The Buffalo Bills are officially diving into game prep for their season opener against the Houston Texans, and let’s be real, that trip south to NRG Stadium has been a nightmare for Bills Mafia. They haven’t seen a win in H-Town since 2006! For a team looking to finally snap that insane, long-standing curse, every name on this first unofficial depth chart for the 2026 NFL season gets a hard, critical look. This isn’t just about Week 1; it’s about seeing if this squad has the pieces to finally break through.
Wideouts and Running Backs: Who’s Starting Where?
Everyone’s been wondering about the wide receiver room, and honestly, if you’ve been watching closely this offseason, there aren’t huge surprises. DJ Moore and Khalil Shakir are obviously your top starters. But then we see Keon Coleman snagging that WR3 spot, a big vote of confidence right out of the gate. Backing him up is Joshua Palmer, with rookie Skyler Bell listed behind Moore. They don’t list anyone directly behind Shakir, but Bell or Palmer are the clear choices to fill in as needed. Flexibility is key early on!
Over at running back, Ray Davis is holding down the RB2 spot, officially ahead of Ty Johnson. This means he’s in line for a healthy dose of work this season, especially with his special teams value. He’s reprising his role as the team’s primary kick returner, with Ty Johnson behind him there too, and Davis is even listed as the second punt returner. But what about Ty Johnson? He got banged up during the “Return of the Blue & Red” game, and his injury status is still a big question mark. If he’s not fully ready, it could totally shuffle the backfield and special teams depth right away.
Special Teams Decisions and a Defensive Shift
Speaking of punt returns, that’s where things get interesting for Week 1. Nickel cornerback Dee Alford is currently listed as the top punt returner, which makes you scratch your head a bit given his main assignment on defense. Remember, the Bills picked up wide receiver Greg Dortch at roster cutdowns. Once he’s acclimated to the system, there’s a real chance he could be elevated to the active roster and take over those punt return duties. Alford’s main assignment is starting nickel CB and immediate backup to Christian Benford, so keeping an eye on that punt returner spot is critical.
On defense, a few things jump out. Cornerback Maxwell Hairston apparently switched his jersey number, ditching “31” for a crisp “1” this season. That’s a bold move, and even more importantly, he’s listed as the starting CB2, meaning he’s beaten out rookie Davison Igbinosun for that spot. Elsewhere, you’ve got DeWayne Carter backing up Ed Oliver, Greg Gaines behind Deone Walker, and Landon Jackson providing depth behind T.J. Sanders. Some solid depth across the defensive line.
So, here we are, Week 1 in Houston. The Bills are walking into that historical house of horrors, and this first depth chart is our initial peek at how they plan to tackle it. Can these new alignments, especially with Ray Davis stepping up and that punt return situation evolving, finally break the cycle? We’ll find out what this team is made of when they hit the field this Sunday.
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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