The Buffalo Bills roster cuts are complete, and the team has has set its initial 53-man roster for the 2026 NFL season, therefore it’s time to react to everything that transpired over the weekend.
Here were my initial thoughts once I saw the Bills 53-man roster on cutdown day (although don’t forget, this roster can very easily morph slightly before Week 1’s kickoff on September 13).
Hats off to Keleki Latu and Ar’Maj Reed-Adams…The 2025 undrafted free-agent tight end from Washington (and previously of Nevada and Cal) earned a spot on Buffalo’s 53-man roster in his second season. The nearly 6’7”, 250-ish pounder made six snags for 53 yards in the preseason but I have a hunch it was his blocking improvement — willingness, technique, and power — that were the key factors in Latu making the team.
And how about Reed-Adams, a seventh-round pick from Texas A&M who was a workhorse blocker in the preseason and did not allow a pressure on 103 pass-blocking snaps. I adore ARA’s upside at over 6’5” and 315 pounds (right now) with an outrageous 85” wingspan (long for an offensive tackle).
…and to Mike DannaI singled out Danna after the final preseason game for his tireless work… in the final preseason game, as he logged over 40 snaps and was as energetic and annoying to block as ever. Now he’s in the rotation. And because of his vast experience — and Buffalo’s experience dealing with him as an opponent in the past — I could see him on the field sooner than later this season as the fourth or fifth rush linebacker in Jim Leonhard’s scheme.
No Kani Walker?!Walker’s exclusion from the 53-man roster should serve as a reminder of the frequency of use in the practice squad in today’s NFL. Sure, he’s vulnerable to get poached now. But those type of transactions aren’t super common during the season.
With his size, length, quality summer, and connection to cornerbacks coach Jay Valai, Walker is about as ready and likely to play as an undrafted free agent rookie can be. This is very unlikely to be the end of Walker’s story in Buffalo.
The ripple effect of Zane Durant’s injuryLate in the second half against the Steelers, I noticed Durant hobbling off the field under his own power, but clearly in pain. Now he’s on IR (designed to return) for the first four games of the season, and that fluky injury in the final preseason game almost assuredly allowed DeWayne Carter to make the initial 53-man roster.
Only five receivers?This perplexed me slightly, although it’s not as if the Bills were operating with a surplus of ridiculous talent at that position this summer. Mecole Hardman’s drop issues certainly didn’t help, and I was even more surprised Trent Sherfield wasn’t kept on the original 53, especially considering Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir are technically still nursing injuries. Maybe the Bills don’t deem them to be that serious? That must be the case. That or Joe Brady plans to trot out plenty of 12, 13, and 22 personnel early in the season.
Or, the Bills has their eyes on a recently cut receiver (or Brandin Cooks?!).
Good development for Ty JohnsonJohnson got injured in early August during the Blue and Red Scrimmage and hasn’t been on the field since. He felt destined for IR-designated to return. Not the case, which indicates the do-everything veteran speedster should be ready for Week 1.
No fullback after allBen VanSumeren got plenty of run in the final two preseason games after he won the fullback job out of camp, which led to a sudden surge in interest in that position again in the post Reggie Gilliam era. But he doesn’t make the team — although he feels like a practice-squad candidate — and now it’s unlikely that position is heavily utilized in Joe Brady’s offense… at least to begin the season.
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