bookends.

I was not high on Bowry when the Bills drafted him. But he has exceeded my expectations, albeit through just seven days of training camp.

Torrence Receives Contract Extension from Bills

One of the key pieces of the Bills’ offensive line, O’Cyrus Torrence, agreed to a four-year, $78.4 million contract extension on Friday, according to Cover 1 and ESPN’s Adam Schefter, whose report added that the deal includes $46 million in guaranteed money. That makes Torrence the seventh-highest-paid guard in the NFL, per Schefter.

Torrence allowed three sacks and 36 quarterback pressures last season, while he earned subpar Pro Football Focus run-blocking (53.7) and pass-blocking (64.4) grades.

I think Torrence is a solid player and the Bills can do much worse than him at the right guard position. However, this extension falls in line with Bills president of football operations Brandon Beane’s modus operandi: signing middle-of-the-road talent to contract extensions, thus hamstringing the team against the salary cap without much star power to show for it.

I’m not saying Torrence is a bad player. I just don’t believe he is the seventh-best guard in the league by any stretch. But that’s how he’s being paid.

Now, with the ever-rising salary cap sure to go up in future seasons, there is a good chance Torrence’s contract will age pretty well. But Buffalo is already set to be $38 million over the cap in 2027, according to Spotrac. It’s looking less and less likely that the Bills will ever work their way out of the salary cap and roster hell that Beane has created.

Botched Trick Play During Bills Team Drills

There wasn’t much action to report from team drills on Friday, aside from a hook and ladder attempted by the Bills’ first-team offense that completely went awry.

Josh Allen started the play by throwing to the right side to WR Keon Coleman, who attempted to flip the ball to Khalil Shakir, but couldn’t connect with him. The ball fell to the ground, rolled around loose for a moment before second-year DT TJ Sanders scooped it up and ran for a decent return.

There were some fans in attendance who believed there may have been a flag thrown by the officials in attendance for defensive holding on Coleman, which may have created the botched exchange. But I was on the far side of the field, and it was difficult to tell from my vantage point.

The other noteworthy play that occurred during the practice was a deep ball from Shane Buechele to WR Stephen Gosnell, who went up high before coming down with a nice catch in the end zone. Buechele is amid a competition with Kyle Allen for the backup quarterback job, and his big play on Friday was the best from either player throughout training camp.

Both players have been uninspiring at best, but I think Buechele is ahead in the race to play behind Josh Allen this season.

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Bills Fans on Von Miller Watch

Late on Thursday night, former Bills pass rusher Von Miller posted an image of him and Josh Allen, along with a photo of him and his children while in a Bills uniform. As a result, rumors started to swirl regarding Miller’s potential return to Buffalo.

After Friday’s practice, Beane was asked about a potential reunion with the future Hall of Famer.

“I talk to Von all the time,” said Beane. “I love Von. You could name 10 other ex-Bills that, if everything lined up right, you wouldn’t say no to a guy like that. But beyond that, there is nothing imminent or anything.”

Miller recorded nine sacks for the Washington Commanders as a 36-year-old. He clearly has something left in the tank and could help the Bills as a rotational pass rusher. They should strongly consider signing him.

What to Expect from the Return of Blue and Red

We now look ahead to Saturday’s Return of the Blue and Red, which is set to begin at 7 p.m. at Highmark Stadium. A few key details regarding the practice:

• Parking lots open at 3 p.m.

• Security gates open at 4 p.m.

• Ticket entry opens at 5 p.m.

• Practice is scheduled from 7-9 p.m.

• There will be a fireworks show after the practice beginning at 9:20 p.m.

• Fans have been advised to leave the stadium to see the fireworks show.

It should be an exciting event, as fans will get their first chance to watch the Bills in action inside the first-class stadium. See you then.

Over the first six days of Buffalo Bills training camp, several players have improved their stock through their impressive performance, while others have failed to measure up, causing their stock to fall throughout the team’s time at St. John Fisher University.

Among the risers, DJ Moore has made the most significant impact, helping the Bills’ passing game get off to a quality start to the preseason. Moore has been the team’s top wide receiver throughout team drills, working his way open consistently, while his ability to track the ball in the air deep down the field was on full display earlier this week on a 50-yard bomb from Josh Allen that the impressive duo connected on between three Bills defenders.

I was not all that high on the Moore trade when the Bills made it, sending a second-round pick to the Chicago Bears in exchange for the veteran pass catcher. And while it’s only been six days of training camp, in the early going, I’m getting ready to eat my words when it comes to my evaluation of the trade. Moore has been outstanding, and his presence on the outside should only open things up further for players like Khalil Shakir and Dalton Kincaid, who have also taken turns finding the end zone during training camp.

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Josh Allen, QB

It’s hard to ignore how sharp Allen has been over the past several days of training camp. He has connected with almost every one of his top pass catchers for touchdowns since camp began, while he has thrown very few interceptions.

After a bit of a sloppy season by the former MVP’s standards, it appears as if the 30-year-old quarterback is in tip-top shape with weeks to go until Week 1. One area which seems particularly on point for Allen is his deep ball.

He has recorded a number of long gains through the air, including the one to Moore and also a deep touchdown to newly-acquired Dante Pettis on Thursday, which the Bills posted to social media. Those in attendance said that Pettis may have pushed off before making the catch, but it was still an encouraging sign from Allen, who has been pretty damn accurate.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson, S

Although he endured an injury scare that caused many to believe he might miss the rest of the preseason, Gardner-Johnson returned to full participation on Thursday, quelling any concerns regarding his availability. And thank goodness for the Bills’ secondary, as CJGJ has been one of the team’s top defenders across the board over the first week and a half of practice.

Not only was he in on a number of plays in coverage before sustaining his injury, but he has also stuck his nose in on run support. He could be the Swiss Army knife that Jim Leonhard is hoping for out of the safety position in his first year as defensive coordinator.

While I have been less than enthused with Gardner-Johnson constantly running his mouth on social media and in front of the media covering the team, it’s clear that, if he can keep things together in that regard, he will be an asset for the Bills on the field.

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Kaleb Elarms-Orr, LB

The Bills’ rookie fourth-round linebacker has been turning heads since he was drafted, as some had as high as a first-round grade on the former TCU Horned Frog. Elarms-Orr has a no-nonsense mentality, and his nose has been planted firmly to the grindstone throughout the team’s time at training camp.

He is amid a competition with Dorian Williams for a starting role at inside linebacker, but after what I’ve seen from him over the past several days, along with hearing Leonhard rave about him the past several days, Elarms-Orr is confirming my post-draft analysis that had him as one of the Bills’ best selections of 2026.

I would be pretty surprised if he doesn’t end up as the starter beside Terrel Bernard come Week 1 against the Houston Texans. He is fast, physical and tenacious. A dangerous combination for opposing offenses and perhaps just what this defense needs at the second level.

Jalon Kilgore, S

While it may be too soon for him to be elevated to starter’s status, Kilgore has been equally as impressive against Elarms-Orr. One difference between the two is that much of Kilgore’s time on the field has been spent performing against the second- and third-team defense, while Elarms-Orr has spent time with the starters.

Still, Kilgore has made plays almost every day of camp thus far, including multiple interceptions and pass breakups. His instincts have been on full display, as has his top-tier athleticism, which makes him pop every time he is on the field.

He will find his way onto the field this year in some capacity. You mark my words.

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STOCK FALLING

Tyler Bass, K

Bass was in hiding for the first several days of training camp, but emerged to kick in front of the fans and media in attendance for Thursday’s practice. He proceeded to make just 5 of 7 of his kicks, a 71% clip, with misses from 43 and 51 yards.

That’s pretty poor for a veteran kicker, who is the only player at his position listed on the Bills’ roster. As I wrote earlier on Day 6 of training camp, the team should strongly consider bringing in another option to, at least, compete with Bass for the starting job.

Kyle Allen, QB

The race to become Josh Allen’s backup has been a disaster. Shane Buechele has been bad, while Kyle Allen has been worse. Kyle Allen has been intercepted nearly every day of training camp, making a number of off-target throws that have wound up in the hands of various defenders.

We all know that if Josh Allen goes down for an extended stretch, the Bills are doomed. With that said, the team should have brought in a player capable of getting them through a must-win game, if it is to be forced into that position with a backup QB at any point this season. Instead, the Bills are likely to move forward with Allen as their QB2, which will prove to be a catastrophe if he ever has to play meaningful snaps.

This could be Peterman-level.

Davison Igbinsoun, CB

By all accounts, Igbinosun had a good start to the Bills’ offseason workout program. But he has been inconsistent to start training camp, which he entered in an expected competition for a starting role with Maxwell Hairston. Despite appearances, however, the rookie cornerback has clearly been behind Hairston in the pecking order for snaps and is most likely to begin the season as a backup.

He’s been a bit grabby in the early going, a tendency that led to him being flagged 30 times throughout his collegiate career. He’s also had a few bright moments, proving he is capable of high-level play, particularly in man coverage. But I think penalties are going to be a constant struggle for him, particularly as a rookie, when he will not get away with tugging on veteran wide receivers’ jerseys once the regular season starts.

The Bills also have not had officials at training camp throughout their time at St. John Fisher University, so it’s been tough to gauge how many times Igbinsoun would have been called for holding, pass interference or otherwise. But from my perspective, he has been nowhere near perfect in that regard, and the Bills could be in trouble if they have to turn to him to play starter’s snaps at any time early in the season.

Skyler Bell, WR

I don’t think he’s been terrible, but Bell has dropped a few passes throughout training camp, which is a minor concern as the team gets closer to its slate of exhibition games, where the fourth-round rookie will have ample opportunity to showcase his abilities. My hopes for Bell were incredibly high entering training camp, so placing him among those whose stock has dropped could simply be a product of what may have been unrealistic expectations.

There is still a long way to go, but I’m now pumping the brakes on Bell, at least for this year.

Keon Coleman’s inconsistencies continued on Day 6 of Buffalo Bills training camp, with the team’s third-year wide receiver dropping a pass from Josh Allen during 11-on-11 drills.

Coleman’s drop came on a throw across the middle from Allen, according to various reports, and was the latest miscue for Buffalo’s former second-round pick, who has had the spotlight on him the past couple of seasons. He also failed to haul in a pass from Allen deep down the left sideline, with the Bills’ top cornerback, Christian Benford, sneaking in to knock the ball away.

Coleman’s performance on Thursday wasn’t all bad, with many reports describing a successful stretch while the team was working on 1-on-1s with their WRs and CBs. However, he has continued to prove himself as an unreliable target, one that cannot be trusted when the real bullets start flying during the regular season.

The Bills have been relentless while pumping up Coleman throughout the offseason with fabricated compliments and a sell job that I’ve never seen this organization conduct with any previous player. It’s like they’re trying to sell you Keon Coleman-branded snake oil.

But he has done nothing throughout training camp to back up his teammates’ and coaches’ manufactured support. It could be another long year for the once-promising prospect, who has had five drops in each of his first two seasons in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson Returns from Injury, Runs Mouth

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Thursday’s practice also produced some good news, as both safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and defensive tackle Deone Walker each returned from injury and participated in team drills. Gardner-Johnson went down with a lower calf strain during Saturday’s practice, while Walker suffered an elbow injury the same day.

Both players missed two days of practice but were welcomed back on Day 6, with Gardner-Johnson wearing a sleeve on his injured right leg and Walker wearing a heavy brace on his left arm.

Gardner-Johnson has been one of the Bills’ best defenders throughout training camp, while Walker is a critical piece on the interior of Buffalo’s D-line. Having them back in short order is big for the Bills’ defense.

“We got two good opponents the first two weeks, so I want to be ready and mentally sharp,” he said after practice. “So the more reps I can get, it’s going to be easier for me to go out there and make plays.”

After practice, Gardner-Johnson went off the rails a bit while discussing his controversial departure from the Houston Texans last season.

“What did I really do? … They released me because I wasn’t jelling with the team and I didn’t fit well,” he said via a video from News 4’s Josh Reed. “Why the hell didn’t the coach spoke up about it? … After a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, they said I didn’t fit well. We already started 0-3, so how can it possibly be on one person?… The situation and how they handled me, they just wasn’t respectful. So as a grown man, when you see me, you see me.”

Here we go again, as Gardner-Johnson has not been able to keep his mouth shut since he got off the plane after the Bills signed him as a free agent. He’s on just a one-year deal, so the commitment the team made in the loud-mouthed defensive back will make it easy if they have to cut bait on him even before the season is through.

And with the way his lips never stop moving, it will be interesting to see if his play on the field can outweigh the drama he constantly creates off of it.

Tyler Bass Comes Out of Hiding at Bills Camp

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Another development during Thursday’s session was that Bills kicker Tyler Bass returned to public life for the first time since sustaining hip and groin injuries that forced him to miss the entirety of the 2025 season. Bass practiced kicking off and attempted seven field goals during the session, making just five of them for a 71% conversion rate.

This wasn’t the first time Bass has kicked since he returned to action, but it is the first time he has done so while in the presence of media and fans at training camp. His two misses came from 43 and 51 yards, according to Locked On Bills’ Joe Marino.

The Bills decided to enter training camp with only one kicker, which makes it appear as if Bass will run opposed in the race for the team’s starting job despite coming off his extended absence. I think that’s unwise and the Bills should, at the very least, bring back Matt Prater or sign another veteran to be waiting in the wings in case things go awry with Bass over the next few weeks.

Even at his best, Bass has never been the most reliable kicker, particularly recently. He recorded a field goal percentage of 82.8% in each of his past two seasons in 2023 and 2024. Prater made 90% of his field goals in 2025.

I feel it’s only a matter of time before Bass is on the chopping block.

A New Player at Training Camp

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The Bills signed a new linebacker on Thursday, bringing in Otis Reese IV, who previously had a cup of coffee with the team’s practice squad last year. In a corresponding move, the Bills placed Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, who was acquired in free agency this offseason, on IR.

It remains unclear why the team hasn’t reached out to Matt Milano or Shaq Thompson, two veterans who spent the 2025 season with the Bills. Both players remain free agents and would be an upgrade over the team’s depth at inside linebacker.

The Bills return to the practice field for the final time at St. John Fisher University this summer on Friday. Start time is 8:30 a.m. Follow me on X for updates from the field, and then again on Saturday, when the Bills head to Highmark Stadium for the Return of the Blue and Red, which will be the first time many members of Bills Mafia have an opportunity to see the team’s new stadium.