The Buffalo Bills are set to begin their quest for a Super Bowl trophy in just around 90 minutes, as they kick off the 2026 NFL season against the Houston Texans. Hope springs eternal in the first game of any season, and the Bills are hopeful that this year is the one where they finally travel over the proverbial hump on the way to a Lombardi Trophy.
Houston has been a road block for Buffalo throughout the career of star quarterback Josh Allen, as he and the Bills are just 1-4 against the Texans since
the 2018 season. All four of those losses have come at the site of today’s game, NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Can the Bills win the first game in head coach Joe Brady’s tenure as the top man on staff?
We’ll find out by mid-afternoon. For now, here are the players Buffalo listed as inactive for the first game of the season.
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RB Ty Johnson
After Buffalo elevated Frank Gore Jr. from the practice squad on Saturday, this felt like a given. Johnson has been dealing with a hamstring injury for around a month now, and while he was able to log a limited practice on Friday after two DNPs to open the week, it’ll be Gore Jr. slotting in at RB3 behind James Cook III and Ray Davis.
WR Skyler Bell
The rookie played well in the preseason finale after missing plenty of time thanks to a groin injury this summer, but despite his return to health, he’ll be inactive this week. Greg Dortch was called up from the practice squad, and he’ll slot in alongside DJ Moore, Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, and Joshua Palmer.
T/G Jude Bowry
The rookie looked overmatched at times during preseason action, and he’ll be a healthy scratch with all of Buffalo’s linemen available today. Tylan Grable is the swing tackle.
G Ar’Maj Reed-Adams
With ten linemen on the 53-man roster, Buffalo can afford to scratch two and maintain their roster balance. Veterans Austin Corbett and Lloyd Cushenberry are the active interior reserves. Connor McGovern, who missed time with a hamstring injury during the preseason, is healthy and ready to roll.
DL T.J. Sanders
The second-year man was limited at best this week thanks to a knee injury, so he will sit the season opener. Buffalo has five active defensive linemen, including Ed Oliver, DeWayne Carter, Deone Walker, Greg Gaines, and Landon Jackson.
OLB Mike Danna
The veteran is a healthy scratch after spending much of the preseason on the third team. Buffalo’s edge rushers are Bradley Chubb, Greg Rousseau, T.J. Parker, Michael Hoecht, and Javon Solomon.
S Jalen Kilgore
The rookie is a healthy scratch this week, as Buffalo will go with the experience of Damar Hamlin as a reserve rather than the athleticism of Kilgore. C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Cole Bishop, and Sam Franklin Jr. are the other active safeties, and slot corner Jordan Hancock can also play there.
Here are the inactive players for Houston:
