The Buffalo Bills are moving into another key preseason checkpoint this week, and the roster math is starting to get tighter by the day. After a 29-14 win over the Carolina Panthers, Buffalo heads to Cleveland for its second preseason game Saturday against the Browns, with more of the focus shifting from evaluation to hard decisions about the final 53.
That first preseason outing gave the Bills plenty to like. The starters handled their business over the opening two drives, the backups held up well, and the overall performance was the kind of encouraging start teams want in August. But preseason football always comes with a catch: players can flash, stack good reps, and still end up without a spot when Week 1 arrives.
That reality is especially true in Buffalo’s running back room, where the top three already look set. James Cook, Ray Davis, and Ty Johnson are the clear names at the top, and barring injury, that group doesn’t appear to be changing. That leaves Frank Gore Jr. in a difficult spot, even after giving the Bills something to think about again this preseason.
Gore, the son of Hall of Fame running back Frank Gore, signed with Buffalo as an undrafted free agent in 2024. He made noise in a preseason game against the Panthers with more than 100 rushing yards and a touchdown, but that wasn’t enough to land him on the final 53-man roster.
He’s back in the mix this summer, and he turned in another solid showing against Carolina on Saturday with 38 rushing yards and a touchdown. That was good for second on the team behind Ian Wheeler, who finished with 41 yards. Gore’s longest run went for 16 yards, which trailed Mecole Hardman’s 27-yard rushing attempt.
Even so, Gore’s Buffalo résumé remains pretty limited. His only action on the active roster came in the playoffs last season, when he caught one pass for six yards in the Bills’ 27-24 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
That’s why his name has become one worth watching. With the Bills’ top three backs already in place and Wheeler showing he can be a useful practice squad option, the team would be smart to at least consider whether Gore Jr. has trade value.
Brandon Beane has never been shy about exploring ways to help the Bills, whether that means making a move for a player or collecting future draft capital. If Wheeler weren’t in the picture, keeping Gore would make plenty of sense. But if Wheeler keeps building on his preseason work and continues to look like a reliable practice squad piece, Buffalo may need to find out what kind of market exists for Gore Jr.
The Bills might wait until after Saturday’s game in Cleveland before making any calls, but if Wheeler keeps trending the way he has, it would be hard to justify not testing the waters on a possible trade for Gore.
In Other News...
Panthers Just Saw An Early Warning Sign In Buffalo
Buffalos new Highmark Stadium got its first NFL game on natural grass on Aug. 15, and the early read on the field was mixed. Some players came away with complaints about the surface, while others said it was mostly playable, but the debut still gave the Bills and anyone paying attention a useful first look at how the stadiums grass might hold up under live game conditions.
The turf is Kentucky Bluegrass grown in New Jersey and was installed in October 2025, with heating and snowmelt systems built in to help Buffalo deal with winter weather. Even with that setup, there were visible signs of wear during play, which is the kind of thing that will matter more once the calendar turns and the Bills start leaning on the building through the colder months. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Roster Decisions Just Sent A Clear Message About Depth Battles
The Bills kept tinkering with the bottom of the roster this week, and the moves around the fullback spot showed how fluid things still are as camp and preseason sorting continues. Buffalo has been adjusting to the departure of Reggie Gilliam, and the latest shuffle gave the team another look at a familiar name while also trimming a rookie who had been trying to carve out a role.
Otis Reese is back in the building for what is now his third stint with the Bills in less than a year, a reminder of how much the team has leaned on familiarity while it keeps evaluating depth. The corresponding move sent Jackson Acker out the door, leaving Buffalo still searching for the right fit as it sorts through a position that has become one of the quieter battles on the roster. [Read more 🡒]