The Buffalo Bills’ first practice squad of 2026 is set, and the group already has a familiar feel. Buffalo moved quickly Monday afternoon to finalize its sixteen-man reserve unit, with veteran safety Geno Stone headlining the list after first being reported and then confirmed by the team.
Stone wasn’t the only player the Bills brought back after Sunday’s roster cuts. The practice squad also includes CB Kani Walker, LB Keonta Jenkins, and WR Ja’Mori Maclin, among others. One name many expected to land back in Buffalo, Toriano Pride Jr., instead went to Cleveland after being claimed by the Browns.
Because the Bills have Travis Clayton as their International Pathway Program player, they can carry 17 players on the practice squad rather than 16. That gives Buffalo a little extra flexibility, and the veteran portion of the group is already taking shape. Teams are allowed up to six veterans on the practice squad, and the Bills begin with four: Stone, LB Shaq Thompson, WR Trent Sherfield, and WR Greg Dortch.
There’s also a built-in weekly advantage that comes with the practice squad. Under league rules, Buffalo can elevate up to two players to the game-day roster each week without having to make a corresponding cut from the 53-man squad.
Each player can be elevated three times during the regular season before needing to be signed to the active roster. In the playoffs, those elevations are unlimited.
All of it comes as Buffalo turns its attention to a high-stakes season opener against the Houston Texans.
In Other News...
Bills Just Added A Familiar Name To Their Quarterback Room
The Bills wasted little time filling out their practice squad after trimming to 53, and one of the more interesting names in the group is Luke Buechele. The quarterback has been around the block a bit, with prior stops on both the Chiefs and Bills practice squads as well as time on active rosters, giving Buffalo another familiar depth option as it settles its back end.
Buechele also brings a little recent game experience after appearing in one game for Kansas City in 2025, and his college background at SMU and Texas gives him a sturdy football resume. For Buffalo, the move is less about headlines than continuity, but adding a quarterback who already knows the terrain can matter once the season starts asking for emergency answers. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Add A Former Top Pick With Everything To Prove
The Bills have settled their 53-man roster and filled out the practice squad, and the moves brought a little of everything: familiar names coming back, new depth at key spots and at least one addition that stands out because of his pedigree. Buffalo also lost cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. on waivers to the Browns, but the larger picture was the wave of signings that followed, including wide receiver Greg Dortch and offensive lineman Jedrick Wills Jr.
Wills is the most intriguing name in the group because the former top-10 pick arrives with something to prove after missing last season and failing to make the Bears final roster. For a Bills team that is always balancing development with immediate depth, the practice squad offers him a reset and Buffalo a low-risk look at whether there is still starter-level talent waiting to be unlocked. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Roster Choice Leaves One Position Looking Dangerously Thin
The Bills 53-man roster is in place for 2026, and Brandon Beane has made clear he believes the group has what it takes to chase a championship. Even so, the final build leaves some obvious pressure points, including a thinner-than-ideal cornerback room and a relatively lean collection of wideouts and tight ends. Christian Benford, D.J. Moore, Dalton Kincaid and Keleki Latu are among the players who made the cut as Buffalo settled on its opening-day shape.
One of the more notable choices was on offense, where the Bills chose not to carry a traditional fullback. Instead, they are planning to lean on tight end Jackson Hawes when that role is needed, a move that adds versatility but also trims away a layer of insurance. For a team talking about big-picture goals, it is the kind of roster decision that can look smart in August and a little more precarious once injuries and game plans start piling up. [Read more 🡒]