With the NFL cutdown deadline having come and gone, the 2024 regular season has officially arrived. The Bills whittled down the rest of their roster and arrived at their initial 53-man roster.
Who made the cut and what were some of the reasons behind it? How do some of these positions look now that we know who is on this year’s team?
Here is a full roster analysis of the team’s initial squad for 2024.
Quarterback (2)
Josh Allen, Mitchell Trubisky
There wasn’t much drama about who the top two quarterbacks would be or if they’d keep a third. But the Trubisky knee injury, given how gingerly he has been moving for the past week, really calls into question if he’ll be ready as Allen’s backup for Week 1. That puts a big emphasis on the quarterback they add to their practice squad in the coming days. Ben DiNucci has the slight advantage of being in the team’s playbook for two weeks. However, teams around the league cut several more talented quarterback options than DiNucci. If they go that route, the new player will have a week-and-a-half of ramp-up time to Week 1 once the Bills sign them to the practice squad, and they could likely find someone with more long-term appeal than DiNucci.
Cut: Ben DiNucci, Anthony Brown
Running back (4)
James Cook, Ray Davis, Ty Johnson, Reggie Gilliam (FB)
The top three — Cook, Davis and Johnson — were never in doubt. Cook is the unquestioned starter, while Davis and Johnson are still in competition to be the team’s second back. Gilliam remains one of their top special teams players. Frank Gore Jr. had a nice preseason showing, and given his performance, a practice squad position makes sense.
Injured reserve (eligible to return): Darrynton Evans
Cut: Frank Gore, Jr.
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Wide receiver (5)
Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Curtis Samuel, Mack Hollins, Marquez Valdes-Scantling
The Bills decided to go with five wide receivers once again after spending the entire 2023 season keeping only five. With how training camp unfolded at receiver, the top five of Shakir, Coleman, Samuel, Hollins and Valdes-Scantling were clear. The bigger question was if another receiver compelled them enough to keep a sixth. Tyrell Shavers was close to getting it done, likely one of the last to be left off the final roster. The Shavers spot ultimately went to a different position. Should he pass through waivers, he’ll likely be a priority addition to the practice squad. KJ Hamler lost the return job after a series of plays in which he displayed ball security issues. The Shorter experiment is over for now, and it remains to be seen if the Bills want the 2023 fifth-round pick on their practice squad.
Cut: Tyrell Shavers, KJ Hamler, Andy Isabella, Justin Shorter, Xavier Johnson, Deon Cain, Damiere Byrd
Tight end (3)
Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Quintin Morris
Although Zach Davidson received positive reviews throughout the summer, keeping him would have meant assigning a ton of roster space to one position. Kincaid and Knox were obvious roster locks. Even if injured now, Morris is their clear third tight end and a staple of the special teams unit. On top of that trio, Gilliam can also play tight end in a pinch and offers way more to special teams than Davidson. That’s why Davidson was left on the wrong side of the bubble, but he should be a priority practice squad addition.
Cut: Zach Davidson, Tre’ McKitty
Offensive line (9)
Dion Dawkins, David Edwards, Connor McGovern, O’Cyrus Torrence, Spencer Brown, Ryan Van Demark, Alec Anderson, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, Tylan Grable
The starting five has never been in doubt, and past them, the Bills went the youth and potential route while sacrificing in-game experience. The Bills are entering the 2024 season with 47 career snaps between Van Demark, Anderson, Van Pran-Granger and Grable — and all 47 belong to Van Demark. There isn’t a regular-season start among them. If an injury happens to any of the five, there could be some growing pains. La’El Collins and Will Clapp were the best chances for a veteran to make the roster, but neither made a compelling enough case. Collins went from an option to play tackle or guard to guard-only and struggled to move. Clapp’s best chance was to be the backup center, though Anderson and Van Pran-Granger were superior options.
Injured reserve (season-ending): Travis Clayton
Cut: Will Clapp, Richard Gouraige, Mike Edwards, Kevin Jarvis, Gunner Britton, Keaton Bills
Casey Toohill offered more consistency on special teams than other bubble players. (Tina MacIntyre-Yee / USA Today)
Defensive end (6)
Greg Rousseau, A.J. Epenesa, Dawuane Smoot, Von Miller, Javon Solomon, Casey Toohill
The top four of Rousseau, Epenesa, Smoot and Miller were all locks, with the rookie Solomon joining them after showing some real pass-rushing potential. Solomon made Kingsley Jonathan expendable, as the sixth defensive end had to offer special teams upside. Jonathan had made strides in that area, but Toohill is the more consistent player in that department. I’d expect the Bills to try and get both Jonathan and Cline back on the practice squad if they clear waivers.
Cut: Kingsley Jonathan, Kameron Cline, Rondell Bothroyd
Defensive tackle (4)
Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, Austin Johnson, DeWayne Carter
The defensive tackle has been cut and dry all summer. They have clearly defined starters and backups with a big gap to the rest of the depth chart. The top two are Oliver and Jones, with Johnson and Carter being solid rotational pieces. I’d expect one of DeShawn Williams or Eli Ankou to sign to the Bills practice squad to have a veteran presence available should there be an injury or Carter struggles in his rookie year.
Cut: DeShawn Williams, Eli Ankou, Gable Stevenson, Branson Deen
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Linebacker (6)
Terrel Bernard, Dorian Williams, Baylon Spector, Nicholas Morrow, Edefuan Ulofoshio, Joe Andreessen
The headliner of the team’s initial 53-man roster is undoubtedly Andreessen, the Buffalo native and overwhelming story of the preseason. His development from undrafted tryout player to mid-spring signing and now to a member of the active roster has been a fun thing to track. And he’s certainly a popular player on the team, even for the most casual of fans now.
However, it is essential to remember the term “initial” here. Andreessen was very likely one of the last to make the team as a sixth linebacker on a team that hopes to get Matt Milano back at some point this season. A huge wave of players was just cut by teams across the league, and if there is someone that piques the Bills’ interest on waivers or they want to sign a vested veteran who is not subject to waivers, they would need a spot. While it isn’t a guarantee that Andreessen would be that player, he’s likely on the shortlist. Regardless, the Bills feel strongly about Andreessen, so even if they waived him a day later, they would immediately want him back on the practice squad if he clears.
As for the rest of the group, there weren’t any real surprises. Spector will be Bernard’s backup, while Morrow will likely serve as Williams’ backup to keep a veteran in the room. Ulofoshio hasn’t been the impactful special teams player they hoped for and could be an early-season healthy scratch candidate given his inexperience.
Injured reserve (eligible to return): Matt Milano
Cut: Deion Jones, Shayne Simon
Nickel (2)
Taron Johnson, Cam Lewis
There was never a doubt that Taron Johnson and Cam Lewis were roster locks, as they play integral positions to help the versatility of the Bills’ defense. Lewis is also a trusted special teams piece. Te’Cory Couch put together a strong summer of work that should be enough to warrant practice squad consideration.
Cut: Te’Cory Couch
Cornerback (5)
Rasul Douglas, Christian Benford, Kaiir Elam, JaMarcus Ingram, Brandon Codrington
With Douglas and Benford cemented as the starting duo, the Bills watched as Ingram played his way onto the 53-man roster this year. Ingram had a better overall summer than the 2022 first-round pick Elam, which will make things interesting about who the replacement will be should the Bills suffer an injury to one of their starters. Daequan Hardy was the best of their in-house returner options, but he didn’t do enough to keep the team from looking elsewhere. Instead, the Bills traded a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Jets to acquire undrafted rookie Brandon Codrington and a 2026 7th-round pick. Codrington is smaller and might be better off at nickel, but without question, the Bills are acquiring him to be their explosive return specialist above all else.
Cut: Daequan Hardy, Keni-H Lovely, Kyron Brown
Safety (4)
Taylor Rapp, Cole Bishop, Mike Edwards, Damar Hamlin
The only thing that could have changed the players at this position would have been the Bills adding a legitimate starting option at safety. But they haven’t done that, which leaves Rapp, Bishop, Edwards and Hamlin as the top four, with Lewis being able to play the position as well. The more significant question is who will start at free safety among the Bishop, Edwards and Hamlin group to begin the year. It really all depends on how practice goes over the next week and a half.
Cut: Kareem Jackson, Kendall Williamson
Injured reserve (season-ending): Terrell Burgess, Dee Delaney
Specialists (3)
Tyler Bass (K), Sam Martin (P), Reid Ferguson (LS)
Although Bass had his fair share of struggles this summer, the Bills are sticking by their place kicker. But with a big wave of cuts, don’t be surprised if a practice squad kicker becomes something the Bills look into. Those struggles could make Buffalo a suddenly attractive destination for practice squad kickers hoping to get one of the top 32 NFL jobs.
Projected practice squad (if none are claimed on waivers or sign elsewhere)
Veteran QB TBD*, RB Frank Gore Jr., WR Tyrell Shavers, WR Andy Isabella*, WR Xavier Johnson, TE Zach Davidson, OL Will Clapp*, OL Richard Gouraige, OL Mike Edwards, DE Kinglsey Jonathan*, DE Kameron Cline, DT Eli Ankou*, CB Te’Cory Couch, CB Daequan Hardy, S Kareem Jackson*, Kicker TBD
*Denotes veteran by practice squad standards. Each practice squad is allowed six veterans.
(Top photo of Joe Andreessen: Rich Barnes / Getty Images)
