The Buffalo Bills are about to drop some massive news, with critical roster cutdown decisions coming in hot after their third preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. That final exhibition game goes down Thursday night inside the new Highmark Stadium, and then the real work begins. The official roster cutdown deadline isn’t until Sunday, August 30 at 6:00pm EST, so the front office has a bit of time to finalize everything, but trust me, every player on that bubble is feeling the heat right now.
Why the Practice Squad Game Matters More Than You Think
Before that last preseason showdown, we’ve got a sneak peek at who might be making the Bills’ practice squad this season. You might think practice squads are just a sideline thing, but they’re absolutely vital to a team’s depth and success throughout a grueling NFL season. After all the COVID changes, NFL practice squads are now set at 16 players. Here’s the breakdown: up to six veterans, with unlimited accrued seasons in the league, are allowed. The remaining ten spots? Those are for younger players with two or fewer accrued professional seasons. Oh, and there’s an extra spot available, bumping a club’s practice squad to 17 players, for the International Pathway Program. Just for clarity, a player needs to be on the 53-man roster for six or more regular season games to earn an accrued season.
To give you a vibe of what it looked like, the 2025 Bills practice squad was stacked with names like wide receivers Kristian Wilkerson and Stephen Gosnell, offensive tackle Travis Clayton (who was the IPP player), offensive guard Kendrick Green, center Dan Feeney, tight end Keleki Latu, quarterback Shane Buechele, running back Frank Gore Jr., edge rusher Andre Jones Jr., defensive linemen Jordan Phillips and Zion Logue, linebackers Keonta Jenkins and Jimmy Ciarlo, cornerbacks Dane Jackson and Jalen Kimber, and safeties Jordan Poyer and Sam Franklin. That’s a lot of talent waiting in the wings!
The 2026 Young Guns and the Official Projection
So, who on the current Bills roster qualifies for those crucial 10 young-player spots in 2026? We’re talking about guys not quite in danger of getting cut from the main roster, but who are definite practice squad candidates. On offense, that list includes wide receivers Ja’Mori Maclin, Max Tomczak, Mac Dalena, Stephen Gosnell, and Quentin Skinner; offensive linemen Chase Lundt, Da’Metrius Weatherspoon, Ar’maj Reed-Adams, and Bruno Fina; tight end Keleki Latu; running backs Ian Wheeler and Frank Gore Jr.; and quarterback Shane Buechele. Defensively, we’ve got outside linebackers Cade Denhoff and Andre Jones Jr.; defensive linemen Zion Logue and Zane Durant; linebackers Keonta Jenkins, Theron Gaines, and Jimmy Ciarlo; cornerbacks Kani Walker, Toriano Pride Jr., and Jordan Dunbar; and safeties Te’Cory Couch and Wande Owens.
Now, for the moment of truth. Here’s the projected 2026 practice squad ahead of Buffalo’s final preseason game: wide receivers Ja’Mori Maclin and Stephen Gosnell; offensive linemen Chase Lundt and Ar’maj Reed-Adams; tight ends Keleki Latu and Shane Zylstra; running back Frank Gore Jr.; quarterback Shane Buechele; defensive linemen Zion Logue and Zane Durant; linebackers Joe Andreessen and Jimmy Ciarlo; cornerbacks Toriano Pride Jr. and Jordan Dunbar; safeties Te’Cory Couch and Wande Owens; and our IPP player, defensive tackle Travis Clayton. What’s super interesting here is the projection only includes three veterans, which leaves the Bills with tons of flexibility to add more experienced players later in the season if they need to. It’s a smart move, focusing on developing young talent while keeping options open.
That final preseason game against the Steelers on Thursday night is huge for these guys. Every snap matters when you’re fighting for a spot. These projections give us a roadmap, but the real decisions drop Sunday, August 30. Who makes the cut? Who gets snatched up by another team? It’s going to be wild!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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