The Buffalo Bills smoked the Cleveland Browns 31-7 in the preseason opener, a dominant effort by Joe Brady’s team from start to finish.
With only one preseason game left before the Bills head to Houston to embark on their 2026 regular season, why not project the 53-man roster again? Technically, we do have new information after Buffalo’s second exhibition victory.
Quarterback (2)
- Josh Allen
- Kyle Allen
Allen won the QB2 battle — a competition that did have some legs in training camp — with another surgical performance in the second
preseason game. He’s not the best backup in the NFL but appears comfortable in Joe Brady’s system.
Running Back (4)*
- James Cook
- Ray Davis
- Ian Wheeler
- Ben VanSumeren
Johnson hurt his leg in the Return of the Blue and Red Scrimmage, and while the injuries weren’t related, also suffered an injury in the meaningless regular-season finale against the Jets last year which caused him to miss both of Buffalo’s playoff games. I mention that because playing without Johnson is a fresh memory for the Bills, and I’m sure they don’t want to experience that anymore. So, they opt to start Johnson on IR — thereby forcing him out of the first month of action — to give him plenty of time to get nursed back to full health.
And, yes, for as good as Frank Gore Jr. has been for a third-straight preseason, he’s jumped by the bigger, more explosive Wheeler ahead of Week 1. Also, VanSumeren has already won the fullback battle. Now it’s just a matter of whether or not the Bills want to carry one on the roster. Now, I think they do. And he’s an obvious special-teamer.
Wide Receiver (6)
- D.J. Moore
- Khalil Shakir
- Josh Palmer
- Keon Coleman
- Skyler Bell
- Trent Sherfield
After consecutive weeks with seven receivers, I’m opting for six in this projection to make room at a few other positions. Buffalo is relatively banged up in their wideout room — like the club was for the majority of the 2025 campaign. And Sherfield’s strong showing against the Browns secures his spot on the roster as a special teams gunner with the ability to fill in at WR3 or WR4 if in a dire situation. And, yes, the Bills do feel thin at receiver, although Palmer’s summer is very encouraging.
Tight End (3)
- Dalton Kincaid
- Dawson Knox
- Jackson Hawes
Despite strong pushes by Keleki Latu and even Shane Zylstra, the Bills opt to keep their normal three tight ends on the roster. Do not sleep on Latu or even Zylstra getting practice-squad elevations this season. They’ve proven their worth this summer.
Offensive Line (9)
- Dion Dawkins
- Alec Anderson
- Connor McGovern
- O’Cyrus Torrence
- Spencer Brown
- Austin Corbett
- Lloyd Cushenberry
- Tylan Grable
- Jude Bowry
No changes here from a week ago. Anderson wins the left-guard job — barely — and Tylan Grable is the team’s swing tackle. Bowry has a long way to go in his development but clearly is being cross-trained at both tackle positions to eventually serve as the swing tackle if Grable moves into a starting role in the future.
Look for Sedrick Van-Pran Granger to be a trade chip for Brandon Beane near cutdown day.
Defensive Line (6)*
- Ed Oliver
- Deone Walker
- T.J. Sanders
- Landon Jackson
- Greg Gaines
- Zane Durant
After the Gaines signing, the writing was on the wall for former third-round pick DeWayne Carter. Then he turned in a sound performance against the Browns in the second preseason game. The majority of his positive plays came in the fourth quarter, which was telling. Decisions will have to be made here with Mathis is ready to return from this three-game suspension.
Inside Linebacker (4)
- Terrel Bernard
- Kaleb Elarms-Orr
- Dorian Williams
- Keonta Jenkins
This position feels somewhat cemented right now — particularly after a strong performance from Jenkins in the preseason opener and another against the Browns. The real question with his position is how does Elarms-Orr fit into the normal rotation during the regular season?
Rush Linebacker (6)
- Greg Rousseau
- Bradley Chubb
- Michael Hoecht
- T.J. Parker
- Javon Solomon
- Mike Danna
After two sacks against the Panthers, Danna another pressure — a hit on Deshaun Watson that forced an incompletion. He was a pesky, dirty-work player for years in Kansas City and has the stocky body type to condense closer to the ball if needed in clear-cut passing situations. He’s a quality insurance option to have for Jim Leonhard’s multiple front.
Defensive Backs (10)
- Christian Benford
- Maxwell Hairston
- Dee Alford
- Davison Igbinosun
- Cole Bishop
- CJ Gardner-Johnson
- Jordan Hancock
- Damar Hamlin
- Jalon Kilgore
- Kani Walker
- Sam Franklin Jr.
I’ve gone back and forth on Damar Hamlin — he was an afterthought this offseason but has parlayed a strong camp into a solid preseason, and I do think in a perfect world, the Bills would like to keep him as veteran experience at safety behind Cole Bishop and CJ Gardner-Johnson. For this projection, he’s left off the 53-man roster with Buffalo hoping he can be stored on the practice squad.
Specialists (3)
- Reid Ferguson
- Tommy Doman Jr.
- Tyler Bass
Hard to say if there’s been a clear winner in the punter battle — as both Mitch Wishnowsky and Doman only got cracks at it in the second preseason game. This one could go down to the wire.
*Phidarian Mathis will begin serving his three-game suspension at the start of the regular season so he will not originally be on the 53-man roster Week 1.
*Ty Johnson begins the season on IR in this projection
