A preseason game that should have been memorable for Frank Gore Jr. ended with disappointment Saturday afternoon at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills vs New York Giants
Buffalo Bills running back Frank Gore Jr. (20) evades a tackle by New York Giants cornerback Dee Williams (33) during the fourth quarter at Highmark Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News
The Buffalo Bills' second-year running back had a touchdown reception overturned with 39 seconds left in the fourth quarter because his knee was down at the New York Giants' 1-yard line.
Giants fourth-string quarterback Tommy DeVito knelt twice to secure a 34-25 win over the Buffalo Bills, but Gore took advantage of the extra snaps he got in James Cook's absence.
Gore had five rushes for 21 yards and five catches 50 yards, including a catch and run of 19 yards on the Bills' final drive of the game.
"I'm feeling more confident," Gore told The Buffalo News. "You could see it out there. I knew what was going on, and I trust myself more. ... Seeing it more, seeing the looks, learning NFL defenses. I'm getting better, for sure."
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After spending his rookie season on the practice squad, Gore was among the Bills who strengthened their case to make the 53-man roster. Here are the other players whose stock improved or dropped in the preseason opener:
Tyrell Shavers, wide receiver: A low ankle sprain early in training camp didn't stifle Shavers' momentum. He's been among the Bills' most impressive weapons in practice, and his momentum continued Saturday with his 58-yard catch to set up Caden Davis' 24-yard field goal that cut the Giants' lead to 16-10 with 4 seconds left in the second quarter.
Matched up one-on-one against Giants cornerback O'Donnell Fortune, Shavers created enough separation that he was able to slow down late in his route to catch the pass from Mitch Trubisky. Shavers' lack of involvement on special teams may work against him, but he's shown enough as a receiver to make this a difficult decision for general manager Brandon Beane.
"Now, how good can you become on special teams and what phases or how many phases can we get out of you?" Bills coach Sean McDermott said of Shavers.
Joe Andreessen, linebacker: No longer on the fringes of the roster, the Lancaster native has become an important backup on defense and contributor on special teams. He started alongside Matt Milano and totaled five tackles while playing the first half. Andreessen tackled Jonathan Ward for no gain and dragged down Dante Miller for a 1-yard loss. The Bills almost forced a fumble on the first drive, when Andreessen and Milano tackled Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Keonta Jenkins, an undrafted rookie, was a standout among the reserve linebackers with five solo tackles and a quarterback hit.
Observations: Little separation in Bills' backup quarterback race after preseason opener
The Buffalo Bills’ backup quarterback race remains to close to call after one preseason game. That was one of the bigger takeaways from the Bills’ 34-25 exhibition loss to the New York Giants at Highmark Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Young defensive linemen: Deone Walker, a fourth-round rookie defensive tackle, pushed aside Giants guard Jake Kubas and batted down a Jaxson Dart pass. T.J. Sanders, a second-round defensive tackle, had two quarterback hits. Javon Solomon, a second-year edge rusher, batted down one of Jameis Winston's passes in the third quarter.
It's an encouraging start for a group that must contribute early, especially while Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi serve their six-game suspensions.
Chase Lundt, offensive lineman: The rookie sixth-round pick pulled to the right side to create a seam for Gore to gain 11 yards on the Bills' second drive of the second half. Lundt, a rangy and athletic lineman from UConn, has exceeded expectations in camp. Lundt can play tackle or guard, versatility that will help him stick. Lundt pushed around the Giants' backup defensive linemen.
Te'Coury Couch, nickel corner: A member of the Bills' practice squad last season, Couch got snaps with the first-team defense Saturday after Taron Johnson left the game. It wasn't a perfect performance. Couch missed a tackle on Montrell Washington's 29-yard catch and run, but Couch rebounded with two pass breakups.
"I felt like he got comfortable as the game went on," Bills safety Cam Lewis said of Couch. "He made some plays. That's always the goal. He was out there playing confident and fast. He knows our defense now. ... Just going out there and playing his brand of football."
Jordan Hancock, a rookie fifth-round pick, also made two impressive plays, including an interception that was wiped out by Landon Jackson's offside penalty. The Bills blitzed Hancock throughout the second half, and he showed he's learned from mistakes he made in practice.
The Buffalo Bills lost to the New York Giants, 34-25, in their first preseason game on Saturday. Here are photos from the game.
Stock down
Dane Jackson, cornerback: The first drive in Jackson's return to the Bills did not go well. Lil'Jordan Humphrey caught a 28-yard touchdown with Jackson in one-on-one coverage near the left sideline.
Jackson had an impressive pass breakup on the next drive, but he needs to be more consistent. The Bills will give him a significant number of snaps in the preseason, in part to protect their starters but also to evaluate whether he can start if there's an injury.
Zach Davidson, tight end: Facing an uphill battle to earn a spot on the 53-man roster, Davidson cannot afford to commit any significant mistakes in these preseason games. He was in position to catch a deep pass from Trubisky on second-and-10 late in the second quarter, but Giants safety Raheem Layne knocked the ball out of Davidson's hands while he tried to secure it for a long gain. Davidson dropped another pass in the third quarter, though rookie tight end Jackson Hawes did the same a few plays earlier.
Third-down defense: The Giants gained 13 first downs on five drives to start the game, converting one fourth down and five third downs, including Dart's 28-yard touchdown pass to Humphrey, during that span. The Bills can't allow that to become a trend when the regular season begins. On third down in 2024, they ranked 29th in conversion percentage allowed and 31st in EPA per pass allowed.
"As you can tell, we have a lot of work to do," McDermott said.
Daequan Hardy, cornerback: Battling for a roster spot in the Bills' secondary, Hardy left the game early with a shoulder injury. He can't afford to miss time because he's competing with several corners who are getting opportunities on defense and special teams. This preseason game also revealed that Ja'Marcus Ingram is behind Jackson and rookie Dorian Strong on the depth chart. Strong lost inside leverage when Gunner Olszewski caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Winston.
Landon Jackson, edge rusher: The third-round draft pick didn't record a tackle, and his offside penalty extended a drive that ended with Winston's touchdown in the third quarter. It's early in Jackson's development. There's plenty of time for him to make an impact and earn a role, but it was a quiet debut. He had trouble against Giants third-string right tackle Shane Forsythe. The Bills will use the next three weeks to prepare Jackson to play in Hoecht's place.
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