The Buffalo Bills have their practice squad.
Buffalo announced 17 signings Monday night, including 14 players who spent training camp and the preseason with the Bills and three notable additions from outside their training camp roster.
Wide receiver and return specialist Greg Dortch, linebacker Shaq Thompson and offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. are joining Buffalo's practice squad.
Dortch gives the Bills an experienced option at punt returner after Buffalo struggled in that area last season. The Rochester native averaged a career-high 11.6 yards per punt return for the Arizona Cardinals in 2025.
Willis, a 27-year-old offensive tackle, was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and started 57 games during five seasons with the Cleveland
Browns. Wills sat out the 2025 season while recovering from an injury and spent this summer competing for a roster spot with the Chicago Bears.
Thompson returns to Buffalo after appearing in 14 games for the Bills last season. The veteran linebacker recorded 56 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble during the regular season and intercepted a pass in Buffalo's playoff victory over Jacksonville.
Here's the Bills' initial practice squad:
Buffalo Bills practice squad 2026
- QB: Shane Buechele
- RB: Frank Gore Jr.
- WR: Trent Sherfield, Ja'Mori Maclin, Stephen Gosnell, Greg Dortch
- OL: Jedrick Wills Jr., Chase Lundt, Nick Broeker
- DL: Travis Clayton (international)
- ILB: Keonta Jenkins, Shaq Thompson
- OLB: Andre Jones Jr.
- CB: Kani Walker, Te'Cory Couch, Anthony Kendall
- S: Geno Stone
Who did Bills add to practice squad?
Dortch, Thompson and Wills were the only three players on Buffalo's initial practice squad who weren't with the Bills during training camp and the preseason.
Dortch spent training camp with Detroit after playing the previous five seasons for Arizona. He has 145 receptions for 1,310 yards and 10 touchdowns in 68 NFL games and has extensive experience returning punts and kickoffs.
Wills gives Buffalo experienced offensive tackle depth. The former first-round pick started 57 of his 58 regular-season games with Cleveland before missing the 2025 season.
Thompson gives the Bills another veteran option at linebacker and a player already familiar with the organization after spending last season in Buffalo.
Which Bills players returned on practice squad?
Fourteen of Buffalo's 17 practice-squad players were with the Bills during training camp.
Walker is among the most notable after the undrafted rookie cornerback made a strong push for the 53-man roster during the preseason. He cleared waivers Monday.
Stone also returns after losing the starting safety competition to Damar Hamlin, while Buechele is back as Buffalo's third quarterback behind Josh Allen and Kyle Allen.
How many players can Bills have on practice squad?
NFL teams can carry 16 players on their practice squad, with an additional spot available through the International Player Pathway program.
Offensive lineman Travis Clayton fills Buffalo's international spot. The England native was a seventh-round pick by the Bills in 2024 and has spent his first two NFL seasons on Buffalo's practice squad as an international player.
Buffalo Bills 53-man roster
The practice squad is separate from Buffalo's initial 53-man roster, which was established Sunday after the Bills completed their final cuts.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills practice squad 2026: Full list of 17 players
