The Buffalo Bills will christen their new stadium for real tonight against the Detroit Lions, and the first regular-season game at Highmark Stadium comes with a few surprises on the inactive list.
Buffalo comes into the matchup coming off a hard-fought win over the Houston Texans on Sunday, and the Bills are relatively healthy overall. Detroit, by contrast, is dealing with a short week and a battered roster after its 31-30 overtime win against the New Orleans Saints just four days ago. The Lions have already ruled out two starting offensive linemen, and two starting safeties are also among the players who will not take part tonight.
For Buffalo, the biggest surprise is defensive tackle Ed Oliver. He was not on the Bills’ injury report during the week, but the team said he hurt his hip during warmups.
With a wet field and nine days until the next game, Buffalo is taking the cautious route. Oliver played more than 80% of the snaps last week, and OLB Mike Danna, who was inactive in the opener, is active tonight.
Running back Ty Johnson is also out. He had increased his work in practice this week, but the Bills are holding him back for another week. Frank Gore Jr. is active after being elevated from the practice squad for a second straight week.
Safety Jalon Kilgore, like Johnson, missed the first game of the season because of injury. Wide receiver Skyler Bell is inactive again after Buffalo elevated veteran Greg Dortch from the practice squad earlier in the day. Dortch appears to have the upper hand on punt returns and the second kickoff return spot, giving him the edge because of his special teams value.
The Bills are also sitting two of their 2026 fourth-round picks. T/G Jude Bowry is a healthy scratch for the second straight game, with Tylan Grable serving as the swing tackle behind Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown.
G Ar’Maj Reed-Adams, Buffalo’s other fourth-round selection in April, is also inactive despite being viewed as a developmental piece. The team has ten offensive linemen on the 53-man roster, with veterans Austin Corbett and Lloyd Cushenberry backing up the interior spots.
DL T.J. Sanders is also inactive.
In Other News...
Bills Fans Get A Wild New Game Day Twist For Lions Opener
Bills fans heading into the season opener against the Detroit Lions will find a new concession item waiting for them at Highmark Stadium: an exclusive reusable beer horn that comes packed with a 16 oz. Labatt Blue or Labatt Blue Light can. The item will be sold for $30 and available only until kickoff, adding another bit of novelty to a day already carrying extra weight as the first regular-season game at the Bills new stadium.
The offer is limited to fans 21 and older, and it fits the kind of game-day atmosphere Buffalo has long leaned into, especially when the building is set for such a milestone moment. Beyond the souvenir appeal, the opener still has the more important football backdrop, with the Bills looking to start their home era at Highmark Stadium the right way and move to 2-0 in the new season. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Allen Was Furious Over How Bills Teammates Family Tragedy Went Public
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Josh Allen later addressed how the news became public, and his frustration was clear. The Buffalo quarterback thanked the people who respected the familys privacy, but he also made it known that he was angry about the information being leaked before the family was ready to share it, a reminder that even around an NFL locker room, some moments are far bigger than the game. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Make A Game Day Choice That Says Plenty Vs Lions
The Bills made a pair of game-day moves ahead of their Week 2 matchup with the Lions, elevating wide receiver Greg Dortch and running back Frank Gore Jr. from the practice squad to the active roster. It is the kind of roster decision that usually says as much about depth and preparation as it does about the opponent, especially this early in the season when teams are still sorting out the best way to cover themselves for every phase of the game.
Dortch brings a little NFL mileage after stints with multiple teams and 12 games already on his 2025 resume, while Gore has been a steady presence on Buffalos practice squad since arriving as an undrafted free agent. The futures contract signaled the Bills wanted to keep him in the building, and this elevation gives him a chance to be part of the conversation in a meaningful spot, even if the bigger picture beyond Sunday is still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]