The Buffalo Bills absolutely rolled the Panthers 29-14 in their preseason opener at the new Highmark Stadium, and that dominant first game already has everyone buzzing about who’s making the cut for the 53-man roster. With just two more exhibition contests before the Bills hit Houston for their 2026 regular season, we’ve got some fresh intel to break down for the final 53-man lineup.
Allen’s Surprise Showing and a Stacked WR Room
Talk about a curveball! Kyle Allen, backing up Josh Allen, looked significantly better against the Panthers, slinging it for 108 yards on 14-of-16 passing. Seriously, that’s way sharper than anything we saw from him in training camp. Does this solidify his backup spot? You bet it does. Meanwhile, the running back room seems pretty locked in with James Cook, Ray Davis, and Ty Johnson. Johnson might’ve tweaked his leg in the “Return of the Blue and Red Scrimmage,” but the word is it won’t mess with the numbers for the start of the season.
Then there’s the wide receiver crew. Seven guys! Yeah, seven, not the usual six. But with Joe Brady running the show now, it makes sense he’d want to air it out a ton. D.J. Moore, Khalil Shakir, Josh Palmer, Keon Coleman, Skyler Bell, Mecole Hardman, and Trent Sherfield are the names. Hardman looked absolutely electric in camp, making plays downfield and ready to be the primary returner. Sherfield’s special teams game is what got him in. The only real shake-up here was Bell sitting out with an injury, so let’s hope that’s nothing serious.
Rookies Stepping Up and Defensive Line Intrigue
Okay, let’s talk about a genuine breakout. Jackson Hawes, a fifth-round pick, played 43% of the offensive snaps as a rookie and had a damn good first NFL season. We knew he had potential, but his receiving game? Untapped! And get this, he’s got the game to step in as a lead-blocking fullback, just like Reggie Gilliam used to do. That’s huge versatility for the Bills offense.
On the offensive line, there’s a little shuffle. Lloyd Cushenberry is now the backup center over Sedrick Van Pran-Grander. The rest of the nine-man crew looks solid with Dion Dawkins, Alec Anderson, Connor McGovern, O’Cyrus Torrence, Spencer Brown, Austin Corbett, Tylan Grable, and Jude Bowry. Keep an eye on Grable’s injury status, though. If it drags on, that could be a lifeline for 2025 seventh-round pick Chase Lundt to sneak onto the roster as a swing tackle.
Over on the defensive line, the six interior guys are Ed Oliver, Deone Walker, T.J. Sanders, DeWayne Carter, Landon Jackson, and Zane Durant. The suspension to Phidarian Mathis definitely opens the door wider for Carter, even if he was playing deep into the fourth quarter against the Panthers. That’s usually not a great sign for a guy trying to make the team, but Mathis’s absence changes the game. Plus, they’re only keeping six because there’s a versatile player somewhere else who can bump inside when needed. You love to see that kind of flexibility!
Only two more preseason matchups stand between the Bills and their 2026 regular season opener in Houston. Every snap, every tackle, every catch matters right now as these guys battle to make that final 53-man roster. The competition is real, and these last two games are gonna be absolutely crucial for everyone trying to prove they belong.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Buffalo Rumblings.
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