The 2026 NFL season is about to get real for the Buffalo Bills, kicking off in just 90 minutes against the Houston Texans. This isn’t just any opener; it’s head coach Joe Brady’s debut as the top guy, and his star quarterback Josh Allen has a brutal 1-4 record against the Texans since 2018. The kicker? All four of those losses have come right there at NRG Stadium in Houston. Can the Bills finally flip the script in this season opener? They’ll have to do it with seven players sitting out, which is a big deal for Week 1.
Bills Offense Faces Early Tests With Key Inactives
Kicking off a new season with significant names on the inactive list is never easy, especially on the road. The Bills are dealing with it on offense, starting with running back Ty Johnson. After nursing a hamstring injury for about a month, and only getting a limited practice Friday after two “did not participates,” Johnson is officially out. Frank Gore Jr. got bumped up from the practice squad on Saturday, so he’ll be slotting in at RB3 behind James Cook III and Ray Davis. That’s a lot of pressure on the young guys to step up right away. Then there’s rookie wide receiver Skyler Bell. He looked good in the preseason finale after battling a groin injury all summer, but despite getting healthy, he’s a surprise inactive for the opener. Greg Dortch got the call from the practice squad to join DJ Moore, Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, and Joshua Palmer in the receiving corps. This just means the active receivers better be ready for a heavy workload.
Defensive Depth and O-Line Health Are Key
The Bills’ offensive line and defense also have some changes this week. Rookie T/G Jude Bowry, who definitely looked like he was finding his footing in preseason, is a healthy scratch. Luckily, the Bills have all their other linemen available, with Tylan Grable stepping in as the swing tackle. On the interior, fellow guard Ar’Maj Reed-Adams is also a healthy scratch. With ten linemen on the 53-man roster, they can afford to sit two, and veterans Austin Corbett and Lloyd Cushenberry are ready as active interior reserves. Big news on the line, though: Connor McGovern, who missed time with a hamstring injury in the preseason, is healthy and ready to roll! That’s a huge boost. On defense, second-year defensive lineman T.J. Sanders is out with a knee injury that limited him all week. The Bills still have five active defensive linemen: Ed Oliver, DeWayne Carter, Deone Walker, Greg Gaines, and Landon Jackson. Finally, veteran outside linebacker Mike Danna is a healthy scratch after being mostly on the third team in preseason. The edge rushers for today are Bradley Chubb, Greg Rousseau, T.J. Parker, Michael Hoecht, and Javon Solomon. Rookie safety Jalen Kilgore is also a healthy scratch, with Damar Hamlin’s experience getting the nod over Kilgore’s athleticism for the reserve spot.
This is a massive game for the Bills. It’s not just the season opener, it’s the start of the Joe Brady era, and it’s a chance for Josh Allen to finally put an end to that ugly 1-4 record against the Texans. With several key guys out, the depth is going to be tested big time. Can they get it done? We’re about to find out!
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.
Leave a Reply