The Buffalo Bills have become the dominant force in the AFC East in recent seasons, but the Jets will be hoping to mount a challenge. In week 1, the Bills came from behind to defeat the Ravens 41-40, so they head into the Jets game with momentum.
Let’s break down the Bills’ roster going position by position:
Quarterbacks
Any hopes that Josh Allen might suffer a post-MVP hangover in the 2025 season were soon put to rest in the opener as he passed for over 394 yards and came up with some typical late-game heroics.
Allen has won three games in a row against the Jets but hasn’t passed for over 300 yards in a game against them since Sauce Gardner was drafted.
The backup is Mitchell Trubisky, the former second overall pick. He threw just 26 passes last season.
Offensive Line
The Bills have incredible continuity on the offensive line, as they’ve brought back all five starters and their three top reserves, after a season where each starter played over 1,100 regular season and postseason snaps.
Dion Dawkins is one of the league’s best left tackles, but he did give up a sack and had two penalties against the Ravens. He had 15 penalties last season, but right tackle Spencer Brown led the team with 17.
The interior linemen, center Connor McGovern, left guard David Edwards and right Guard O’Cyrus Torrence gave up just one sack between them in 2024.
Ryan Van Demark is the main reserve at offensive tackle, but the versatile (and, some would say, dirty) Alec Anderson will see action as a sixth blocker. Sedrick Van Pranger is the backup at center.
The lone new addition is rookie Chase Lundt, who was drafted in the sixth round.
Running Backs
James Cook, who was in a contract dispute for much of the summer, got off to a slow start with just 44 yards on 13 carries in the opener as he was bothered by a hamstring injury. He posted his second straight thousand-yard season and led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024.
Ray Davis, who filled in for Cook in last October’s game against the Jets and had 97 rushing yards, is the number two.
Ex-Jet Ty Johnson is regarded as one of the league’s best third down backs. He averaged an impressive 16 yards per catch last year.
Reggie Gilliam is still the fullback although he doesn’t see much significant action, as this unit is completely unchanged from last year.
Pass catchers
The Bills have seen some more significant changes among their wide receivers as Mack Hollins, who led them in touchdown catches last year, and Amari Cooper are gone.
Joining the fray have been another ex-Jet Elijah Moore, although he only had a minor role in the Ravens game, and Josh Palmer, who caught 187 passes for the Chargers over the past four years. Tyrell Shavers also made the team after showcasing some playmaking ability in preseason.
Curtis Samuel was inactive in week 1, and may see his roster spot under threat when Gabe Davis is healthy. Davis was recently re-signed and added to the practice squad.
The Bills’ top pass catching threats are Khalil Shakir, who might have had a thousand-yard season last year if he didn’t miss two games and Keon Coleman, who had a breakout performance on Sunday with eight catches for 112 yards and a touchdown.
At tight end, Dalton Kincaid’s production was down last year but he scored the opening touchdown against the Ravens. Dawson Knox is a solid number two and fifth round rookie Jackson Hawes had a huge catch in the Ravens game.
Defensive Line
The Bills’ big offseason addition was Joey Bosa, which moves AJ Epenesa back into a reserve role after a solid season with six sacks as a starter. The other starter is Gregory Rousseau, who easily led the Bills in hits, sacks and tackles for loss in 2024.
Aside from Epenesa, the Bills have Javon Solomon and third round rookie Landon Jackson to provide edge depth.
On the inside, Ed Oliver and Daquan Jones are listed as the starters. Oliver had a monster game on Sunday, but he’s been ruled out with a lower leg injury. The Bills have to be concerned that - even with Oliver - they gave up rushing 231 yards to a Ravens team who, like the Jets, have a quarterback who offers a run threat.
Buffalo’s overall depth on the line is already compromised by both Larry Ogunjobi and Michael Hoecht being suspended and DeWayne Carter being on injured reserve. At defensive tackle, rookies TJ Sanders and Deone Walker will need to step up with Oliver out. Options on the practice squad include Jordan Phillips, Phidarian Mathis and Zion Logue.
Linebackers
Having been limited to just four appearances last season, Matt Milano is now healthy again, to pair with Terrel Bernard at the linebacker position. Bernard had 104 tackles last year, but it was Dorian Williams who led the team with 117. He returns to a part-time role now with Milano back though.
Shaq Thompson was brought in and provides depth along with the returning Joe Andreessen. However, neither played any defensive reps in the opener. Thompson is listed as questionable after being limited in practice.
Defensive Backs
The Bills had seven different players with two interceptions last season, including their top cornerback Christian Benford, who led them with 10 pass breakups.
The other starter is the returning Tre’Davious White. However, he missed the opener and sixth round rookie Dorian Strong got the start instead. In the slot, Taron Johnson is regarded as one of the league’s best and the vertatile Cam Lewis is also an option.
At safety, last year’s starters were Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp but Cole Bishop has now replaced Hamlin as he offers better athleticism at the position.
Other reserve options include Jordan Hancock, Ja’Marcus Ingram and Brandon Codrington at cornerback and Sam Franklin at safety but none of these saw action on defense on Sunday. Lewis and Hancock can also play safety. In addition Jordan Poyer is back on the practice squad and would obviously know the system. First round corner Maxwell Hairston is on injured reserve, though.
Both White and Johnson were limited in practice during the week and were listed as questionable, as was Hancock, so the Bills could be stretched thin.
Special Teams
The Bills are dealing with an injury to kicker Tyler Bass at the moment, after a season where he only missed five field goals. However, veteran Michael Prater proved a worthy replacement when he nailed the game-winner on Sunday.
The opening day punter was Brad Robbins, but the Bills already cut him and are now going with Cameron Johnston, who was recently cut by the Steelers.
Codrington is their primary return man, having racked up 28 yards per kickoff return and 12 per punt return last season. Shakir is the backup punt returner and Johnson often handles kickoffs.
Ingram was the Bills’ primary gunner last year and led them in special teams tackles. Andreessen, Lewis and Williams, who had three special teams tackles in week 1, are also productive in coverage.
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