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Bills' initial 53-man regular season roster unveiled following NFL cutdown deadline

The Buffalo Bills finally released the results of their required roster cuts approximately two hours after the deadline passed.
Jan 12, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) celebrates a touchdown by wide receiver Curtis Samuel (1)
Jan 12, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) celebrates a touchdown by wide receiver Curtis Samuel (1) | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

The Buffalo Bills set their initial 53-man roster for the 2025 regular season on Tuesday afternoon.

There were no major surprises, but multiple former second-round draft picks, including wide receivers KJ Hamler and Laviska Shenault, did not survive the 4 p.m. ET cutdown deadline.

The cuts essentially revealed the results of multiple position battles. Incumbent backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky remains QB2 behind Josh Allen after Mike White and Shane Buechele were both cut.

RELATED: Bills' Roster Cutdown Tracker: Team announces 27 players cuts on Tuesday

The Bills released former draft picks veteran cornerback Dane Jackson, suggesting that either Tre'Davious White

Buffalo cut Shenault, who was competing for the primary return specialist role against second-year player Brandon Codrington.

Bills' official 53-man roster

Quarterbacks (2)
Josh Allen, Mitch Trubisky

Trubisky, the incumbent QB2, beat out Mike White to keep his backup job. Shane Buechele would have great value on the practice squad.

Mitchell Trubisky throws
Bills quarterback Mitchell Trubisky throws a pass during day seven of Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fisher University Thursday, July 31, 2025 in Pittsford, NY. | Shawn Dowd/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Running Backs (4)
James Cook, Ray Davis, Ty Johnson, Reggie Gilliam (FB)

This quartet was essentially set back in the spring, and reaffirmed when Cook received his contract extension.

Wide Receivers (6)
Khalil Shakir, Joshua Palmer, Keon Coleman, Curtis Samuel, Elijah Moore, Tyrell Shavers

Shavers was on the right side of the bubble, veteran Samuel's health was trending up at the close of training camp, and Moore also showed enough to stick.

Tyrell Shavers TD
Aug 23, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Tyrell Shavers (80) catches the ball over Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Bryce Hall (34) for a touchdown during the second quarter | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Tight Ends (3)
Dawson Knox, Dalton Kincaid, Jackson Hawes

The Bills again decided to carry only three tight ends on the 53-man roster, which cost Zach Davidson a spot.

Offensive Line (9)
Dion Dawkins, David Edwards, Connor McGovern, O'Cyrus Torrence, Spencer Brown, Alec Anderson, Ryan Van Demark, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, Chase Lundt

The Bills are going with nine offensive line to start the season with second-year tackle Tylan Grable beginning on Injured Reserve due to a concussion. Lundt, a seventh-round rookie, is the lone lineman who was not part of last year's group.

Defensive Ends (5)
Greg Rousseau, Joey Bosa, AJ Epenesa, Javon Solomon, Landon Jackson

Bosa (free agent) and Jackson (third-round rookie) are the two newcomers to the group.

Landon Jackson cuts inside on Joey Bosa
Bills defensive edge Landon Jackson cuts inside on edge Joey Bosa during line drills during the second day of Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fisher University Thursday, July 24, 2025 in Pittsford. | Shawn Dowd/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Defensive Tackles (5)
Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, Deone Walker, TJ Sanders, DeWayne Carter

Jones was not a salary cap casualty as some had rumored, and Carter, a 2024 third-round pick, survived, too.

Linebackers (5)
Matt Milano, Terrel Bernard, Dorian Williams, Joe Andreessen, Shaq Thompson

The veteran Thompson claims the fifth LB spot as the Bills cut 2024 fifth-rounder Edefuan Ulofoshio.

linebackers Joe Andreessen (44) and Matt Milano (58)
Aug 9, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills linebacker Joe Andreessen (44) and Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano (58) tackle New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29) | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

Cornerbacks (6)
Christian Benford, Tre'Davious White, Taron Johnson, Cam Lewis, Ja'Marcus Ingram, Dorian Strong

The Bills kept six cornerbacks on defense with a seventh, Brandon Codrington, being listed at return specialist.

Safeties (4)
Taylor Rapp, Cole Bishop, Damar Hamlin, Jordan Hancock

The fifth-round rookie Hancock beat out free agent Darrick Forrest for the fourth safety spot.

Kicker (1)
Tyler Bass

After pelvic soreness sidelined him throughout most of August, Bass returned for the preseason finale and performed effectively.

Punter (1)
Brad Robbins

Robbins received good news when the Bills were forced to release his positition competition, Jake Camarda, due to the roster numbers game at the start of camp, and he never gave them a reason to call him back.

Brad Robbins
Bills punter Brad Robbins punts before practice during day five of Buffalo Bills training camp Monday, July 28, 2025, at St. John Fisher University in Pittsford. | Shawn Dowd/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Return Specialist (1)
Brandon Codrington

Codrington, who really doesn't offer much on defense, makes the 53-man roster for the second season in a row to handle the return duties.

Longsnapper (1)
Reid Ferguson

The longest-tenured Buffalo Bill heads into another season.

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Ralph Ventre
RALPH VENTRE

Ralph, a former college football conference administrator, brings 20+ years of media experience to Buffalo Bills ON SI. Prior to focusing on the Bills, he spent two years covering the New York Jets. Ventre initially joined the ON SI family in 2021, providing NCAA Football Championship Subdivision for NFL Draft Bible on FanNation. Ventre remains as an official voter for the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and the annual legacy awards. The Fordham University graduate is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.