The Buffalo Bills routed the Panthers 29-14 in the preseason opener, the first outing inside the new Highmark Stadium.
With only two more preseason games remaining before the Bills head to Houston to embark on their 2026 regular season, why not project the 53-man roster again? Technically, we do have new information after Buffalo’s opening exhibition contest.
Quarterback (2)
- Josh Allen
- Kyle Allen
Oscillating back to Kyle Allen as Josh’s backup, as the veteran looked significantly better against the Panthers (14-of-16 for 108 yards) than he did during any point of training camp.
Running Back (3)
- James Cook
- Ray Davis
- Ty Johnson
Johnson hurt his leg in the Return of the Blue and Red Scrimmage, but it shouldn’t change the numbers game at the running back position for the start of the season.
Wide Receiver (7)
- D.J. Moore
- Khalil Shakir
- Josh Palmer
- Keon Coleman
- Skyler Bell
- Mecole Hardman
- Trent Sherfield
Going with seven — instead of what was the traditional six — because this is Joe Brady’s team now, and I assume he’s going to want to pass it and pass it often. Hardman looked as spry as ever at camp, made some plays down the field, and can serve as the club’s primary returner. Sherfield makes it on special teams availability. There weren’t any major developments at this position during the preseason game against the Panthers… beyond Bell sitting out due to injury.
Tight End (3)
- Dalton Kincaid
- Dawson Knox
- Jackson Hawes
I’ll focus on Hawes here — he played 43% of the offensive snaps as a rookie and turned in a damn good first season in the NFL, particularly for a fifth-round pick. There’s untapped receiving potential in Hawes, and he absolutely has the game to be the stand-in for the departed Reggie Gilliam as a lead-blocking fullback when needed.
Offensive Line (9)
- Dion Dawkins
- Alec Anderson
- Connor McGovern
- O’Cyrus Torrence
- Spencer Brown
- Austin Corbett
- Lloyd Cushenberry
- Tylan Grable
- Jude Bowry
Flipping from Sedrick Van Pran-Grander a week ago to now Cushenberry as the backup center but keeping 2025 seventh-round pick Chase Lundt as a cut, although it’ll be worth monitoring Tylan Grable’s injury status, because if it lingers that absolutely helps Lundt’s chances to make the team as the swing tackle.
Defensive Line (6)*
- Ed Oliver
- Deone Walker
- T.J. Sanders
- DeWayne Carter
- Landon Jackson
- Zane Durant
The suspension to Phidarian Mathis absolutely boosts Carter’s chances to make the team, even though he was playing well into the fourth quarter against the Panthers. That’s rarely a good sign for any player attempting to make the team. I’m going with just six (interior) defensive linemen due to a versatile piece I’ll add to another position who can bump inside.
Inside Linebacker (4)
- Terrel Bernard
- Kaleb Elarms-Orr
- Dorian Williams
- Keonta Jenkins
This position feels somewhat cemented right now — particularly after a strong performance from Jenkins in the preseason opener. He had two “stops” (tackles that constitute a loss for the offense based on down and distance) without a missed tackle and appeared on 27 snaps. The real question with his position is how does Elarms-Orr fit into the normal rotation during the regular season?
Rush Linebacker (6)
- Greg Rousseau
- Bradley Chubb
- Michael Hoecht
- T.J. Parker
- Javon Solomon
- Mike Danna
Danna had two sacks — and three total pressures — against backups in the second half, and that was probably to be expected. He was a pesky, dirty-work player for years in Kansas City and has the stocky body type to condense closer to the ball if needed in clear-cut passing situations. He’s a quality insurance option to have for Jim Leonhard’s front.
Defensive Backs (10)
- Christian Benford
- Maxwell Hairston
- Dee Alford
- Davison Igbinosun
- Cole Bishop
- CJ Gardner-Johnson
- Jordan Hancock
- Jalon Kilgore
- Kani Walker
- Sam Franklin Jr.
Damar Hamlin will be left out of the projection for now — even though I like to think Leonhard will want a safety with plenty of in-game experience as the primary backup to Gardner-Johnson and Bishop. Here though, the Bills opt for youth, explosiveness, and pure speed over said experience… and Kani Walker makes the club. While not the most ridiculous athlete on the team at corner, he’s an impressive mover at 6’2” and over 200 pounds and did snag that interception against the Panthers, so he gets rewarded for that.
Specialists (3)
- Reid Ferguson
- Tommy Doman Jr.
- Tyler Bass
I can’t say Doman Jr. clearly won the punter battle in camp, and he didn’t get an opportunity to boot the rock against Carolina but gets the nod as a draft pick over the veteran Mitch Wishnowsky.
*Phidarian Mathis will begin serving his three-game suspension at the start of the regular season so he will not originally be on the 53-man roster Week 1.
