Injuries have been a double-edged sword for the Buffalo Bills so far during training camp.
While it’s never ideal to have so many players out of the lineup, doing so has allowed the team’s coaching staff to get an extensive look at those behind them on the depth chart. That’s valuable information to have when it comes time later this month to set the team’s initial 53-man roster.
With two preseason games to go before those decisions have to be made, here is The Buffalo News’ latest projection on what that initial roster will look like:
Quarterbacks (2): Josh Allen, Mitch Trubisky.
Cuts (2): Mike White, Shane Buechele.
Analysis: The race to be Allen’s backup is still too close to call after both Trubisky and White had good showings against the Giants in the preseason opener. The next two preseason games will be big in determining who wins the job. For now, we’ll lean to the player with more experience, Trubisky. The preferred method of roster building for the team’s current front office and coaching staff has been to go with just two quarterbacks on the active roster and one on the practice squad. The team also might face a decision there between Buechele and the quarterback who doesn’t make the active roster.
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Buffalo Bills vs New York Giants (copy)
Bills running back Frank Gore Jr. had a strong first preseason game, but he still faces an uphill battle to make the team’s 53-man roster. Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News
Running backs/fullback (4): James Cook, Ray Davis, Ty Johnson, Reggie Gilliam.
Cuts (2): Frank Gore Jr., Darrynton Evans.
Analysis: Gore had a nice performance in the preseason opener, but he’s stuck on the depth chart barring an injury. Cook’s new contract solidifies this room heading into the season. Both Gore and Evans should be candidates for the practice squad.
Tight ends (3): Dawson Knox, Dalton Kincaid, Jackson Hawes.
Cuts (3): Matt Sokol, Zach Davidson, Keleki Latu.
Analysis: Davidson had a damaging game against the Giants for his chances to make the 53-man roster, with just one catch on four targets. He was fighting an uphill battle as it was. Latu has had a few nice moments during practice, so he could be in line for a spot on the practice squad.
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Offensive line (9): Dion Dawkins, David Edwards, Connor McGovern, O’Cyrus Torrence, Spencer Brown, Alec Anderson, Tylan Grable, Chase Lundt, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger.
Cuts (7): Kendrick Green, Dan Feeney, Jacob Bayer, Mike Edwards, Travis Clayton, Ryan Van Demark, Richard Gouraige.
Analysis: Van Pran-Granger has missed all of training camp to this point, which has had an impact on projecting the depth spots along the line. The starters are set in stone, but the team’s tackle depth looks stronger than the depth on the interior at this point. Anderson has missed time after having arthroscopic knee surgery, but should be good by Week 1. Grable is out of the lineup right now with a concussion, but as a tackle entering just his second season, his spot is probably secure. The league is starved for quality offensive tackle play, so it’s unlikely that Grable would clear waivers if the Bills tried to sneak him onto the practice squad. Lundt getting some snaps at guard in the preseason opener against the Giants was an important development. Right now, it looks like the final spot on the line could come down to a decision between Lundt, Van Pran-Granger and Van Demark. Van Demark has only been used at tackle, making a true backup center to McGovern a need. That’s why we’ll lean toward Lundt and Van Pran-Granger making the active roster, although the final two preseason games definitely will impact our final projection.
Wide receiver (6): Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, Joshua Palmer, Elijah Moore, Tyrell Shavers, Laviska Shenault Jr.
Traded (1): Curtis Samuel.
Cut (5): Stephen Gosnell, Kristian Wilkerson, Kaden Prather, Deon Cain, K.J. Hamler.
Analysis: We’re counting on general manager Brandon Beane to work a little magic here by trading Samuel. There doesn’t figure to be a robust market for a wide receiver coming off a down season who hasn’t been able to practice much this summer, so perhaps Beane will have to attach a draft-pick sweetener – think something like Samuel and a fifth-round pick in exchange for a sixth-round pick – but freeing up $7.34 million against the cap would be worth it. Samuel practiced on a limited basis Friday in Chicago, which is a good sign. The team should do anything it can to move him. Shavers and Shenault make the roster for now based on their ability to play special teams, which is a factor for any receiver near the bottom of the depth chart. Shenault is the primary returner in this projection.
Defensive end (5): Greg Rousseau, A.J. Epenesa, Joey Bosa, Landon Jackson, Javon Solomon.
Suspended (1): Michael Hoecht.
Cuts (2): Nelson Ceaser, Paris Shand.
Analysis: Hoecht’s suspension delays a tough roster decision by six weeks. Rousseau, Epenesa and Bosa are locks, while Solomon has had a strong camp. He factors into the mix on special teams, too. Shand looked pretty good at the start of training camp and could be worth a spot on the practice squad.
Defensive tackle (5): Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, DeWayne Carter, Deone Walker, T.J. Sanders.
Suspended (1): Larry Ogunjobi.
Cuts (3): Casey Rogers, Marcus Harris, Zion Logue.
Analysis: Like with Hoecht, the Bills can delay a decision on what to do with Ogunjobi for six weeks while he serves an NFL suspension. Or, they could chalk the signing of Ogunjobi up to a costly mistake, cut him now and save $3.2 million against the salary cap. It wouldn’t be a good look for Beane, but it’s hard to see how six defensive tackles are going to fit on the 53-man roster when Ogunjobi gets back.
Linebackers (5): Matt Milano, Terrel Bernard, Dorian Williams, Joe Andreessen, Shaq Thompson.
Cuts (3): Keonta Jenkins, Edefuan Ulofoshio, Jimmy Ciarlo.
Analysis: Thompson practiced on a limited basis Friday. He’s locked in what looks like a pretty tight battle with Jenkins for the final linebacker spot. It’s a question of whether the Bills value veteran experience (Thompson) or potential (Jenkins) more. Jenkins was signed as an undrafted free agent in April. He’s looking to follow a similar path to the 53-man roster that Andreessen took last year. A strong preseason debut against the Giants helped Jenkins’ case, although he’ll need to back that up with two more solid efforts in the last two preseason games.
Analysis: Safety is now the Bills' primary concern
As the Bills prepare for the 2025 season, safety is one of their primary concerns. The stability Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde provided has been replaced with uncertainty as injuries to projected starters Taylor Rapp (knee) and Cole Bishop (quad) have caused both to miss time during training camp.
Safeties (5): Cole Bishop, Taylor Rapp, Damar Hamlin, Cam Lewis, Jordan Hancock.
Cuts (3): Darrick Forrest, Wande Owens, Tre Herndon.
Analysis: Forrest has been running with the second or third team throughout the duration of training camp. Even with the injuries to Bishop and Rapp, Forrest hasn’t been able to make much of a move up the depth chart, which has been a disappointment. There is a sense of urgency from the coaching staff to get Bishop and Rapp together on the practice field as much as possible. Hancock has looked good as a Day 3 draft pick.
Cornerbacks (5): Christian Benford, Tre’Davious White, Taron Johnson, Dane Jackson, Dorian Strong.
Injured reserve (1): Maxwell Hairston.
Cuts (4): Ja’Marcus Ingram, Brandon Codrington, Daequan Hardy, Te’Cory Couch.
Analysis: McDermott left open the possibility of putting Hairston on injured reserve at the beginning of the season. Given that he has not practiced in weeks, it’s not the worst idea to bring him along slowly. The team will want to make sure Hairston is healthy for the second half of the year. It’s unrealistic to think he would be able to contribute much early in the season after missing so much practice time. Ingram was in the game very late against the Giants, which is never a good sign for a player on the roster bubble.
Buffalo Bills vs New York Giants (copy)
Bills cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram tackles Giants receiver Gunner Olszewski on Aug. 9. Ingram played late in the game, which is never a good sign for a player on the roster bubble. Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News
Specialists (3): Tyler Bass, Brad Robbins, Reid Ferguson.
Cut (1): Caden Davis.
Analysis: The Bills are eager to get Bass back in practice. Davis, who was signed ahead of the first preseason game, had a brutal practice Tuesday, going just 3 of 7 on field goals, with every miss going wide right. Bass is gradually starting to do more in practice, so he should be ready to go by Week 1.
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