Bills pre-preseason 53-man roster projection: A look at players who still need to earn a spot

New York Times

5 days ago

PITTSFORD, N.Y. — After a light practice on Thursday, the Bills' time at St. John Fisher University this season came to a close. After a two-and-a-half-week stay in the dorms, the Bills are heading back to their Orchard Park facilities for almost all of their training camp practices.
The next thing on their docket is their first preseason game, taking on the New York Giants at home on Saturday afternoon. Preseason is the next stage for players trying to earn a roster spot this summer and will reveal some answers about how the Bills shape their team in 2025. But how are things trending with their decisions ahead of their three exhibition games?
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After taking in all 12 of the team's training camp practices, here is our updated pre-preseason Bills 53-man roster projection.
Josh Allen, Mitchell Trubisky
The backup competition has been mostly even between Trubisky and Mike White, though a tie will likely go to Trubisky as he has more experience and is the least likely of the two to return to the Bills' practice squad after final cuts. Trubisky is getting the start on Saturday against the Giants, but make no mistake, this remains an open competition that the trio of preseason games will likely decide over the next few weeks.
Cut: Mike White, Shane Buechele
James Cook, Ray Davis, Ty Johnson, Reggie Gilliam (FB)
Although the Bills don't have an answer as to when this hold-in with Cook will end, there is still a month to go before the start of the regular season, and almost three weeks until final cuts. It's a complex situation with several dynamics to consider, so the Bills would likely want to get it squared away ahead of the regular season. That likely won't impact what they do with the 53-man roster, even if the hold-in continues up to cutdown day. Outside of that, this is a relatively easy group to figure out.
Cut: Frank Gore Jr., Darrynton Evans
Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer, Curtis Samuel, Elijah Moore, Tyrell Shavers
Out of transparency, I was *thisclose* to having Samuel land on the cut list. The Bills have been preaching about availability, and that's what ultimately undid Baylon Spector as they waived the linebacker earlier this week. This is now the second straight training camp where a multi-week injury knocked Samuel out of the majority of practices. Cutting Samuel now would not place any additional dead cap onto their 2025 cap sheet, and it would effectively be the same thing as cutting him in the offseason and getting the same 2026 savings. Ultimately, I snuck him on because of how Samuel finished the season in 2024. The Bills were bullish on how he looked in those games, which is what led to his inclusion. But you can make a case that Samuel's roster spot isn't as secure as it was in the spring due to another summer injury.
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The Bills usually keep five receivers on the 53-man roster, but Shavers is once again trying to push his way onto the team. He nearly made it through final cuts last year, and with some added strength and an even bigger game this summer, his case looks even better in 2025. The coaching staff gushes about him and how he approaches his job every day. For those reasons, and with his ability to play special teams plus all three receiver spots, I've got Shavers on the roster as of now. Wilkerson was the other one to consider, though, as a 28-year-old player who has had a tough time sticking on a final active roster, it's likelier that they can get him to the practice squad.
Placed on Injured Reserve: Kaden Prather
Cut: Kristian Wilkerson, Laviska Shenault, Jalen Virgil, K.J. Hamler, Stephen Gosnell, Deon Cain, Kelly Akhariyi
Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Jackson Hawes
A pretty cut-and-dry group here with the top three looking like the top three, though getting some nice performances from their depth options. Both Zach Davidson and Keleki Latu have had their moments, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see them be priority additions to the practice squad should they clear waivers.
Cut: Zach Davidson, Keleki Latu, Matt Sokol
Dion Dawkins, David Edwards, Connor McGovern, O'Cyrus Torrence, Spencer Brown, Tylan Grable, Alec Anderson, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, Ryan Van Demark
There are a couple of decision points here for the Bills. The first is about Anderson, who had his knee scoped last week and was labeled week-to-week. He has been out at practice the last several days, and with a month to go before the season, he might be more likely to land on the 53-man roster rather than IR. However, that option could be there if he's just not projecting to be ready by the time Aug. 26 comes around. This is a to-be-determined decision. For now, Anderson is on the team.
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The second decision point is whether to keep Van Demark or rookie sixth-round pick Chase Lundt. The tie usually goes to the rookie on a four-year cost-controlled deal, though Van Demark has had a solid camp, giving the team reps at both left tackle and right tackle. He's at his best on the left side, with Lundt being best on the right side. Ultimately, they'd have an easier time of getting Lundt back to the practice squad than Van Demark, and Van Demark would be more ready to contribute in the event of injuries in 2025.
Last, the Bills have to decide between keeping nine or 10 offensive linemen. If I had the Bills cutting Samuel, the offensive line would have included 10 names, and the last one on would have been Mike Edwards over Lundt. It may be one year too early for Edwards, one of our need-to-know sleeper names, to make the 53-man roster, but he's shown well during camp and is making a legitimate run at sticking past final cuts. However, with a strong preseason, there is a definite chance for him to play his way onto the team. Offensive linemen who show they can play during the preseason usually end up as waiver claims, considering the depth across the league is severely lacking. This is a stay-tuned situation.
Cut: Mike Edwards, Chase Lundt, Kendrick Green, Richard Gouraige, Travis Clayton, Dan Feeney, Jacob Bayer
Greg Rousseau, Joey Bosa, A.J. Epenesa, Javon Solomon, Landon Jackson
An open-and-shut case compared to other positions, the bigger question is how the Bills will handle this rotation during the regular season. Solomon has made a push for defensive snaps, especially in pass rush situations, while Jackson is likely to get better with the more reps he gets in practice. On top of the rotation question, making another roster spot for Michael Hoecht after his six-game suspension will be something to monitor. But for now, these are the five without any doubt.
Suspended: Michael Hoecht
Cut: Justin Hollins
Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, T. J. Sanders, DeWayne Carter, Deone Walker
Even if there isn't much drama when it comes to who makes the team, how they deploy them will be the ultimate decision. Oliver and Jones are the no-doubt starters, and Sanders will be their top rotational piece who can spell Oliver and even play next to him on passing downs. Sanders, without question, has been their best rookie at camp so far. Beyond that, they'll have to decide who to give their backup one-technique snaps to between Carter and Walker. Then, once Ogunjobi is back from his six-game suspension, how does he fit in and at what position? This might be a position that has a lot of different approaches throughout the year to see what sticks. Zion Logue could be someone to keep an eye on for early-season call-ups from the practice squad, if they aren't comfortable with Carter and Walker taking the backup snaps for Jones.
Suspended: Larry Ogunjobi
Cut: Zion Logue, Marcus Harris
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Matt Milano, Terrel Bernard, Dorian Williams, Joe Andreessen, Shaq Thompson
The Bills answered a big question in the linebacker room when they waived Spector this week. The remaining questions are, will the Bills keep six linebackers, and if not, who is the fifth and final linebacker to make it? For now, as the Bills have special teams help from several other positions, I've got them keeping only five linebackers, with Thompson sticking around for his age-31 season. The relationship and trust from Carolina with head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane help. Still, beyond that, Thompson could give them reps at either linebacker spot and also chip in on special teams. Thompson has moved well despite his age and the Achilles tear he suffered last September, and has had a good camp. If he can get back from a hamstring injury ahead of final cuts, that might be the final test to pass. The team's 2024 fifth-round pick, Edefuan Ulofoshio, might be someone they can get through waivers due to the position he plays.
Cut: Edefuan Ulofoshio, Keonta Jenkins, Jimmy Ciarlo
Taron Johnson, Cam Lewis
Another season, another year of Johnson and Lewis being the top two options at nickel. The big question with this group is whether they would keep return specialist Brandon Codrington, but they have several options throughout the roster to handle the kick and punt return duties. That group includes Ray Davis, Ty Johnson, Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman and Elijah Moore. That said, I think if they do cut Codrington, they'd like to get him on the practice squad just in case those return options aren't as dependable as they'd like.
Cut: Brandon Codrington, Te'Cory Couch
Christian Benford, Tre'Davious White, Dane Jackson, Ja'Marcus Ingram, Dorian Strong
The Bills were setting up to need to make a decision on one of their boundary cornerbacks, and then the injury to Maxwell Hairston occurred. Rushing him back doesn't seem like something they'll be eager to do, especially with White having a strong camp and securing the starting role. The last time we saw Hairston, he was on crutches and not super close to a return to the field. With some depth pieces in-house, the Bills can afford to place Hairston on IR to begin the year, let him get back up to full speed on his own time, and then find a way to get him on the 53-man roster when he's ready.
Placed on IR: Maxwell Hairston
Cut: Daequan Hardy
Cole Bishop, Taylor Rapp, Damar Hamlin, Jordan Hancock
The Bills have four safeties listed here, but they actually have five options at safety with the inclusion of Lewis on the 53-man roster. They've liked what they've seen out of Hancock as he's cross-trained at both nickel and safety during training camp. Having two players in Hancock and Lewis who are versatile pieces reduces the chances of Darrick Forrest making the team, and Hancock has even played ahead of Forrest at times in camp practices when Rapp and Bishop had to miss some days with injuries.
Cut: Darrick Forrest, Wande Owens
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Tyler Bass (K), Brad Robbins (P), Reid Ferguson (LS)
The only question here for now is Robbins, but he's had a nice camp and has fit in nicely in the specialist room. A lot will depend on the preseason punting, but he's done everything they've asked so far that they aren't inviting competition for him to this point. He's three solid showings away from being the Bills' punter in 2025.
Cut: None
QB Mike White, RB Frank Gore Jr., WR Kristian Wilkerson, WR Jalen Virgil, WR Stephen Gosnell, TE Zach Davidson, TE Keleki Latu, OL Mike Edwards, OL Chase Lundt, OL Kendrick Green, OL Travis Clayton (International Pathway Program), DE Parris Shand, DT Zion Logue, LB Edefuan Ulofoshio, LB Keonta Jenkins, NCB/S Te'Cory Couch, CB/KR/PR Brandon Codrington
(Top photo of Michael Hoecht and Paris Shand: Tina MacIntyre-Yee / USA Today)
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