On the Bubble: Players with the Most At Stake in Tampa.
The Buffalo Bills head into their final preseason game versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday night with a lot of questions yet to be answered for Bills Mafia. Coach McDermott announced yesterday that Josh Allen will not be playing, making it the first time in his career that he will not play in a preseason game. It will be interesting to see how many more starters accompany him on the sideline.
That means more opportunities for the players fighting to make the team or win a starting role. I have spotlighted some players on the bubble for various reasons who will need to have a better showing Saturday night if they want to keep their spot on cutdown day, August 26th.
Fighting for a Roster Spot
Curtis Samuel - Samuel is returning from a hamstring injury that has kept him out most of training camp. Will he be able to put some play on tape to secure his spot on the 53-man roster next Tuesday? He had a strong end to the 2024 campaign, but availability on top of lack of production could make him a trade candidate to a desperate team in need of a WR. Releasing Samuel would not save the team much money on the cap. A trade with a late-round pick swap would be the most likely scenario if Samuel isn’t a Bill this season.
Damar Hamlin and Darrick Forrest - Hamlin was viewed as a player the Bills could upgrade from this offseason, and he has found himself in a position to be the starting safety alongside Taylor Rapp for a second straight season. Forrest is a free agent signing with starting experience that I was hopeful for heading into training camp. It’s hard to tell if he has made much of an impact so far to warrant the Bills keeping him over what they know they have in Hamlin. Either way, I don’t see both players making the team, and Saturday night may be Forrest’s last opportunity to show the coaching staff he deserves a chance.
Jimmy Ciarlo and Joe Andreessen - Ciarlo has taken advantage of the opportunities he’s been given since joining the Bills the first week of August. His play on special teams has been noticeable and highlighted by McDermott, as seen on Hard Knocks. Andreessen, or “Buffalo Joe” as he has become known, has struggled in the preseason playing against first and second-team offenses with his increased playing time in the absence of Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano. Has he done enough to keep his roster spot heading into year two?
Wide Receivers 4-6?
Five receivers is the expectation for the initial 53-man roster, but the Bills could surprise us with six if the cards fall a certain way. I mentioned Samuel as fighting for a roster spot because I think he is on the trade block, and Brandon Beane won’t be needing a lot in return to dump his salary. Joshua Palmer, Keon Coleman, and Khalil Shakir are locks at the position, but the final 2 or 3 spots are up for grabs heading into the preseason finale.
At this point, I would put the edge to Tyrell Shavers and Elijah Moore, with KJ Hamler and Laviska Shenault fighting for a possible sixth WR rostered, with their special teams ability coming into play. My case for Moore isn't based on his preseason game stats, but instead on what I've read about his chemistry with Josh Allen during camp. There were times he was reported as the best wide receiver on the field.
Hamler and Shenault bring return abilities that could give them an advantage in finding their way onto the roster with the new kickoff rules and gadget play potential on the offense. Brandon Codrington is the incumbent at the return spot, but his limitations on defense could tilt the scales in favor of a sixth wide receiver who can also return the ball.
Second Year Slump(s) or Sleeper(s)?
Cole Bishop - Bishop has again battled the injury bug in training camp, limiting his availability this preseason. After missing the game against the Giants with a quad injury, he only saw 12 snaps at Safety against the Bears. Bishop did not impress in his limited snaps, and McDermott hasn’t held back with this to say after the Bears’ loss, “I think we’re looking for that other safety to play alongside a T-Rapp.” Surprisingly, the starting safety position appears to be Bishops to lose at this point. Still, he needs a strong showing Saturday night to dispel any ideas of adding another safety before the regular season starts.
DeWayne Carter - Carter has found himself buried on the depth chart with the drafting of Deone Walker and T.J. Sanders earlier this year, along with the free agent signing of Larry Ogunjobi. Carter’s versatility at the 1-technique or 3-technique, on top of being a third-round pick, may secure his spot if his play on the field doesn’t. I can see Carter being a trade block candidate or moved off the roster to make room for Ogunjobi later in the season.
Edefuan Ulofoshio - Ulofoshio is on the outside looking in at the linebacker position. Bernard and Milano are the clear starters, with the revitalized Milano looking like his former All-Pro self. Dorian Williams is a lock, and Shaq Thompson seems to have a high likelihood of making the roster despite his hamstring injury, which has limited him for most of the month. Ulofoshio is battling with Andreessen and Ciarlo for the final linebacker spots. I wouldn’t be surprised if he signs with the practice squad after final cuts.
