Locked On Bills Hit - Quick Takes on the Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills preseason is over, but there's still one problem I don't think they've solved.

Who do you actually trust to return punts?

I'm not asking Buffalo to find the next Devin Hester.

Just catch the football and give Josh Allen another possession.

That's why what happened against Pittsburgh concerns me.

Ray Davis has been getting opportunities at punt returner throughout the preseason, but after muffing what appeared to be a routine punt against Pittsburgh, the Steelers quickly turned the mistake into a touchdown.

Imagine that...

The Buffalo Bills are officially your undefeated preseason champions.

Hang the banner.

Okay, maybe not.

But Buffalo closed out the preseason 3-0 with a 28-27 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, and there was plenty to like from the finale.

Shane Buechele got the entire game at quarterback and made the most of his opportunity. Playing behind a makeshift offensive line, Buechele finished 26-of-38 for 196 yards and helped lead Buffalo down the field for the eventual game-winning score.

Then Joe Brady made my favorite decision of the night.

...

The Buffalo Bills preseason finale doesn't matter in the standings.

For several players fighting for jobs and roles? It could be one of the most important games they play all year.

Kyle Allen has one more opportunity to finally end Buffalo's QB2 competition. After going 10-of-12 for 128 yards and a touchdown against Cleveland, I thought he had already won the job. Joe Brady says the competition with Shane Buechele is still ongoing.

Fine. Settle it against Pittsburgh.

Then there are Ja'Marrick Maclin and Ian Wheeler.

Maclin exploded for 108 receiving...

Skyler Bell and Dorian Williams aren't fighting to make the Buffalo Bills roster Thursday night.

They're fighting for something much more interesting: their Week 1 roles.

Bell hasn't appeared in a preseason game yet, but that should change against Cleveland. Joe Brady says the fourth-round rookie had an outstanding offseason and Buffalo deliberately avoided rushing him back before he was fully healthy.

Now the circumstances around him have changed.

With injuries throughout Buffalo's receiver room, Bell could be needed earlier than originally expected. Josh Allen praised the rookie for taking mental reps...

The Buffalo Bills have two preseason standouts who might be making themselves too difficult to hide on the practice squad.

Start with Ian Wheeler.

Wheeler carried the ball 14 times for 56 yards against Cleveland, but the numbers aren't what make him interesting. It's how he runs — quick, explosive and twitchy before becoming physical and violent once contact arrives.

Buffalo already has James Cook, Ray Davis and Ty Johnson, with Frank Gore Jr. also competing for an opportunity. But Wheeler has now put enough on tape that Buffalo has to consider whether he'd actually clear wa...

Greg Gaines might be considerably more important to the Buffalo Bills defense than we originally thought. And it starts with Deone Walker. Gaines showed exactly what an experienced nose tackle can provide against Cleveland: stack blockers, control his space, reset the line of scrimmage and handle the dirty work inside. That could give Jim Leonhard significantly more freedom with Walker. Instead of asking a player with Walker's size and athleticism to constantly live at nose tackle and absorb double teams, Buffalo can move him around the defensive front, attack favorable matchups and potentially create more one-on-one opportunities for Walker...

Trent Sherfield is making the Buffalo Bills' final wide receiver decision much more difficult.

Sherfield took advantage of his opportunity against the Cleveland Browns, catching all four of his targets for 54 yards while several of Buffalo's receivers ahead of him on the depth chart didn't play.

But Joe Brady's comments after the game might be even more important.

Brady didn't only praise Sherfield's production as a receiver. He pointed toward Sherfield drawing a penalty, making a tackle on special teams, his selflessness throughout the process and how badly he wants to remain in...

The Buffalo Bills might have a seventh-round pick who's playing too well to hide.

Ar'Maj Reed-Adams has quickly become one of Buffalo's most interesting roster decisions after putting together two encouraging preseason performances.

Against Cleveland, Reed-Adams started at right guard and played 59 offensive snaps — nearly 20 more than any other Bills offensive player. And he's doing more than simply surviving those opportunities. He's starting to look like someone who could legitimately provide depth on Buffalo's interior offensive line.

That's where Brandon Beane has a decision to make.

Can Buffalo really risk exposing Re...

The Buffalo Bills took care of business against the Cleveland Browns with a dominant 31-7 preseason victory.

Even without Josh Allen and the starters, there was plenty to like. Kyle Allen made a strong case that Buffalo’s QB2 battle may be settled, completing 10-of-12 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown. Shane Buechele also had some impressive moments as the Bills showed they may not need to look outside the organization for quarterback help.

Defensively, Buffalo responded after a slow opening drive. Joe Andreessen was all over the field, Landon Jackson continued his impressive summer, an...

Landon Jackson isn't just fighting for playing time anymore.

He might actually be fighting for a starting job with the Buffalo Bills.

Jackson entered training camp working his way back from injury, learning Jim Leonhard's defense and adjusting to a new position. But Leonhard said Jackson eventually started to “own” the areas where he needed to improve.

Now we're seeing it translate.

Jackson started against Carolina and then reportedly generated a tackle for loss during red-zone work in Buffalo's joint practice against Cleveland. Even the Bills' own preview has raised the poss...

Jim Leonhard's Buffalo Bills defense just gave us another glimpse of how dangerous it could be in 2026.

Buffalo's pass rush showed up against the Cleveland Browns during Thursday's joint practice.

Greg Rousseau reportedly recorded two sacks. Michael Hoecht generated a tackle for loss and a pressure as he continues working his way back. Bradley Chubb generated pressure during two-minute work.

And it wasn't only the veterans.

TJ Sanders and Landon Jackson reportedly generated tackles for loss during red-zone work, while Jordan Hancock intercepted Deshaun Watson and Maxwell Harrison broke up a...

Joshua Palmer was handed a massive opportunity for the Buffalo Bills against the Cleveland Browns — and he took advantage. With Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir unavailable, Palmer received increased opportunities with Josh Allen and delivered. He made multiple catches and came down with one of the best plays of the joint practice, a contested touchdown in the red zone. That's exactly what Buffalo needed to see after weeks of training camp hype surrounding Palmer. Joe Brady has called him an “invaluable asset,” while Pete Carmichael has praised his ability to make plays downfield. Now we're finally seeing some of that t...

The Buffalo Bills joint practice with the Cleveland Browns might actually be more important than Saturday's preseason game.

Josh Allen and Buffalo's starters are expected to get significant work against Cleveland in a controlled environment. If Joe Brady and the Bills see what they need to see, many of those veterans may not need to play much — or potentially at all — on Saturday.

The first thing I'm watching is Josh Allen and DJ Moore.

Moore only played 11 snaps against Carolina but finished with three catches for 61 yards, immediately showing the big-play potential Buffalo hope...

The Buffalo Bills can officially forget about a potential Vita Vea trade — but Brandon Beane didn't leave the defensive line empty-handed.

Vea agreed to a new extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, shutting the door on one of the most exciting potential additions to Jim Leonhard's defense.

Meanwhile, Buffalo signed veteran defensive tackle Greg Gaines.

No, Gaines isn't Vita Vea. But he could fill an important role.

The 30-year-old gives Buffalo an experienced rotational option behind Deone Walker at nose tackle, which becomes especially important with Phidarian Mathis suspended for three ga...

Kaleb Elarms-Orr isn't just a Buffalo Bills training camp hype story anymore. He has a legitimate opportunity to win a starting job. Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard called the competition between Elarms-Orr and Dorian Williams an "awesome battle" and said Elarms-Orr is going to be a great player, praising his athleticism, speed and physicality. But don't write off Dorian Williams. Leonhard praised Williams as well, and Buffalo has intentionally given both linebackers opportunities alongside Terrel Bernard. This is now a legitimate competition to watch as the Bills move closer to Week 1. Plus, Leonhard gave his assessment of Buffalo's first...

The Buffalo Bills had several notable players missing from Tuesday's practice ahead of their joint work with the Cleveland Browns. Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman were both absent, adding some questions to a Bills wide receiver room that has dealt with multiple availability issues. Coleman had already generated some concern after appearing to tweak something during Buffalo's preseason opener. The good news? DJ Moore was back practicing after his own scare against Carolina. Then there's Ed Oliver. After dealing with injury issues last season, seeing Oliver miss practice naturally gets your attention — but at this point, I'd rather Buffalo be...

The Buffalo Bills have some important decisions to make with their young defenders as preseason rolls on.

Rookie linebacker Caleb Elarms-Orr has generated plenty of buzz throughout camp, but the preseason opener showed there’s still development needed. With Dorian Williams entering a contract year, could Elarms-Orr eventually become Buffalo’s answer at linebacker?

Then there’s the battle for CB4.

Connie Walker flashed with an interception against Carolina, but Toriano Pride Jr. played significantly more snaps and contributed on special teams. For a depth corner fighting for a spot on the Bills' 53-man r...

The Buffalo Bills defensive line gave us A LOT to be excited about in the preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers. Deone Walker might have been the biggest standout. Walker played only 10 snaps, but it felt like he was everywhere when he was on the field. If he takes another step alongside Ed Oliver in Jim Leonhard’s defense, Buffalo could have something dangerous developing up front. And it wasn't just Walker. Landon Jackson showed flashes in 21 snaps, Greg Rousseau looked like himself, and Mike Danna made a major statement with two sacks on the same drive while fighting fo...

The Buffalo Bills opened the preseason with a 29-14 win over the Carolina Panthers, and there was A LOT to like.

Josh Allen looked sharp, completing 6-of-8 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown, while DJ Moore immediately showed what he can bring to Buffalo’s offense with three catches for 61 yards on four targets.

Keon Coleman stepped up with a touchdown. The QB2 battle delivered. Buffalo’s running back depth flashed.

And Jim Leonhard’s defense came out flying.

Deone Walker continued his impressive rise, Mike Danna recorded two sacks, T.J. Par...

These Buffalo Bills have something to prove in Saturday’s preseason matchup against the Carolina Panthers.

One of Buffalo’s most important position battles is happening at left guard, where Alec Anderson and Austin Corbett are competing for the opportunity to start alongside Josh Allen. Anderson appears to have the early advantage, but the preseason gives both players an opportunity to start separating themselves.

On defense, all eyes are on T.J. Parker and Kaleb Elarms-Orr. Parker enters with the expectations that come with being Buffalo’s top draft pick, while Elarms-Orr has become one of the...

Forget the final score. There are four things that matter much more for the Buffalo Bills in their preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers.

First, the QB2 competition between Kyle Allen and Shane Buechele gets its first major test. Can either quarterback prove he's a reliable option behind Josh Allen?

Then there's WR3. Keon Coleman has been viewed as the favorite, but a healthy Joshua Palmer is making plays and earning significant praise from Joe Brady and Pete Carmichael.

Defensively, we finally get our first live look at Jim Leonhard's new system against...

The Buffalo Bills WR3 competition may be much closer than expected.

Joshua Palmer is finally healthy, making plays downfield and showing serious speed in training camp. Bills head coach Joe Brady even called Palmer an “invaluable asset” and suggested he may have reached one of the fastest max speeds of anyone in camp.

That could put serious pressure on Keon Coleman entering his make-or-break third season.

Meanwhile, there isn't much uncertainty at WR1. DJ Moore is already making his presence felt, with Brady saying you can “feel him” on the football field. Now Josh All...

Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills starters are expected to PLAY against the Carolina Panthers in their 2026 NFL preseason opener — and head coach Joe Brady explained exactly why. There’s obvious risk involved with putting one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks on the field in August, but Brady wants his team experiencing a real game together. New head coach. New defensive system. New stadium. And a new standard Brady is trying to establish in Buffalo. Beyond Josh Allen, Brady isn't focused on the preseason scoreboard. He's evaluating physicality, tackling, communication, finishing plays and whether the Bills actually LOOK like t...

Keon Coleman knows exactly what is at stake entering Year 3 with the Buffalo Bills. After two disappointing seasons, discipline issues and major changes to Buffalo’s wide receiver room, Coleman enters the 2026 NFL preseason facing serious competition for opportunities. DJ Moore is the new WR1, Khalil Shakir is established, Joshua Palmer is healthy and Skyler Bell is trying to climb the depth chart. Coleman says he understands “what’s at stake,” believes Joe Brady becoming head coach could be huge for his career and expects to be more involved in the Bills offense. But as Coleman himself said: when the foot...

Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard has made it clear what he wants to see from his defense against the Carolina Panthers in NFL Preseason Week 1 — and it starts with fixing one of Buffalo’s biggest problems from last season. TACKLING. Leonhard called tackling an “Achilles heel” for the Bills last season and wants to see Buffalo play physical, finish plays and get multiple defenders to the football against Carolina. But there’s another important wrinkle: don’t expect to see the REAL Jim Leonhard defense yet. Leonhard acknowledged Buffalo has an advantage with opponents having no tape of his complete...

The Buffalo Bills open the 2026 NFL preseason against the Carolina Panthers, and the final score isn't what matters. There are JOBS to be won. Buffalo enters Preseason Week 1 with two fascinating offensive battles: Who can Josh Allen trust as QB2? And which wide receiver will separate himself behind DJ Moore and Khalil Shakir? Kyle Allen and Shane Buechele are competing for the backup quarterback job, and Bills OC Pete Carmichael has made it clear: this is an OPEN competition. At wide receiver, the pressure is on Keon Coleman entering a make-or-break Year 3. Joshua Palmer is healthy and making plays...

Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael is shaking up the offense, prioritizing more opportunities for explosive running back James Cook both on the ground and as a receiving threat. Drawing on his successes with stars like Alvin Kamara and Darren Sproles in New Orleans, Carmichael’s approach could position Cook as a true MVP candidate beyond just the running game. With the preseason approaching, all eyes are on how Cook’s expanded arsenal will unfold in Buffalo’s attack. The wide receiver rotation gets strategic as DJ Moore’s speed and versatility headline a reinvented pass-catching corps. Intentional movement of targe...

Buffalo Bills WR Keon Coleman enters a make-or-break 2026 NFL season with NO MORE EXCUSES. After two disappointing seasons, discipline issues and inconsistent production, the former No. 33 overall pick may be running out of opportunities in Buffalo. But Josh Allen has already noticed a shift in Coleman’s mindset, Joe Brady continues to believe in his potential, and Year 3 could finally give the Bills their answer. Coleman leads off my ranking of the 5 Buffalo Bills I’m MOST excited to watch in 2026. Can Coleman finally break out? Could Jim Leonhard unlock Ed Oliver? Can James Cook add another dimension to his...

O’Cyrus Torrence just landed a massive contract extension with the Buffalo Bills — but did Brandon Beane pay too much? Torrence’s four-year, $78.4 million extension with $46 million guaranteed puts him among the NFL’s highest-paid guards. He’s been an absolute force in the run game, rarely misses time and has become an important part of the offensive line protecting Josh Allen. But there are still legitimate questions about his pass protection and whether his overall game warrants nearly $20 million per year. Here’s the bigger question: does the money even matter? Brandon Beane has already locked up Josh Allen, James...

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