The Buffalo Bills are down to the clock now, with 6 p.m. Sunday, August 30 set as the deadline to cut the roster to 53 players.
Most of the picture already looks settled, but a handful of spots still have some real drama attached to them. Undrafted free agent cornerback Kani Walker is one of the names worth watching after his summer work, and Mitch Wishnowsky’s outlook took a hit after his 19-yard punt in the preseason. Those decisions will come into focus over the next few days.
There’s also a broader layer to this process. Bills fans are used to the way Sean McDermott built these rosters year after year, but Joe Brady’s approach to the final 53 could wind up looking different.
On Saturday, Buffalo started making the first moves to get there.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Bills are releasing Mecole Hardman Jr., and Netflix’s Tom Pelissero reported that Mitch Wishnowsky is also being released.
Neither move came as a surprise. Hardman had been in the mix for the punt return job, but Buffalo has other options already on hand in Ray Davis, Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir. His summer as a receiver didn’t do enough to force the issue, and he finished the team’s final two preseason games with three drops.
Wishnowsky, meanwhile, had been with Buffalo last season and performed well as the punter. But the Bills made the job more competitive by drafting Tommy Doman Jr. in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Wishnowsky’s 19-yard punt against the Steelers in the preseason finale made the outcome look even clearer.
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Bills Final Roster Debate Just Got A Lot More Interesting
The Bills closed their preseason with a 28-27 comeback win over the Steelers, finishing 3-0 for the first time since 2019 and giving the front office one more encouraging data point before the roster trim. Shane Buechele handled all four quarters and steered the rally, while rookie Skyler Bell turned in a promising debut, adding another name to a group of players trying to make the final cut by forcing the issue late in August.
Damar Hamlin also kept building a case with his second interception of the preseason, and rookie punter Tommy Doman Jr. continued to make the competition for the starting job more interesting. For a team that entered the summer looking for answers at a few fringe spots, the finale did not just end the exhibition slate on a high note, it sharpened the debate about which young players have done enough to stick. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Receiver Room Just Sent A Clear Message Before Cutdowns
The Bills are trimming their roster ahead of the 2026 NFL season, and one of the early signals came in the receiver room with Mecole Hardman Jr. being released as part of cutdowns. Buffalo had viewed the three-time Super Bowl champion as a depth option, likely the No. 6 wideout on the chart, but he never found much of a foothold in the preseason on offense or on special teams.
For a roster still being sorted into its final form, the move opens another spot for Buffalo to work with as the 53-man deadline comes into focus. It also says something about how tight the competition was at the back end of the receiver group, where reputation and experience were not enough to overcome a quiet summer. [Read more 🡒]
Skyler Bell Just Gave Bills Fans A Real Reason To Watch
After missing time with an injury, Skyler Bell got back on the field in the preseason finale against the Steelers and made sure the Bills had something to think about before the roster decisions get finalized. The fourth-round receiver showed the kind of versatility Buffalo drafted him for, handling work both as a pass catcher and in motion, and he turned that opportunity into a busy afternoon.
Bell finished with seven catches on 10 targets for 49 yards and also found the end zone on a jet sweep, a nice reminder that he can add value in more than one way. For a Bills offense always looking for players who can do a little bit of everything, the question now is how much of that package carries into the regular season and what kind of role he can carve out moving forward. [Read more 🡒]