The Buffalo Bills are heading into training camp at St. John Fisher University with a handful of players trying to turn preseason reps into real momentum for 2026. A new coaching staff means fresh eyes, and for several Bills, that first impression could matter a lot as they chase a spot on the opening-day roster.
On defense, the biggest opportunity may belong to players who fit Jim Leonhard’s new aggressive 3-4 multiple scheme. For one tight end, the mission is simpler on paper but harder in practice: stay healthy, keep growing as a blocker, and finally clear the 1,000-yard receiving mark.
T.J. Sanders is one of the most intriguing names in the group.
The 2025 second-round pick out of South Carolina is only 23, and his combination of motor, athleticism, and size gives him real upside if he can stay on the field. At 6-foot-4 and 297 pounds, he looks better suited for a 1- or 5-technique role in Leonhard’s system.
Last season, injuries and alignment may have limited him while he was used as a 4-2-5 defensive tackle under Sean McDermott. If he’s healthy, the chance to work as a bigger power rusher could help him add more sacks.
Ed Oliver is in a similar spot, only with a much more established track record. He was tracking toward a career year last season before injuries wiped out most of it, and he ended up appearing in just three games.
The 6-foot-1, 287-pound interior defender still has the tools to be one of the league’s best at his position, and the new scheme should put him in a better place to do damage. Instead of being asked to play out of position, Oliver can line up where he belongs and use his speed to get after quarterbacks.
A front featuring Sanders, Deone Walker, and Oliver, with Landon Jackson also working in as a 4i defensive tackle, could give Leonhard the kind of pass-rush juice that creates second- and third-and-long situations.
Phidarian Mathis has a different kind of camp battle in front of him. He joined the team late last season and played in six games, but now he gets a full offseason to show the staff he belongs on the 53-man roster.
The 6-foot-4, 312-pound defensive tackle brings size and athleticism, and he can help against the run by shooting gaps. He’s also versatile enough to rotate at nose tackle or line up with Jackson as a 4i in the 3-4.
Dalton Kincaid rounds out the list, and his case is tied to production as much as usage. He wants to get back to his rookie form, when he caught a rookie-high 73 passes for 673 yards, and he’s still chasing that 1,000-yard receiving season as a mismatch tight end.
When his injured knee cooperates, he’s difficult to defend and has the look of one of the next wave of standout tight ends. The other piece of his growth is less flashy but just as important: handling the blocking demands that come with 12- and 13-personnel sets when the offense isn’t simply spreading out in shotgun and throwing to him like a wide receiver.
He has already made major progress adapting to the physical side of the NFL, and if he can play all 17 games, he could put together his best season yet and earn a second straight Pro Bowl nod.
For all four players, camp is about more than just getting through the summer. It’s a chance to show the Bills’ new staff exactly what they can do.
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