Buffalo Bills General Manager Brandon Beane spoke to the media about the state of the roster and practice squad following roster cut down day.
One mistake by Ray Davis in a preseason game caused Buffalo Bills general manager and president of football operations Brandon Beane to change his plan for a role that can be overlooked throughout the NFL season.
The football slipped through Davis' arms while the Bills' backup running back tried to return a punt last Thursday night at Highmark Stadium. The Steelers recovered and needed just one play to score a go-ahead touchdown.
Buffalo Bills practice
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Greg Dortch could be the answer at punt returner. Dortch has returned 99 punts in his career.
The mistake cannot happen. Even in a preseason game. One of the Bills' other options at punt returner, wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr., dropped too many passes during training camp. The team's punt returner last season, Khalil Shakir, is still recovering from an injury.
Davis was not the first name Beane mentioned Tuesday when a reporter asked about the Bills' plan at punt returner. Davis wasn't the second name Beane mentioned, either. The top candidates based on Beane's answer and practice this week: starting nickel cornerback Dee Alford and recently signed practice squad wide receiver Greg Dortch.
"It starts with confidence," Dortch said following practice Wednesday. "If you go back there and you're unsure if you're going to catch it, you're already behind. I've been catching punts since I was 6 years old. The way the ball spins, whether it's a lefty or righty, I've seen it."
After a training camp in which Bills' new special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers encouraged Davis to add All-Pro punt returner to his short list of NFL accolades, he no longer appears to be competing for the job. Alford, who the Bills signed in March to replace Taron Johnson, has not caught a punt during a regular-season game since 2023. Alford averaged 8 yards per punt return as a rookie for the Atlanta Falcons. At Tusculum University, he averaged 10.94 yards per punt return.
Bills' roster deeper, more talented than 1 year ago. Will it matter? | Lance Lysowski
Bills' roster deeper, more talented than 1 year ago. Will it matter? | Lance Lysowski
Day Six of Buffalo Bills Training Camp (copy)
Buffalo Bills cornerback Dee Alford is a candidate to return punts early in the season.