There’s a shared history. There’s also a shared group of players.
Between the active rosters and practice squads of the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills, four currently in the fold have spent time
with both AFC East organizations.
Here’s a glance through the list of former Patriots and former Bills set for Sunday’s 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff at Highmark Stadium.
BUFFALO
Kristian Wilkerson, wide receiver — Wilkerson headed to Buffalo in the spring and was retained on the practice squad after being released as a vested veteran in August. The 28-year-old entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Southeast Missouri State in 2020. After spending his rookie preseason with head coach Mike Vrabel’s former Tennessee Titans, he joined the practice squad in Foxborough. Wilkerson appeared in four games as an elevation while with the Patriots, catching four passes for 42 yards and two touchdowns. But a concussion saw his 2022 end on injured reserve before it began. The Indianapolis Colts claimed the wideout off waivers that subsequent offseason. Two campaigns with the Las Vegas Raiders followed, bringing five appearances, two catches and his third career touchdown.
NEW ENGLAND
Stefon Diggs, wide receiver — Diggs spent five seasons with the club that chose him in the fifth round of the 2015 draft. The Minnesota Vikings then traded the Maryland Terrapins product into the AFC East in 2020. And into quarterback Josh Allen’s progressions. He led the NFL with 127 receptions and 1,535 receiving yards during his inaugural year as a Bill. He would continue to eclipse the century mark in catches through 2023. The tenure brought four Pro Bowls and two All-Pros. It came to a close via another trade. Diggs was on pace for his seventh consecutive 1,000-yard campaign before sustaining a torn ACL with the Houston Texans last October. The 31-year-old made his way to Gillette Stadium on a three-year deal. He has started every game, catching 19 passes for 213 yards while staying in for 55.5 percent of the offensive snaps. The century mark was reached last Sunday.
Mack Hollins, wide receiver — The Patriots signed Hollins to a two-year pact in March. He has since had a hand in three starts along with seven catches for 42 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The veteran receiver, blocker and special-teamer started 13 games as a member of the Bills in 2024. His lone season with the division champions included a team-high five touchdown catches. Entering the NFL in the fourth round of the 2017 draft out of North Carolina, Hollins earned a Super Bowl LII ring as a rookie with the Philadelphia Eagles. He logged subsequent stops with the Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders and Atlanta Falcons and stands 116 games into his run.
Alex Austin, cornerback — Ex-Patriots cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino now finds himself as the nickels coach in Orchard Park. But a member of his previous depth chart was once there, too. Austin landed in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL draft. The Oregon State product would be claimed off waivers at the NFL’s cutdown deadline following his rookie summer. He then went from Houston to Foxborough and notched his first career interception against the eventual league MVP under center for the Bills. The 24-year-old Austin has resided on the 53-man roster for back-to-back-to-back seasons with the Patriots. His stay has featured 18 appearances, including six starts.
