With the Bills less than two weeks from their Week 1 road trip to face the Houston Texans, Brandon Beane used a 36-minute media session on Tuesday, September 1 to cover a lot of ground. The Buffalo president of football operations and general manager didn’t offer fluff. He got into the roster, the practice squad, and a few players whose situations still deserve a close watch.
One of the clearest themes from Beane’s comments was how much the practice squad has changed. He pointed to COVID-19 as the turning point, noting that the old eight-man setup has grown to 16 players.
Teams can also elevate two practice squad players before each game, a rule that began as a pandemic fix and stuck around. In Beane’s view, that shift has made the system better for roster management.
Beane also addressed the trade that sent Sedrick Van Pran-Granger to the Indianapolis Colts during final roster cutdowns. He spoke highly of the former 2024 fifth-round pick, including praise for his play in Buffalo’s Week 18 game against the New York Jets.
At the same time, Beane made it clear the path to a game-day role in Buffalo was extremely tight because of the way the room was built. Rather than leave him as a weekly inactive, the Bills decided it was best to give him a better chance elsewhere.
The running back situation around Ty Johnson still sounds like one to monitor. Johnson has been dealing with a lower-body injury since the end of training camp, and the Bills’ recent roster decisions left some room for interpretation about his status.
Beane said the latest injury was “a bit different’ than the prior one, and added that Johnson is getting better. That language suggests progress, but not necessarily a full green light just yet.
Beane also said Week 1 roster decisions will come into focus when the time is right. That leaves 12 days for the Bills to sort it out, and it could open the door for Frank Gore Jr. to get a game-day check against Houston.
Beane also explained why newly signed receiver Greg Dortch was such an appealing addition. Buffalo had been on him going back to last offseason in free agency, and Beane said the Bills and Lions had similar numbers in their offers at the time.
Dortch eventually signed with Detroit in 2025, only to be released by the Lions this past weekend. Now Buffalo gets another shot at him, and the Bills are interested in more than just receiver depth.
Dortch could also be in line for a serious look in the punt return job, especially with his connection to special teams coach Jeff Rodgers helping pave the way to Western New York.
In Other News...
Josh Allens Top Target Suddenly Puts Buffalos Week 1 Stability In Doubt
Khalil Shakirs late-August absence has become one of the more notable storylines around Buffalos receiver room as the Bills work through the final stretch before their season opener against the Texans. Shakir has missed recent practices because of an undisclosed injury, and while the team has been careful not to spell out the issue, the tone around his status remains more reassuring than alarming.
For a passing game that leans on timing and trust, any missed reps from Josh Allens top target are worth watching this time of year. Buffalo still sounds optimistic Shakir will be available for Week 1, and the wider receiver outlook got a small lift with DJ Moore also expected to be ready after his own preseason injury scare. Still, with the opener approaching, the Bills are leaving themselves a little less certainty than they probably wanted. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Allen Just Gave Bills Fans A New Way To Join In
Josh Allen turned a sideline accessory into something with a much bigger purpose this week, teaming up with children at Golisano Children's Hospital of Buffalo to create eight one-of-a-kind Bills hats. Each design blends Allens hand-drawn logo with artwork from the kids, giving the project a personal touch that fits the quarterbacks long-running connection to the Buffalo community.
The hats will show up on Allen before each of the Bills eight regular-season home games, and fans can buy them as well, with proceeds going to the Patricia Allen Fund at the hospital. It is part of his partnership with New Era and a continuation of the charitable effort he started last season, a reminder that for Allen, the football season in Buffalo can still make room for something bigger than football. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Allen And Joe Brady Just Raised The Stakes In Buffalo
Three NFL.com writers all picked the Bills to win Super Bowl LXI, even if they could not agree on who would be waiting on the other sideline. That kind of preseason confidence is easy to dismiss in August, but it does speak to how much belief surrounds Buffalo after the front office went out and traded for D.J. Moore to give Josh Allen another proven target.
The bigger shift is on the sideline, where the 2026 season opens with Joe Brady in charge after Sean McDermott was fired and promoted out of the job. Allen has piled up the kind of career numbers that keep him in the leagues elite conversation, but he still has not gotten to the Super Bowl, which is why the pressure in Buffalo feels a little sharper now, and a little more real. [Read more 🡒]