The Buffalo Bills have trimmed their roster down to the first 53-man group for the 2026 NFL season, and the picture is already clear: some players made the cut, others are headed elsewhere for now, and a few roster wrinkles still need to be sorted out.
As with every cutdown day, the process comes with a hard edge. Players who were on the bubble were told they won’t be part of the initial game-day roster, though that doesn’t always mean the door is shut for good. Buffalo can still build a practice squad of up to 17 players, which gives several of those released now - or later - a possible path back.
There are also three roster situations the Bills will have to navigate in the coming weeks. Wide receiver Tyrell Shavers has been moved to Reserve/PUP.
Defensive lineman Zane Durant was placed on Injured Reserve with a designation to return, per Sal Capaccio. Defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis will start the season on the NFL’s Reserve/Suspended list after a violation tied to the league’s banned substances list.
The most notable shape of the roster shows up in the tight end room and the front seven. Buffalo is carrying four tight ends and no fullbacks. On defense, the Bills will go into Week 1 on the road against the Houston Texans with eight defensive linemen and 10 players across outside and inside linebacker.
Here’s how the Bills’ initial active roster breaks down:
Quarterback: Josh Allen, Kyle Allen
Running Back: James Cook III, Ray Davis, Ty Johnson
Wide Receiver: Skyler Bell (R), Keon Coleman, DJ Moore, Joshua Palmer, Khalil Shakir
Tight End: Jackson Hawes, Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Keleki Latu
Offensive Tackle: Spencer Brown, Dion Dawkins, Jude Bowry (T/G), Tylan Grable (T/G)
Interior OL: Lloyd Cushenberry (C), Alec Anderson (C/G), Connor McGovern (C/G), Ar’maj Reed-Adams (G), O’Cyrus Torrence (G), Austin Corbett (G/C)
Defensive Line: DeWayne Carter, Greg Gaines, Landon Jackson, Ed Oliver, T.J. Sanders, Deone Walker
Outside Linebacker/Edge Rusher: Bradley Chubb, Mike Danna, Michael Hoecht, TJ Parker (R), Greg Rousseau, Javon Solomon
Inside Linebacker: Joe Andreessen, Terrel Bernard, Kaleb Elarms-Orr (R), Dorian Williams
Cornerback: Dee Alford, Christian Benford, Sam Franklin Jr., Maxwell Hairston, Jordan Hancock, Davison Igbinosun (R)
Safety: Cole Bishop, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Damar Hamlin, Jalon Kilgore (R)
Specialists: K Tyler Bass, LS Reid Ferguson, P Tommy Doman Jr. (R)
IR: Zane Durant
SUS: Phidarian Mathis
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The change comes after a season that also included a concussion and some penalty issues, reminders that even a veteran as established as Dawkins has room to recalibrate. He is healthy this offseason and still projected to anchor the left side, with the Bills counting on his experience, leadership and durability to help stabilize one of the most important spots on the roster. [Read more 🡒]