We are halfway through the Buffalo Bills’ preseason and several roster moves have been made since our training camp prediction three weeks ago. The wide receiver depth chart is upside down and some clarity has emerge in key roster battles.
Here is an updated look on who will make the 53-man roster. Be sure to let everyone know what you think of it in the comments section.
QB (3): Tyrod Taylor, Nathan Peterman, T.J. Yates
Previous: Tyrod Taylor, T.J. Yates, Nathan Peterman
The only change to this group is the order; Peterman has supplanted Yates as the number two quarterback with some exceptional play this preseason.
RB (3): LeSean McCoy, Jonathan Williams, Joe Banyard
Previous: LeSean McCoy, Jonathan Williams
Banyard has been taking a bunch of snaps on special teams and seems to be carving out a role there. New acquisition Taiwan Jones hasn’t been getting enough run to leap frog him at this point.
FB (2): Patrick DiMarco, Mike Tolbert
Previous: Patrick DiMarco, Mike Tolbert
DiMarco is a lock. Tolbert should probably be listed at running back. Both have looked good this preseason.
WR (6): Zay Jones, Jordan Matthews, Andre Holmes, Rod Streater, Brandon Tate, Philly Brown (Walt Powell, suspended list)
Previous: Sammy Watkins, Anquan Boldin, Zay Jones, Brandon Tate, Andre Holmes, Philly Brown (Walt Powell, suspended list)
I felt pretty good about myself putting Boldin on my list before he signed. The top two names on my projected wide receiver chart are gone, though. It looks like a very different group now. Brandon Reilly was the last cut I made but he’s a priority practice squad signing for me. I wanted a little more depth at running back on a team I expect to be running a lot instead of passing. Brown only makes the team because of uncertainty with Matthews’ sternum.
TE (3): Charles Clay, Nick O’Leary, Logan Thomas
Previous: Charles Clay, Nick O’Leary, Jason Croom
I had Croom over Thomas to start camp, and so did the Bills. When Clay took his first rest day, it was Croom who got first-team looks. Then Thomas started kicking butt, exploded in the first preseason game, and Croom was injured and waived.
OL (8): Eric Wood, Richie Incognito, Jonathan Miller, Cordy Glenn, Jordan Mills, Ryan Groy, Dion Dawkins, Michael Ola (Seantrel Henderson, suspended list)
Previous: Eric Wood, Richie Incognito, Jonathan Miller, Cordy Glenn, Jordan Mills, Ryan Groy, Dion Dawkins, Vlad Ducasse (Seantrel Henderson, suspended list)
Ducasse has received every chance to make the roster and has looked bad over and over. I swapped in Ola because of the uncertainty at the tackle position.
DE (4): Jerry Hughes, Shaq Lawson, Eddie Yarbough, Ryan Davis
Previous: Jerry Hughes, Shaq Lawson, Ryan Davis, Marquavius Lewis, Max Valles
The emergence of Yarbough has been one of the great stories of camp. He has played his way onto the roster at this point.
DT (4): Marcell Dareus, Kyle Williams, Jerel Worthy, Adolphus Washington
Previous: Marcell Dareus, Kyle Williams, Jerel Worthy, Adolphus Washington
Worthy has played well this preseason and had more snaps than any defensive tackle against the Eagles.
LB (7): Lorenzo Alexander, Preston Brown, Ramon Humber, Gerald Hodges, Matt Milano, Tanner Vallejo, Reggie Ragland
Previous: Lorenzo Alexander, Reggie Ragland, Preston Brown, Ramon Humber, Gerald Hodges, Matt Milano, Tanner Vallejo
Ragland has severely fallen down the depth chart. The top seven stays pretty much the same, though, as they work him along. Honestly, it would be better for everyone if they could find a trade partner so they can keep a guy like Brandon Reilly or Bacarri Rambo.
CB (6): Tre’Davious White, Kevon Seymour, Shareece Wright, Leonard Johnson, E.J. Gaines, Greg Mabin
Previous: Ronald Darby, Tre’Davious White, Kevon Seymour, Leonard Johnson, Sharecee Wright, Bradley Sylve
Mabin has been impressive this preseason, and not just for his interception against the Eagles. It will be the play we remember, for sure, but he has been solid all camp. We are still waiting to see how the order is going to shake out.
S (5): Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, Trae Elston, Shamiel Gary
Previous: Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, Bacarri Rambo, Colt Anderson
Rambo doesn’t quite sneak onto the back end of the roster because I’d rather have Mabin at cornerback. Colt Anderson can’t make the team from the training room and Elston and Gary have shown some good things during camp. It’s still a position the Bills could upgrade after cutdown day.
ST (3): Steven Hauschka, Reid Ferguson, Colton Schmidt
Previous: Steven Hauschka, Reid Ferguson, Austin Rehkow
Rehkow has already been released. This is set in stone.
Cuts: RB Jordan Johnson, RB Cedric O’Neal, WR Jeremy Butler, WR Dezmin Lewis, WR Brandon Reilly, WR Rashad Ross, WR Daikiel Shorts, TE Rory Anderson, TE Wes Sexton, OL Jordan Mudge, OL Cameron Jefferson, OG Karim Barton, OG Greg Pyke, OG Zach Voytek, DE Jake Metz, DE Ian Seau, DE Marquevious Lewis, DE Max Valles, DT Deandre Coleman, DT Nigel Williams, LB Sam Barrington, LB Carl Bradford, LB Jacob Lindsey, LB Abner Logan, CB Charles James, CB Jumal Rolle, CB Marcus Sayles, CB Bradley Sylve, S Colt Anderson, S Adrian McDonald, S Bacarri Rambo, S B.T. Sanders