Get ready for some serious ex-player drama in the AFC East opener this Sunday! We’re talking a pair of former Patriots now with the Bills, and a handful of ex-Bills now rocking Patriots colors, all squaring off. And yeah, one of ’em even had a quick, *very* quick, Seattle connection, believe it or not.
Crossing Enemy Lines: The Bills Pick Up Former Pats and a Brief Emerald City Visitor
The Buffalo Bills’ practice squad is looking a little familiar these days, especially if you’ve been tracking player movement in the AFC East. Take Brock Lampe, the 23-year-old fullback out of Northern Illinois. He just joined the Bills’ practice squad midway through September. This dude’s journey? Wild. He originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2025 with the Patriots. Spent his rookie season on injured reserve with a leg injury, then got waived by Foxborough heading into training camp this July. But get this: before landing in Orchard Park, Lampe even had an injury settlement with our own Seattle Seahawks in the preseason. Talk about a whirlwind tour!
Then there’s Trent Sherfield Sr., a 30-year-old wide receiver now also on the Bills’ practice squad. Sherfield’s been around the block a few times. He actually signed to New England’s practice squad last January, got released right before the AFC title game, then re-signed ahead of Super Bowl LX. The Patriots didn’t keep him on a futures contract in February, but he stuck around the division. Sherfield went undrafted in 2018 and has put in some serious work, logging 2,684 snaps on offense and 1,804 on special teams across 124 career games. He’s got 14 starts, 89 receptions for 1,034 yards, and six touchdowns to his name. He’s bounced around, too, with stints with the Cardinals, 49ers, Dolphins, Vikings, and Broncos before landing in Buffalo.
Patriots Get In On The Action, Snatching Up Ex-Bills
On the flip side, the New England Patriots definitely grabbed some familiar faces from their AFC East rival. Reggie Gilliam, a 29-year-old fullback, signed a three-year deal with the Pats back in March. He’s already got one reception and two starts for New England, splitting his time between offense and special teams. Gilliam’s NFL start was with Buffalo as an undrafted free agent in 2020. During his Bills tenure, he played in 94 games, made a dozen starts, and tallied 153 yards and two touchdowns from scrimmage. He wasn’t just an offensive weapon, either, adding 29 tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and even snagging AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
And then there’s Mack Hollins. The 33-year-old wide receiver signed a two-year contract with the Patriots in 2025, and they even tweaked his incentives going into 2026. He’s made 15 starts for New England already. The AFC East opener is gonna be wild.
It’s all going down Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at Highmark Stadium. You know it’s gonna be a grinder when division rivals clash, especially with so many guys playing with something extra to prove against their old teams. Can’t wait for kickoff!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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