Jordan Poyer and Jordan Phillips headline the initial 16-player practice squad revealed Tuesday by the Buffalo Bills.
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Buffalo Bills running back Frank Gore Jr. celebrates after scoring against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during their preseason game in Tampa, Fla. Chris O'Meara, Associated Press
Here's the entire group:
Shane Buechele, quarterback
A breakout performance in the preseason finale helped Buechele secure a spot on the Bills' practice squad. He completed 25 of 30 passes for 278 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 20 yards in their 23-19 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was the first time Buechele played the entire game as a professional. He spent the 2023 season on their practice squad and missed all of 2024 with a neck injury. His mobility may have given him the edge over Mike White, whom the Bills cut Monday.
Frank Gore Jr., running back
Entering his second NFL season, Gore spent 2024 on the Bills' practice squad and impressed this preseason with 104 yards on 23 carries with one touchdown. He also caught 11 passes for 109 yards in three preseason games. His vision and ability as a receiver make him an ideal fit for the Bills' offense, but he was behind three running backs on the depth chart.
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Stephen Gosnell, wide receiver
Undrafted out of Virginia Tech, Gosnell can play every receiver position on offense. He got more opportunities with Josh Allen during training camp because of injuries to the Bills' receiving corps, and the team was impressed by Gosnell's contributions on special teams. Gosnell overcame multiple knee injuries to start two seasons for the Hokies, totaling career highs in catches (28) and yards (506) in 2024.
Kristian Wilkerson, wide receiver: Signed by the Bills in May, Wilkerson surprised in training camp with acrobatic catches and consistent performances. He had seven catches for 91 yards in three preseason games and took advantage of the snaps he got with Josh Allen during practices. Wilkerson has appeared in nine games in four NFL seasons, including three with the Raiders in 2024.
Keleki Latu, tight end
A run-after-the-catch threat, Latu was signed by the Bills as a priority undrafted free agent. The 6-foot-6 tight end played at three schools in four years, capped by his 40-catch, 371-yard season at Cal. He had two catches for 38 yards in the preseason, capped by a 29-yard reception in the finale.
Travis Clayton, offensive line
Part of the NFL's International Pathways Program, Clayton was a seventh-round draft pick of the Bills in 2024.
Dan Feeney, offensive line
An eight-year pro with 65 NFL starts, Feeney played center and guard for the Bill during training camp. The versatility earned him a roster spot over younger players who received preseason action.
Kendrick Green, offensive line
The Bills used the practice squad to solidify their depth on the interior of the offensive line, as Green was their backup center for a portion of training camp because of injuries to Alec Anderson and Sedrick Van Pran-Granger. Green started 15 games for the Steelers in 2021.
Zion Logue, defensive tackle
A two-time national champion at Georgia, Logue was a sixth-round pick of the Falcons in 2024. The Bills signed him off their practice squad in October and signed him to a reserve/future contract in January.
Jordan Phillips, defensive tackle
A 10-year veteran, Phillips returned to the Bills midseason in 2024 and appeared in the final seven regular-season games before he contributed in their run to the AFC championship. This is his third stint in Buffalo, as he was here in 2018 and 2019, then 2022 and 2023. He'll provide leadership to a position group that includes two rookies (T.J. Sanders and Deone Walker) and lost Larry Ogunjobi to a six-game suspension.
Jimmy Ciarlo, linebacker
The West Point graduate faced an uphill battle to make the practice squad, let alone the 53-man roster. Ciarlo, a graduate of West Point, missed the entire 2024 season because of a torn ACL that he suffered in his first preseason game with the Washington Commanders. Ciarlo wasn't sure if he'd get another chance, but he signed a contract with the Bills following a successful tryout at St. John Fisher University. Ciarlo had 11 tackles, one for a loss, in three preseason games. He even lined up at nickel cornerback against the Bears because the Bills were thin at the position.
Keonta Jenkins, linebacker
Signed as an undrafted free agent in May, Jenkins was among the Bills' most impressive rookies on defense before he suffered a high ankle sprain in their second preseason game, a 38-0 loss to Chicago. He's an athletic linebacker who can play in space and handle coverage responsibilities in Buffalo's defense. A three-year starter at Virginia Tech, Jenkins totaled 108 tackles and three interceptions during his career with the Hokies.
Daequan Hardy, cornerback
A sixth-round pick in 2024, Hardy spent last season on the Bills' practice squad. He's a boundary corner, but he filled in at nickel during the preseason finale.
Dane Jackson, cornerback
Jackson started 28 games and appeared in 52 during his first stint with the Bills. The 2020 seventh-round pick spent last season with the Carolina Hurricanes and returned to Buffalo in free agency.
Jordan Poyer, safety
The veteran is returning to the Bills for his 13th NFL season after he started 16 games for the Dolphins in 2024. During his six seasons in Buffalo, Poyer had 582 tackles and 22 interceptions with seven forced fumbles. He and Micah Hyde formed the best safety duo in franchise history. Poyer was a first-team All-Pro in 2021 and made the Pro Bowl in 2022, starting in each of his 107 games with the Bills. Their projected starters at safety, Taylor Rapp and Cole Bishop, were injured in training camp. The latter is entering his second NFL season and struggled once he returned from a quad injury that he re-aggravated early in camp.
Sam Franklin, safety
Franklin played a career-high 289 defensive snaps for the Panthers in 2023, but he's effective on punt and kickoff coverage. In Carolina, Franklin played for Bills special teams coordinator Chris Tabor.
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