The Buffalo Bills spent much of the week in Cleveland, and that made Thursday’s joint practice with the Browns the main event before the teams meet again in a Week 2 preseason game.
There’s plenty to watch even if the big names barely see the field, or don’t play at all. It isn’t known how much run starters like Josh Allen, James Cook, Greg Rousseau and Christian Benford will get after a joint session that featured one-on-one work along with 7 on 7 and 11 on 11 drills. But for players fighting to stay on the roster, Saturday is a real chance to make noise.
For a lot of these guys, the clock is ticking. This is the second of three preseason games, and every snap matters more for players trying to survive the cut to 53. That’s exactly the kind of setting Buffalo’s staff values, with Joe Brady, Brandon Beane and the rest of the front office and coaching staff putting real weight on game performance.
A few of the names worth keeping close tabs on include running back Ian Wheeler, rookie edge rusher T.J. Parker, wide receiver Stephen Gosnell and defensive tackle Greg Gaines. The game also has some impact on two battles that are still very much alive: the race for the starting left guard job and the punter spot.
The Bills’ time in Cleveland this week also included a joint practice that offered a useful look at where things stand. Those reps, along with Saturday’s game, should help shape the picture for players trying to separate themselves.
Elsewhere around the Bills, Michael Hoecht’s return could give the outside linebackers a lift, while Deone Walker and Greg Rousseau have been disruptive all preseason. Tyler Bass says he’s “feeling it again” as he continues working back from an injury-plagued 2025 season. There’s also discussion about whether Hall of Fame wide receiver Andre Reed could be next in line to have his jersey retired, along with other Bills-related notes.
In Other News...
Bills Fans Got Another Ugly Reminder About Deshaun Watson
The Browns 31-7 loss to the Bills in their second preseason game of 2026 brought another rough night for Deshaun Watson, and another reminder of how quickly the attention around him can shift from the field to everything around it. Watson completed five of 12 passes for 36 yards with one interception, a line that did little to quiet the scrutiny that has followed him through his time in Cleveland and into another preseason setting.
Bills fans had plenty to enjoy from the lopsided game, but the bigger conversation afterward centered on Watsons reaction to boos from the crowd and the way he handled the moment. His comments about fan behavior drew immediate notice, and the postgame buzz only grew when Shannon Sharpe weighed in on Watsons appearance during a media show, keeping the spotlight on a quarterback who seems to generate reaction wherever he goes. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Allen's Reaction Says Everything About Bills' Ed Oliver Controversy
Ed Olivers personal loss had been kept private through the spring and early summer as the Bills and the defensive tackle tried to give him space to grieve away from the public eye. But after the story of his two-year-old sons death in June was published before Oliver or the team was ready to address it, the news quickly shifted from a private family matter to a public controversy around privacy and timing.
Josh Allens reaction reflected how deeply the situation landed inside the locker room. The Bills quarterback said he was saddened and angry that the news became public before Olivers family could share it on their own terms, while also thanking the people who had respected their wishes. It was a reminder that beyond the football side of Buffalos season, there are still human moments that demand more care than a headline can give. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Bubble Players Are Making Buffalos Final Roster Decisions Tougher
The Bills kept their preseason rolling with a 31-7 win over the Browns, and the more encouraging part for Buffalo may be how many fringe players kept showing up when the roster picture got tighter. After taking a 14-7 lead into halftime, the Bills pulled away in the second half, and the game offered another look at the kind of bottom-of-the-roster competition that can shape the final cutdown decisions.
Kyle Allen and Joe Andreessen were among the players who helped themselves with strong performances, while Mecole Hardman Jr. was among those who did not have as clean a night. For a team that is already trying to sort out where the depth stands, those kinds of showings matter, and the final roster decisions could come down to exactly these sorts of preseason reps. [Read more 🡒]