The practice squad does not always carry excitement in terms of additions from other teams, but in 2026, it did for the Buffalo Bills.
The Bills have had issues at the punt returner position this summer and that bled into the preseason, and that role has suited Greg Dortch well in his career. Not only that, Buffalo only five wide receivers on their 53-man roster instead of six.
There is a clear pathway for Dortch, who was cut by the Detroit Lions, to playing time with the Bills.
That's on paper, at least. There are decision makers involved and those folks have spoken.
"We have a healthy group of guys that can go out there," Buffalo head coach Joe Brady said. "Still don't play for two week so that's going to be part of the process."
That means Brady
is not committing to Dortch being back there in Week 1 against the Houston Texans.
But Dortch signing in Buffalo after being released and having his choice of teams to go to must have come with some reassurances of an opportunity, right?
That's where general manager Brandon Beane comes in.
The GM explained that the Bills had interest in Dortch prior to him signing in Detroit has a free agent earlier this offseason. Beane made contact again and now he's finally with the Bills.
"I feel like it was down to a couple teams, us being one of them," Beane said via video conference. "Once he became free, we checked back in on him, and he chose to join the practice squad.
For more from Beane on Dortch's addition, see the attached clip below:
Joe Brady on Bills punt returner position after signing WR Greg Dortch to the practice squad: "We have a healthy group of guys who can go out and get the job done."
— alex brasky (@alexbrasky) September 1, 2026
Didn't commit to who the team will send back there Week 1 pic.twitter.com/zwNbjkel7D
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Bills' Brandon Beane: Signing Greg Dortch goes farther back than roster cut day
