Bills fans waited all summer for a real look at Skyler Bell, and Thursday night finally delivered one.
The fourth-round pick out of UConn had generated plenty of buzz when Buffalo took him in this year’s NFL Draft. A receiver with inside-outside versatility always draws attention, and Bills fans were eager to see how he might fit into a room that has been craving more of that kind of flexibility over the last couple of seasons. But an injury kept Bell sidelined until the preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers, forcing everyone to sit tight a little longer.
When he finally got his chance, Bell made it count.
Working without any of Buffalo’s true starters on the field, Bell still found a way to stand out with Shane Buechele delivering the passes. Buechele should very much end up on the practice squad, but he targeted Bell 10 times and completed seven of those throws for 49 yards. Bell showed the kind of separation ability that lets a receiver breathe a little after the catch, and that was a big part of why he looked so dangerous.
He also made his mark in the run game. Bell finished as the Bills’ leading rusher with 28 yards on a jet sweep that he took to the house, pulling Buffalo within one score in the third quarter. Scoring that touchdown had to feel good for him, and it also gave Bills fans a sharper idea of what he can bring once the games start to matter.
That’s why the idea of Bell being a steal isn’t crazy at all.
He’s coming off a huge season at UConn, where he put up 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns. Now he steps into an offense led by Josh Allen and coached by Joe Brady, a setup that likes to spread the ball around and keep everyone involved.
Even with DJ Moore in as the new No. 1 receiver and Khalil Shakir established as a reliable slot option, Bell should still have chances to prove himself. If Thursday night was any indication, the Bills may have landed one of the draft’s real bargains, and Bell could become part of a new-look Buffalo team trying to get over the hump and win a Super Bowl.
In Other News...
Bills Final Roster Debate Just Got A Lot More Interesting
The Bills closed their preseason with a 28-27 comeback win over the Steelers, finishing 3-0 for the first time since 2019 and giving the front office one more encouraging data point before the roster trim. Shane Buechele handled all four quarters and steered the rally, while rookie Skyler Bell turned in a promising debut, adding another name to a group of players trying to make the final cut by forcing the issue late in August.
Damar Hamlin also kept building a case with his second interception of the preseason, and rookie punter Tommy Doman Jr. continued to make the competition for the starting job more interesting. For a team that entered the summer looking for answers at a few fringe spots, the finale did not just end the exhibition slate on a high note, it sharpened the debate about which young players have done enough to stick. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Bubble Battles Will Define Joe Bradys First 53-Man Roster
The Bills have started trimming the roster ahead of the 6 p.m. Sunday deadline, and the first moves already offer a hint at how sharply Joe Brady and the new leadership group are weighing every spot. Mecole Hardman Jr. and Mitch Wishnowsky were among the early cuts, with Hardman losing ground because of performance issues and Wishnowsky out after a rough preseason punt.
Those decisions are only the opening act for a much larger week of bubble battles, with the final 53-man roster set to reflect how this staff values production, fit and reliability. For a team settling into a new era, the back end of the roster may end up saying as much about the Bills direction as any headline player on the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Receiver Room Just Sent A Clear Message Before Cutdowns
The Bills are trimming their roster ahead of the 2026 NFL season, and one of the early signals came in the receiver room with Mecole Hardman Jr. being released as part of cutdowns. Buffalo had viewed the three-time Super Bowl champion as a depth option, likely the No. 6 wideout on the chart, but he never found much of a foothold in the preseason on offense or on special teams.
For a roster still being sorted into its final form, the move opens another spot for Buffalo to work with as the 53-man deadline comes into focus. It also says something about how tight the competition was at the back end of the receiver group, where reputation and experience were not enough to overcome a quiet summer. [Read more 🡒]