The Bills are officially through the first stage of training camp. They wrapped up their final practice at St. John Fisher University on Thursday, then moved back into their permanent home at One Bills Drive in Orchard Park for the rest of the season.
As camp raged on, player performances and how the Bills handled their depth chart over the past few weeks revealed several potential changes from where things stood with the 53-man roster in the spring. Injuries have also sculpted at least one key position on the roster.
As the Bills approach their first preseason tilt — a Saturday contest at home against the Chicago Bears at 1:00 pm — how does the 53-man roster look before an exhibition game gets played?
Here is an updated, post-camp, pre-preseason look at how the Bills roster could shake out, complete with practice squad.
Quarterback (2)
Josh Allen, Mitchell Trubisky
Even with Shane Buechele occasionally working with the second-team offense, there is no drama at quarterback this year. It’s Allen and Trubisky, with Buechele as their practice squad guy for a second year.
Waived: Shane Buechele
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Running back (4)
James Cook, Ray Davis, Ty Johnson, Reggie Gilliam (FB)
Running back is another open-and-shut case with the same projection from before camp. Cook is the unquestioned starter, with the fourth-round rookie Davis and Johnson as the dependable depth. Neither Darrynton Evans nor Frank Gore Jr. really pushed hard for a roster spot during camp, though they’ll have plenty of opportunity to do so during the preseason games.
Released: Darrynton Evans
Waived: Frank Gore Jr.
Wide receiver (6)
Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel, Keon Coleman, Mack Hollins, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Tyrell Shavers
The wide receiver movement from practice to practice has been one of the most exciting facets of camp. But after the dust settled from the 12 sessions, there’s only one significant change from our pre-camp projection: Tyrell Shavers is in, and Justin Shorter is out. Shavers has been excellent in camp, gives them the versatility to play all three receiver positions, offers more on special teams, and, to put it bluntly, has outplayed Shorter quite a bit. Shavers will need to keep going through the preseason to secure the spot. However, with ample options at Shorter’s position (X receiver) already on the roster, they can go with the player that gives them the most potential right now, and that’s Shavers.
As for the veteran players getting cut in this projection, Chase Claypool’s injury has taken him out of consideration for now, and he’ll need a strong preseason when he returns to get back into contention. KJ Hamler loses out on the return job because his competition showed some game on the defensive side. But Hamler should be a priority practice squad add if he passes through waivers.
Released: Chase Claypool, Andy Isabella
Waived: Justin Shorter, K.J. Hamler, Bryan Thompson, Xavier Johnson, Lawrence Keys III
Tight end (3)
Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Quintin Morris
Kincaid and Knox will be the two most heavily used tight ends, and Morris has sprinkled in with the first-team offense occasionally throughout the summer. Morris would be the only one that could be at risk of not making the team in favor of a player like Zach Davidson, who has had a nice camp. But with so much turnover on special teams this offseason, and Morris being a core member of all those units for coordinator Matthew Smiley for years, I think that’s enough to warrant a spot on the team right now. They should be able to get the 26-year-old Davidson through waivers and to the practice squad.
Waived: Zach Davidson, Tre’ McKitty
Offensive line (10)
Dion Dawkins, David Edwards, Connor McGovern, O’Cyrus Torrence, Spencer Brown, Ryan Van Demark, Alec Anderson, La’El Collins, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, Tylan Grable
The Bills’ starting offensive line has been set all summer, and their backup group could feature four players who have yet to start an NFL game. As draft picks, Van Pran-Granger and Grable seem like perfect options to stick on the 53-man roster for development and hold their four-year rookie deals while making them healthy scratches every week there isn’t an injury. Both players have shown some potential this summer.
Will Clapp is the biggest name among those cut, but as a vested veteran, he would not be subject to waivers and could immediately sign to the Bills’ practice squad. The Bills have used Kevin Jarvis and Richard Gouraige occasionally on the second-team offensive line, which would make them prime practice squad candidates.
Released: Will Clapp
Waived: Kevin Jarvis, Richard Gouraige, Mike Edwards, Gunner Britton, Keaton Bills, Travis Clayton (International Pathway Program exemption)
Edge Rusher (6)
Greg Rousseau, A.J. Epenesa, Von Miller, Dawuane Smoot, Javon Solomon, Kingsley Jonathan
Outside of the prominent top four, the fifth-round rookie Solomon has been excellent in his first training camp and looks like a roster lock. Past that, the edge rusher decisions come down to a few things. First, will the Bills keep six? Considering some good showings across the position this summer, it’s a strong bet as of now. Second, could the Bills keep seven edge rushers? It depends on special teams needs, but it’s not out of the question. And third, if they only hold six, which of Kingsley Jonathan or Casey Toohill would make the cut? I give those honors to the better pass rusher, which in this case is Jonathan. After getting burned by waivers once before, with the Bears claiming Jonathan in 2022, general manager Brandon Beane will likely avoid subjecting pass rush ability to the rest of the league. The Bills can get Toohill back on the practice squad if he doesn’t sign elsewhere, so it makes sense for Jonathan to be the sixth.
Released: Casey Toohill
Waived: Kameron Cline, Rondell Bothroyd
Defensive Tackle (4)
Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, Austin Johnson, DeWayne Carter
With so many good edge rushers shining in camp, some of which having the ability to reduce to defensive tackle on third down, it could make it difficult for the Bills to keep more than four defensive tackles this year. With a low amount of guaranteed money on his one-year deal, the 31-year-old DeShawn Williams is an ideal candidate to release while trying to add him to the practice squad immediately in case of an injury. Eli Ankou would be the backup plan if Williams signs elsewhere.
Released: DeShawn Williams, Eli Ankou
Waived: Branson Deen, Gable Stevenson
Linebacker (5)
Matt Milano, Terrel Bernard, Dorian Williams, Baylon Spector, Edefuan Ulofoshio
Keeping only five linebackers is a switch from the pre-camp projection, but this is not a settled spot. To this point, free agent signing Nicholas Morrow has allowed competition like Deion Jones to catch up to him, and Morrow has now missed time with an injury to complicate it even more. Jones has a real chance of usurping Morrow’s veteran linebacker job, whether on the 53-man roster or the practice squad. Linebacker is a “to be continued” until we know how long the rookie Ulofoshio will be out with a rib injury. If his absence extends well into the summer, he could be a prime candidate to take to the 53-man roster and then place him on injured reserve a day later. That would allow the Bills to cut a vested veteran who isn’t subject to waivers, promising to bring them back a day later with a nice little signing bonus for their trouble.
Released: Deion Jones, Nicholas Morrow
Waived: Joe Andreessen, Shayne Simon
Ja’Marcus Ingram is one player who played his way onto the roster during training camp. (Shawn Dowd / USA Today)
Cornerback (6)
Taron Johnson, Rasul Douglas, Christian Benford, Kaiir Elam, Daequan Hardy, Ja’Marcus Ingram
Two players on this list have played their way onto the 53-man roster projection through camp. That includes the sixth-round rookie Hardy and long-time Bills practice squad member Ingram. Hardy has done well enough as a kickoff and punt returner, but more importantly, he showed some real ability on defense. He also did it at two positions, getting reps at nickel and boundary cornerback throughout the summer. Ingram has that similar versatility while giving the Bills special teams reps across several units, with over two years of experience in the defensive scheme. Ingram was the final player kept on the 53-man roster projection. Should the Bills need a spot elsewhere — namely at safety — he’s on the shortlist of players to remove from a subsequent projection.
Waived: Kyron Brown, Keni-H Lovely, Te’Cory Couch
GO DEEPER
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Safety (4)
Taylor Rapp, Cole Bishop, Damar Hamlin, Cam Lewis
This group provides the projection’s biggest surprise, with veteran Mike Edwards off the final squad. In this case, Edwards would go to season-ending injured reserve with an eventual settlement due to his “week-to-week” hamstring ailment. Edwards has been injured for most of his time with the Bills and doesn’t have much time on task in the scheme, which hurts his case. Without that baseline for Edwards, Bishop’s promising early camp progress and some great camp performances at cornerback, it opens the door for the Bills to move on from Edwards. Don’t forget about Cam Lewis, who the Bills trust in their scheme, whether at safety or nickel corner. Lewis is listed at safety on the team’s unofficial depth chart. We still need to see Cole Bishop’s return timeline, which could also impact this final roster. It also would not be a shock if the Bills signed a safety to round out the group or to be the 2024 starter next to Rapp.
Released: Kareem Jackson, Terrell Burgess, Dee Delaney
Injured Reserve with later settlement: Mike Edwards
Specialists (3)
Tyler Bass (K), Sam Martin (P), Reid Ferguson (LS)
Waived/Released: None
Practice squad (17)
QB Shane Buechele, RB Frank Gore Jr., WR KJ Hamler*, WR Justin Shorter, WR Bryan Thompson, TE Zach Davidson, IOL Will Clapp*, IOL Kevin Jarvis, OT Richard Gouraige, OT Travis Clayton (International Pathway Program exemption), DE Casey Toohill*, DE Kameron Cline, DT DeShawn Williams*, LB Deion Jones*, CB Keni-H Lovely, CB Te’Cory Couch, S Kareem Jackson*
For reference, this is a Bills-only practice squad, which usually never happens due to waiver claims and other players who become available elsewhere. However, these are the 17 names who have had either some good moments in camp or who the Bills might want to keep for roster reasons.
*Denotes a qualifying veteran by practice squad standards. Teams are only allowed six veterans on their practice squad.
Roster moves key
Injured Reserve: Players that go on IR without going to the 53-man roster first will be out for the entire year if they stay with the team
Waived: A player with three or fewer vested years of experience will be subject to waivers if let go by the team.
Released: A player with four or more vested years of experience is not subject to waivers if let go by the team and will be free to sign anywhere immediately.
(Top photo of Tyrell Shavers: Bryan Bennett / Getty Images)
