The connections between the coaching staffs range from Bo Hardegree and Trace McSorley to Doug Marrone, Todd Downing and Scott Booker. But there’s additional familiarity to account for on the field.
Between the active rosters, practice squad and reserve lists, a pair of former New England Patriots and a handful of former Buffalo Bills find themselves in the fold for the AFC East opener.
Here’s a glance through those ties ahead of Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff at Highmark Stadium.
BUFFALO
Brock Lampe, fullback
— Lampe joined the practice squad in Orchard Park midway through September. That was the next move after reverting to injured reserve and reaching an injury settlement with the Seattle Seahawks in the preseason. The 23-year-old fullback out of Northern Illinois originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2025. He did so in Foxborough. After spending his rookie season on injured reserve due to a leg injury, Lampe was waived by the Patriots heading into training camp in July.
Trent Sherfield Sr., wide receiver — Sherfield signed to New England’s practice squad leading up the divisional round last January. After being released on the eve of the AFC title game, he re-signed ahead of Super Bowl LX. The 30-year-old wide receiver was not retained on a futures contract in February. But Sherfield stayed in the division with the Bills and subsequently joined the practice squad at its formation. Since going undrafted in 2018, the Vanderbilt alum has handled 2,684 snaps on offense and 1,804 snaps on special teams. His career stretches 124 games, including 14 starts, along with 89 receptions for 1,034 yards and six touchdowns. The veteran has also spent time with the Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos.
NEW ENGLAND
Reggie Gilliam, fullback — As the new league year opened in March, the Patriots closed in on a three-year deal with Gilliam. The 29-year-old fullback has since notched one reception and two starts for New England while splitting his snaps between the offense and the kicking game. Buffalo marked the first NFL stop for Gilliam. Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2020, the former second-team All-MAC selection out of Toledo went on to appear in 94 games and make a dozen starts during his Bills tenure. Gilliam had a hand in 153 yards and two touchdowns from scrimmage across 25 touches. He also had a hand in 29 tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Mack Hollins, wide receiver — The Patriots signed Holins to a two-year contract in 2025 and altered the incentives in the agreement entering 2026. The 33-year-old wide receiver has made 15 starts for New England in the regular season along with 58 catches for 706 yards and two touchdowns. Before arriving at Gillette Stadium, he started 13 games as a member of the Bills in 2024. Hollins’ lone campaign with the previous AFC East champions included a team-high five touchdown receptions. Entering the NFL in the fourth round of the 2017 draft at No. 118 overall, the North Carolina Tar Heel earned a Super Bowl LII ring as a rookie with the Philadelphia Eagles and has also been a Miami Dolphin, Las Vegas Raider and Atlanta Falcon. He finds himself 130 games, 220 catches, 2,775 yards and 17 touchdowns in.
Greg Van Roten, guard — After visiting Foxborough in August, the 36-year-old Van Roten returned to sign a one-year deal following the preseason opener. He started at right guard last week with incumbent Mike Onwenu on injured reserve due to a broken ankle, yet exited with a thigh injury before halftime and has since landed on IR, as well. A veteran of 147 games, including 106 starts, the former All-Ivy League selection out of Penn began his career as an undrafted rookie in 2012. Van Roten has since made stops with nine different NFL organizations, plus the CFL, in a career approaching 7,000 offensive downs. For the 2022 Bills, he appeared in 16 games and got the nod for four starts.
DaQuan Jones, defensive tackle — The Patriots signed Jones to the 53-man roster in September after the 34-year-old defensive tackle was hosted on a visit in August. On a one-year deal now, he had spent the previous four campaigns in the fold for the Bills. Standing 169 games into a career that got underway in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft at No. 112 overall, the Penn State product has started 161. His run in the league spans 374 tackles, 20 sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, one interception and one touchdown. Prior to finding his first AFC East home as a free agent in 2022, Jones made stops with the Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers.
Mitch Wishnowsky, punter — New England promoted Wishnowsky to the 53-man roster after he served as a standard elevation twice in as many weeks to begin the regular season. The 34-year-old joined the initial practice squad as Patriots punter and holder Bryce Baringer landed on injured reserve in August. Before then, Wishnowsky had spent the majority of 2025 with Buffalo and was released at the cutdown deadline following the preseason. The former Ray Guy Award winner by way of Australia, Santa Barbara City College and the University of Utah originally entered the NFL with the 49ers in the fourth round of the 2019 class at No. 110 overall. Through 108 games, he has amassed 358 punts for 16,288 yards and a long of 74, good for an average of 45.5 yards per and 40.9 net yards per.
