Six Bills' Questions Still Lingering With Six Days Until Final Roster Cuts

Buffalo must make some critical decisions in the coming days as the NFL regular season is just weeks away from starting.

Aug. 22, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive back Te'Cory Couch (33) celebrates with cornerbacks Jordan Hancock (37) and Kani Walker (41) after making an interception during the second half of a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Buffalo Bills had a busy few days last week—for many reasons—but in the midst of it all the team managed to come together for a 31-7 victory over the Cleveland Browns to move its preseason record to 2-0 under first-year head coach Joe Brady.

And, despite a bit of a slow start defensively, the Bills were quite dominant during their outing with the Browns at Huntington Bank Field on Saturday afternoon, which was clearly evidenced by the lopsided victory.

Even still, there are some things left unanswered from Brady’s squad as Buffalo prepares this week for its final preseason game with the Pittsburgh Steelers at the new Highmark Stadium on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET in Orchard Park, New York.

Aug. 15, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills' flag bearers celebrate a touchdown during a preseason game against the Carolina Panthers at the new Highmark Stadium. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Final roster cuts must be made by August 30, so the matchup with Pittsburgh will loom large for a few of the veterans currently on the roster fringe.

Here are six questions that must be answered by the Bills before September rolls around in the coming days.

What surprise players—if any—can complete their rise to roster relevancy?

A young member of Bills Mafia gets an autograph from Buffalo Bills' rookie cornerback Kani Walker (41) before training camp practice starts at St. John Fisher University in Pittsford, New York, on Aug. 13 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Like seemingly every summer, there have been more than a few surprise players thus far in training camp for the Bills that have made a positive impression.

Most of the time, however, those fan favorites tend to fade away come final roster cut-down day. Will that happen again this time around when the deadline approaches on August 30? Or will some of these stellar summer standouts hold onto a 53-man roster spot?

Bills Mafia will have to wait and find out after Buffalo’s upcoming game with Pittsburgh, but some names to monitor are rookie cornerback Kani Walker, former undrafted veteran linebackers Joe Andreessen and Keonta Jenkins, as well as receivers Mecole Hardman Jr., Dante Pettis, and Trent Sherfield Sr., who made his presence felt against the Browns in a major way by raking in a game-high four catches for 54 yards. 

Veteran fullback Ben VanSumeren is also one player who fans should keep a close eye on over the next few days.

Is Bills’ backup QB job Kyle Allen’s to lose?

Aug. 22, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Buffalo Bills' backup quarterback Kyle Allen (11) trots on the field during a preseason game at Huntington Bank Field. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Honestly, for as much flak as these two players caught from fans and outside observers heading into training camp, both Kyle Allen and Shane Buechele have performed quite admirably for the majority of this summer.

The two backups had a slightly shaky start to camp at St. John Fisher University in Pittsford, New York, but both Allen and Buechele have done fairly well since being back at One Bills Drive. 

They’ve also held up their end of the bargain in the two preseason games, as well, which is showcased by the team’s 60-21 scoring differential in the exhibition contests against the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns.

And, their most recent performances against the Browns might’ve been the best either player has ever looked while wearing a Bills’ uniform. 

Allen finished his day 10-of-12 for 128 yards and one touchdown, while Buechele went 5-for-10 for 111 yards and one passing touchdown in addition to tallying a rushing touchdown.

Aug. 22, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Buffalo Bills' backup quarterback Shane Buechele (6) celebrates after scoring a rushing touchdown during the second half of a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

If Allen doesn’t play at all on Thursday against the Steelers, then it’s likely that the backup quarterback role on Buffalo’s roster is his for 2026.

However, if he sees the field, then it’ll mean it’s still a competition. And, if that’s the case, then who knows?

Maybe Buechele can surprise everyone and earn the Bills’ No. 2 spot seemingly out of nowhere.

Which player is going to start on Buffalo’s D-line alongside Ed Oliver and Deone Walker?

Buffalo Bills' second-year defensive lineman T.J. Sanders (98) gets ready to run a drill during the team's "Return of the Blue and Red" practice at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, on Aug. 8, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Coming into Bills’ training camp, it was thought by many that 2025 second-round pick T.J. Sanders was going to assume the third starting defensive lineman role alongside fellow defenders Ed Oliver and Deone Walker this season in the team’s new 3-4 scheme under first-year NFL defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard.

However, it’s been a hot-and-cold summer so far from the former South Carolina Gamecock, and he hasn’t taken a firm grasp of the opportunity that was put before him by the Bills at the start of camp at St. John Fisher University.

Instead, somewhat shockingly, it’s been fellow second-year defensive lineman Landon Jackson who has seemingly stolen the spotlight away from Sanders through this portion of August.

Aug. 17, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Buffalo Bills' defensive lineman Landon Jackson (94) walks off the field after the second half of a preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

It’s been a pleasant surprise from Jackson, to say the least, and it has put immense pressure on Sanders to step up in a big way over this final stretch before Week 1 rolls around on September 13.

It’ll be interesting to see if Jackson completes his hijacking of the vacant starting job, or if Sanders can reclaim relevancy on the roster for 2026.

Will Buffalo be able to find trade partners or be forced to make surprise cuts?

Jan. 4, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills' veteran running back Ty Johnson (26) carries the ball before being tackled by New York Jets' cornerback Tre Brown (30) during the third quarter of an NFL game at Highmark Stadium. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Every offseason around this time, the thought comes around from fans that team president/general manager Brandon Beane will be able to pull off some “Beane After Dark” magic and slyly trade away a few players to unsuspecting teams around the league in return for draft compensation instead of having to trim those same players from the final 53-man roster on cut-down day.

I mean, he’s done it before . . . remember former Bills’ offensive lineman Russell Bodine, anyone?

Anyway, be that as it may—while those types of moves are few and far between—the thought still remains the same this summer.

Jan. 5, 2025; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Buffalo Bills' running back Ray Davis (22) celebrates with Bills' center Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (62) after scoring a touchdown against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

Some names to keep in mind are veteran interior offensive linemen Sedrick Van Pran-Granger and Chase Lundt, safeties Damar Hamlin and Geno Stone, as well as running back Ty Johnson, who has failed to practice since August 8 due to a soft-tissue injury, which has created quite the pathway for players like Frank Gore Jr. and Ian Wheeler to make some noise this preseason.

Let’s watch these possible developments closely, shall we?

When will decisions be made on important battles at starting positions?

Nov. 30, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Buffalo Bills' offensive lineman Alec Anderson (70) blocks against Pittsburgh Steelers' outside linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during the third quarter of an NFL game at Acrisure Stadium. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Like with the backup quarterbacks that were previously mentioned, there are many other undecided roster battles ongoing in Western New York this month.

And, they’re at critical starting positions, nonetheless.

Starting spots at left guard, inside linebacker, and punter are all seemingly still without a winner, and the regular season starts in less than three weeks.

It’s getting time for head coach Joe Brady to start making some tough decisions.

Will Jim Leonhard and Pete Carmichael be in the booth or on the sideline for games?

Buffalo Bills' head coach Joe Brady (left) and offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael (right) take in Bills' training camp practice at St. John Fisher University on July 29, 2026 in Pittsford, New York. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

This was a question that was also posed last week from us over here at Bills ON SI, but it’s still lingering: where are new defensive/offensive coordinators Jim Leonhard and Pete Carmichael Jr. going to be during the games this regular season?

Will they both be in the box? On the sideline beside head coach Joe Brady? 

Or one of each?

Well, so far the two coaches have split their time between the booth and the sideline during the first two preseason games, so it will be interesting to see which way they lean for the final exhibition game against the Steelers on Thursday.

Presumably, one would think that after doing one of each against Carolina and Cleveland, that the two coaches would choose their preferred destination for this third game in order to get one final true test run against Pittsburgh before the regular season starts in September.

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