Who’s on the Bills’ roster bubble? 14 players fighting for the final 4 or 5 spots

The Athletic has stay protection of Thursday’s NFL preseason action.

The Buffalo Bills will conclude their 2026 preseason in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night time at Highmark Stadium.

It’s the final gasp for the fringes of the workforce to make the 53-man roster, both in Buffalo or elsewhere.

This 12 months’s group is setting as much as be one among the harder puzzles for Bills basic supervisor Brandon Beane to resolve, as the bubble is muddled throughout the roster. As the Bills put together for cutdown day on Aug. 30, who’re really the bubble players with loads on the line this week?

Here is our annual Bills bubble watch, and the way the Bills roster stands with only a handful of days remaining for choices.

#Puntapalooza replace

The competitors between rookie Tommy Doman Jr. and Mitch Wishnowsky has gotten tighter in current days. After racing out to an early lead, Doman struggled together with his final two punts in opposition to the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, and his observe on Tuesday was less than his early-camp commonplace. While Doman’s nonetheless prone to win the job, it’s not the slam dunk it was earlier in August.

An IR candidate?

OT Jude Bowry

Bowry is a lock if wholesome for the 53-man roster, however he suffered an damage in Cleveland and was in a strolling boot to start the observe week. The Bills have 12 players they may think about to make the workforce alongside the offensive line, however retaining that many doesn’t match the wants of the remainder of the roster. For what it’s price, head coach Joe Brady stated that he didn’t suppose any of the present accidents change the roster math for them. However, contemplating stashing somebody they need to preserve on injured reserve has been a staple of Beane’s tenure, it might be unwise to rule it out — particularly with the reserve OL roster crunch.

Should be in (6)

QB Kyle Allen, C Lloyd Cushenberry III, OT Tylan Grable, OLB Javon Solomon, ILB Joe Andreessen, S Damar Hamlin

Allen ended any lingering backup debate in Cleveland. Ever since Connor McGovern went down with an damage, Cushenberry has been glued to the first-team offense and dealing with Josh Allen. Grable is trending towards being their prime reserve swing deal with to start 2026. Solomon and Andreessen have but once more established themselves as two of their finest particular groups belongings. Hamlin has been their finest backup security to this point this summer season.

The Bubble: 14 players for 4, perhaps 5 spots relying on Bowry

WR Mecole Hardman

Hardman’s finest path to the 53-man roster is as the main punt returner, as a result of his ability set on offense and the way little they’d use it actually doesn’t justify retaining him. It doesn’t assist that the Bills’ present vast receiver accidents to Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman each appear to be trending positively towards Week 1. In current weeks, Hardman has been challenged by backup working again and kickoff returner Ray Davis for the punt returner job, and Davis has come a good distance in fielding punts. On prime of that, Hardman didn’t observe Tuesday, which may imply a poorly timed damage.

WR Trent Sherfield

Sherfield shined in opposition to the Browns, and all summer season he’s been a gentle presence and trusted voice in the vast receiver room. The actual debate is whether or not the Bills must carve out a spot on their 53-man roster for Sherfield, with fears he would possibly head elsewhere. Sherfield will not be topic to waivers, so he might be a transparent observe squad stash and call-up when an damage calls for it.

TE Keleki Latu

Latu performed very well at the starting of coaching camp and has pale a bit over the final couple of weeks, however he does sufficient to warrant at the very least some consideration for the 53-man roster. His finest probability to make it’s in the event that they determine to not carry the subsequent place.

FB Ben VanSumeren

This summer season, the Bills had been making an attempt to determine two issues at fullback. First, which of their two fullbacks would have the finest probability to make the 53-man roster. VanSumeren answered that after the Bills lower undrafted rookie Jackson Acker. Second, because it’s such a small offensive function, they needed to determine whether or not retaining a fullback on the roster was crucial. While VanSumeren has to look good in these reps, being an nearly every-phase particular groups piece is simply as vital. If the Bills really feel VanSumeren is that, he’s acquired a strong probability, but it surely’s nonetheless up in the air.

G Ar’maj Reed-Adams

Heading into the summer season, Reed-Adams was a little bit of an afterthought as a seventh-round choose seemingly destined for the observe squad. However, his play in preseason video games and lately throughout practices has modified the dialogue. With 4 years of full roster management, the Bills might not need to danger a younger participant who has proven actual potential in an NFL hungry for developmental expertise. Reed-Adams is a guard solely, which can damage his possibilities for the 53-man roster as a result of it may make him extra prone to clear waivers. However, he’s one among the most attention-grabbing names to watch this weekend.

C Sedrick Van Pran-Granger

The 2024 fifth-round choose got here into the summer season hoping to solidify his maintain on the backup heart job however appears to have misplaced it outright to the veteran Cushenberry. For that cause, Van Pran-Granger is one among the true pivot factors of their 53-man roster choices, as he’s proven some good progress this summer season regardless of dropping the function. He’s acquired two years left on his rookie deal, and when Beane does deal away his former picks, it’s extra prone to occur after their third camp and past.

Van Pran-Granger is a transparent candidate for simply that, as groups like the Minnesota Vikings, Washington Commanders, and a few others are in actual want of depth at heart. Other than the commerce route, Van Pran-Granger has not practiced the final two days, so maybe the Bills can stash Van Pran-Granger on IR slightly than lose one other participant at one other place.

T/G Chase Lundt

Of the many reserve offensive linemen the Bills spent a draft choose on in the final three years, Lundt has seen his inventory worsen as the summer season has continued. He’s performed nearly completely at guard lately, and the tape has been inconsistent. Of all their choices, he might need the worst probability of the bunch to make the workforce, however I wouldn’t rule out a observe squad return.

DL DeWayne Carter

First, Phidarian Mathis took reps from Carter, and now it’s Greg Gaines. No matter what, it’s fairly clear that the Bills had been trying to strengthen their nostril deal with rotation behind starter Deone Walker, which is likely to be dangerous information for Carter. They have been very complimentary of Carter’s play, although him taking part in deep into the fourth quarter in opposition to the Browns might be significant. Carter could also be a greater match for a 4-3 scheme. Then once more, they may preserve Carter and attempt to get Gaines on the observe squad. Regardless, preserve Carter on your commerce radar.

DL Greg Gaines

The Bills introduced in Gaines lower than every week in the past, and traditional NFL deduction abilities level to a late veteran addition like this one normally that means the workforce desires to maintain them on the 53-man roster. Whether it follows that path stays to be seen, although it’s considerably notable that after just some days with the Bills, Gaines was already part of the identical early-game rotation as Carter in opposition to the Browns, and the workforce didn’t use Gaines in any respect in the second half.

OLB Mike Danna

A post-draft signing, Danna introduced some expertise to the exterior linebacker room. At that time, the Bills had no concept if Michael Hoecht could be out there to start out the season. With Hoecht wanting like a certainty to be wholesome sufficient for Week 1, Danna could also be on the exterior wanting in, as Solomon is the superior particular groups participant. It will come all the way down to numbers at different positions.

ILB Keonta Jenkins

Jenkins was a standout throughout coaching camp and ascended on the depth chart, although his preseason video games might have barely damage his probabilities of making the 53-man roster. Without query, he’s one among the names that can be amongst their most tough calls of the summer season. It seemingly gained’t be Jenkins in opposition to another person at his place, however slightly both a further offensive lineman or a depth defender. It might be a 50-50 name.

CB Kani Walker

The undrafted rookie Walker has performed himself into 53-man roster competition. He’s bodily, he’s long-limbed, and he confirmed he’s acquired some actual instincts for the place. Walker additionally performed for Bills cornerbacks coach Jay Valai for three years at Oklahoma, which will definitely assist his possibilities. The questionable depth at cornerback may give the Bills pause about subjecting Walker to waivers, as a result of they might wind up needing Walker in-season slightly than somebody at a special place. Like Jenkins, this one is actually up in the air.

NCB Toriano Pride Jr.

Pride, a seventh-round choose, has taken reps at each nickel and nook however hasn’t actually discovered a house at both simply but. He’s a speedy developmental kind of participant, which looks like a reasonably good match for the observe squad if they’ll get him there. If they preserve 4 boundary cornerbacks, it might come all the way down to him or Walker.

S Geno Stone

Stone has had some fairly dangerous beats this summer season, however the Bills preserve turning to him as one among their most trusted backup safeties, they usually have stated he does much more than meets the eye. It looks like he’s extra seemingly than to not make the workforce at this level, however as a result of Hamlin has been the higher of the two backup safeties, you possibly can’t fully rule something out. Keeping Stone would give them six safeties, which is loads, particularly with Hancock as an alternative choice.

Reserve/Suspended – DL Phidarian Mathis
Reserve/PUP – WR Tyrell Shavers

Solid summer season, however probably on the exterior wanting in

RB Ian Wheeler (No. 27), WR Stephen Gosnell (No. 89), WR Ja’Mori Maclin (No. 84), WR Dante Pettis (No. 87), T/G Nick Broeker (No. 65), OLB Andre Jones Jr. (No. 59), S/NCB Te’Cory Couch (No. 33)