TAMPA, Fla. — It seems like every summer, there’s a Buffalo Bills wide receiver who isn’t expected to make that roster who shines bright in the preseason.
Former summer standouts like Andy Isabella, Duke Williams, Jake Kumerow, and Brandon Reilly had many fans campaigning for them to make the squad.
Williams and Kumerow were success stories. Williams had a huge touchdown catch in a one-score win over the Tennessee Titans. Kumerow caught a laser from Josh Allen against the Denver Broncos for a score.
This year’s camp darling/preseason breakout player is wide receiver Tyrell Shavers. He put an exclamation point on his summer with an electric first-half performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Buffalo’s preseason finale.
Shavers hauled in an incredible 11-yard pass from fourth-string quarterback Shane Buechele that went for a touchdown. Shavers fully extended his left arm to snatch the ball on his fingertips while somehow managing to get both feet in bounds. That’s Shavers’ second highlight play of the preseason, which includes a 58-yard bomb from Mitchell Trubisky in Week 1 against the New York Giants.
Shavers took advantage of a rash of injuries in the receiver room during camp and made plays on the first-team offense with Allen.
Shavers showed his toughness, too. He was carted off with an ankle injury early in camp and returned to practice six days later. Elijah Moore, Khalil Shakir, and Curtis Samuel all missed at least a chunk of camp, and Shavers knew he needed the reps that became available.
“Obviously, (Josh) is the MVP of the league and it’s always a blessing to catch passes from him,” Shavers said on Aug. 4 after a four-catch performance at St. John Fisher. “Just to be able to stack (days) consistently, that’s the main goal and then make the 53-man (roster) off it.”
Shavers thought his ankle was broken when he went down in practice. When the fear subsided and he knew he could work his way back, he spent every waking moment in the training room. That’s nothing new for the former Alabama receiver who went undrafted in 2023. He’s garnered a reputation in the Bills’ building for his work ethic. He’s always the first guy in the gym in the morning. He started that tradition with former Bills receiver Trent Sherfield when he was a rookie.
Shavers now has the 53-man roster in his sights and may have done enough to force the Bills’ hand. He added a sensational hit on special teams to showcase his ability to add more value if he does make the team. He said on Thursday that offensive coordinator Joe Brady has noticed his growth.
“(Brady said) that they trust me and they know I’m going to go out there and do my job and make some plays,” he said. “I just gotta keep being consistent and keep showing up, keep being where the quarterback needs me, and keep making plays.”
Preseason mission, accomplished, for Shavers.
Here are more observations from the Bills’ first 2025 preseason win.
Deone Walker was unblockable
The Bills’ defense forced punts on the Buccaneers’ first two drives, and Walker played the role of disruptor. He was beating double teams to swallow up runs and recorded at least three pressures on 21 pass rush snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
Walker’s emergence as a rookie this summer bodes well for the team’s depth on its defensive line. Veteran Larry Ogunjobi will miss the first six games because of a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. Walker will be a depth player when the season begins, but he’ll quickly get more work if he can make an impact.
Cole Bishop comes out on fire + DB clues
Bishop bounced back from a disappointing first preseason appearance against the Bears. Against the Bucs, Bishop was targeted once but had good coverage and forced an incomplete pass. He had two tackles and showed physicality at the line of scrimmage. Bishop was the only projected starter to play in the game and seems to be 100% ahead of the season. He’ll likely be the starter opposite Taylor Rapp against Baltimore in two weeks.
The Bills have some tough calls at cornerback with rookie Maxwell Hairston nursing a knee injury, and the timeline on a Tre’Davious White lower leg injury is uncertain. Dane Jackson played into the fourth quarter, which is usually a bad sign for veterans in the final preseason game. Rookie Dorian Strong played just 16 snaps and seems to be in the driver’s seat for one of the team’s depth spots behind star Christian Benford.
Curtis Samuel doesn’t make trip
Samuel didn’t travel with the team because of an illness, a source told Syracuse.com before the game. That is a tough break for the veteran receiver who hasn’t played in any of the Bills’ preseason games. Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady downplayed Samuel’s lack of camp/preseason reps earlier this week because of his experience from 2024 in the Buffalo offense.
Veteran K.J. Hamler had three catches for 33 yards and was stopped just short of the goal line on a near touchdown. Hamler has been one of the stars of Hard Knocks because of his energetic personality. The Bills love glue guys and Hamler is going to be a tough cut. Samuel is also a tough cut because of his contract. The only likely way Samuel isn’t a Bill next Wednesday (after cuts) is if the team decides to trade him. I wouldn’t hold your breath.
The Frank Gore Jr. conundrum
Gore Jr. has been an explosive runner all summer, and he continued his impressive preseason by adding a rushing touchdown. The path to a roster spot for Gore Jr. is complicated because of the stacked nature of the Bills’ running back room. James Cook, Ray Davis, and Ty Johnson all figure to have significant roles for the Bills’ offense. Gore Jr. is likely the odd man out, but he’s shown tremendous juice in camp and during the games. He’ll likely get scooped up if he’s cut.
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