Bills' Curtis Samuel absent from preseason finale amidst roster uncertainty

Disappointing Buffalo Bills' receiver Curtis Samuel didn't make the trip to Tampa, meaning he won't play a snap this season amid swirling trade rumors.

Jan 12, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel (1) catches a pass during the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos in an AFC wild card game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

Buffalo Bills' receiver Curtis Samuel may be on the trading block. As of Saturday night, he's definitely not in uniform.

Multiple media reports say the underachieving veteran didn't travel with the team for the preseason finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on August 23. One report, however, indicated Samuel, who has been recovering from a hamstring injury, stayed home due to an illness.

Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel didn’t travel with the team to Tampa Bay because of an illness, per league source.

Samuel was ramping up this week after missing most of training camp with a hamstring injury. He won’t play in the preseason.

— Matt Parrino (@MattParrino) August 23, 2025

The absence means Samuel — who missed most of training camp with the hamstring injury — won't play a single snap in the preseason. There are some who think he's played his final snap with the Bills.

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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel returns the ball during the second half of the Buffalo Bills wild card game against the Denver Broncos at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Jan. 12, 2025. | Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Bills signed Samuel to a three-year, $24 million contract in free agency in 2024, but he only caught 31 passes for 253 yards and one touchdown last season. This training camp, he has been so limited by injuries that his roster spot has come into question.

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With NFL scrambling for receiver help as roster deadlines and the regular season looms, Samuel is squarely on the trading block. After his lack of production and plethora of injuries, there may not be a robust market for him but there are several teams on the hunt.

On the short list of "available" receivers: Samuel, Terry McLaurin (Washington Commanders), Jalen Tolbert (Dallas Cowboys) and Adam Thielen (Carolina Panthers). Veteran free agent Odell Beckham is also looking for a new team. The Bills could free up $7 million under the salary cap by moving Samuel, who is clearly behind Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer and maybe even Tyrell Shavers in the Bills' receiving pecking order.

Jan 26, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel (1) makes a touchdown catch against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half in the AFC Championship Game | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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