The Buffalo Bills just pulled off a wild 28-27 comeback win against the Pittsburgh Steelers, capping an undefeated 3-0 preseason run. Now, the real work begins for Brandon Beane, Joe Brady, and the coaching staff. They’ve got to slash the roster from a massive 91 players down to the final 53 by Sunday at 6 PM EST. That’s a brutal deadline, and some tough calls are coming.
Kyle Allen Secures QB2, Gore Jr. Stuns the Competition
No major shockers at the top, Josh Allen is the guy. But the QB2 battle, which had some real legs in camp, went to Kyle Allen. He dropped another “surgical performance” in the second preseason game, solidifying his spot. He might not be the best backup in the league, but he looks comfortable in Joe Brady’s system, and that’s what matters. The running back room, though? That’s where things got spicy. James Cook, Ray Davis, and Ben VanSumeren are in, but the big story is Frank Gore Jr. He absolutely *made something out of nothing* against the Steelers on multiple occasions and delivered a “stellar blitz pickup” on a Shane Buechele long completion for the second week straight. That kind of grit earns you a spot. It’s no knock on Ian Wheeler, who was dynamic this preseason, but Gore Jr. earned this. He’ll hold it, at least until Ty Johnson returns from what looks like an IR designation to start the season.
O-Line Headaches and Returner Roulette
The wide receiver room saw no surprises: D.J. Moore, Khalil Shakir, Josh Palmer, Keon Coleman, Skyler Bell, and Trent Sherfield are locked in. Everyone was wondering if Mecole Hardman would snag the primary punt returner gig, but after a muffed punt last season and three drops in preseason, it’s not happening. Expect Ray Davis to handle both kick and punt returns, even with his own “ugly” initial muff. Over on the offensive line, it’s a bit of a chess match. Nine blockers are projected, but there are some huge caveats. Jude Bowry was seen in a walking boot, so it’s smart for that raw, high-upside rookie to start on IR. That opens a slot for Sedrick Van Pran-Granger. Even though he lost the backup center job to Lloyd Cushenberry, Van Pran-Granger had a strong summer. Now, here’s the kicker: there’s a “reasonably distinct possibility” the Bills trim to 52 players, making room to add a veteran blocker from another team, potentially after trading Van Pran-Granger to the Commanders or another interior O-line needy club. Talk about high stakes!
The defensive line stays steady with Ed Oliver, Deone Walker, T.J. Sanders, Landon Jackson, Greg Gaines, and Zane Durant all making the cut. It’s clear that while some spots were settled, others are still very much in flux right up until the buzzer. Beane and Brady have until Sunday 6 PM EST to finalize this roster. It’s going to be a wild finish, and Bills fans are on the edge of their seats to see who makes the final 53.
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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