For the Bills’ roster hopefuls, Thursday night is the final audition.
Buffalo closes the preseason against the Pittsburgh Steelers at 7 p.m. at Highmark Stadium, and for anyone sitting on the edge of the 53-man bubble, this is the last chance to make a case before the league’s cutdown deadline. After the game, the Bills and the other 31 NFL teams have until 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 30 to get down to 53 players.
Josh Allen won’t take the field against Pittsburgh, but some starters will. Exactly which ones, and how long they’ll stay in the game, is still unclear. Head coach Joe Brady wouldn’t pin that down earlier in the week.
“There will be some guys who are starters that are going to be playing in the game,” said Brady ahead of Tuesday’s practice. “That’s going to be kind of a thing we’re going to talk about after today’s practice.”
That uncertainty is part of what makes this one worth watching. The Bills’ preseason finale is less about the scoreboard and more about the roster math, with several jobs still up for grabs and a handful of players trying to squeeze onto the final 53.
Among the names to keep an eye on are outside linebacker Mike Danna, defensive lineman Zane Durant, safety Jalon Kilgore, inside linebacker Keonta Jenkins, and wide receiver Dane Pettis. The game also brings a look at some of the positional battles that are still unresolved as Buffalo wraps up the summer.
Elsewhere, there are fresh 53-man roster predictions from several Bills beat writers, along with a guide for fans who want to follow the action from home.
There’s also more Bills coverage around the team’s defensive front and the new faces in camp, including an examination of how defensive tackle Greg Gaines is settling in, a look at “Buffalo” Joe Andreessen working in front of the Bills’ new defensive coaches, and a closer introduction to Buffalo’s newest offensive lineman.
In Other News...
Bills Fans Missed A Damar Hamlin Moment That Suddenly Matters
Damar Hamlins preseason has already been about more than just getting back into the flow of football, and his latest step came in a moment many viewers did not even see live. During the Bills win over the Steelers, a broadcast camera error kept fans from watching Hamlin come away with an interception, a play that quickly took on a little more weight because of where he is in camp and how hard he is pushing for a roster spot.
The NFL later posted a clip of the play, but the reaction around it suggested plenty of people felt the moment deserved better than a secondhand look. Hamlin has now picked off passes in each of his last two games, while Pittsburgh quarterback Will Howard is also in a position battle of his own, adding a little extra edge to what should have been one of the more memorable snaps of the preseason. [Read more 🡒]
Kaiir Elam Is Facing Another Brutal Reality Check After Buffalo
Roster cutdown week is always unforgiving, and for former Bills first-round cornerback Kaiir Elam, it has brought another harsh reminder of how quickly an NFL path can change. Buffalo moved on from him, he later landed with Dallas and Tennessee, and this offseason he signed with the Chiefs, a team that has plenty to sort out before Sundays 53-man deadline.
According to a report from Arrowhead Addict, Elams preseason showing has left him on shaky ground in Kansas City. For a player who arrived there looking for a fresh start, the timing is rough, and the next roster move will say plenty about whether his career gets another shot or faces yet another reset. [Read more 🡒]
Bills End Preseason Perfect With One Roster Question Still Looming
The Bills finished their preseason on a high note, slipping past the Steelers 28-27 in the finale on a last-gasp sequence that showed exactly why these August games still matter. Ian Wheeler scored the winning touchdown, and Steve Buechele found Dante Pettis on the two-point conversion that ultimately made the difference, while Buffalos defense got one final stop when Drew Allars fourth-down pass fell incomplete.
It also marked a welcome step forward for Michael Hoecht, who made his preseason debut after working back from an Achilles tendon injury. For a roster that has spent the month sorting through depth and trying to settle a few lingering decisions, the unbeaten exhibition run gave Buffalo plenty to like, even if the final picture still has one important question hanging over it. [Read more 🡒]