Bills Add Former Division III All-American to Preseason Roster for Opener vs. Panthers

The Buffalo Bills made a roster move on Wednesday, likely in response to having two cornerbacks banged up with the August 15 preseason opener looming.

Cornerbacks Maxwell Hairston and Kani Walker were not seen participating by media in attendance at the August 11 practice. Later that afternoon, the Bills hosted tryouts for five different players, including three defensive backs.

Apparently seeing enough from tryout cornerback Anthony Kendall, Buffalo signed the former small-school product three days prior to its home exhibition against the Carolina Panthers.

In a corresponding roster move, the Bills waived undrafted rookie defensive lineman Kody Huisman, who had been with the team since May.

Will Maxwell Hairston and Kani Walker be available Saturday?

With first-year defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard bringing a new scheme to the Bills' defense, some players may see more preseason game reps than the norm during past summers.

"I think the plan is for guys to play and get a taste of the scheme, live, let's go finish. So, as far as I'm concerned, guys are gonna go play. To be determined a little bit on how much, but it's gonna be exciting for guys to get out there," said Leonhard.

One would think, however, that Hairston won't be out there on Saturday despite head coach Joe Brady suggesting the injury isn't serious.

Max Hairston — Bills defensive back Maxwell Hairston gets the fans pumped up as he comes over to sign autographs at the end of day six of Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fisher University Thursday, August 5, 2026 in Pittsford. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

If the Bills have been unwilling to push Hairston, who has been sidelined since last Friday, in practice, all signs point to holding the 2025 first-round pick out against the Panthers even if he's physically ready for action. We wrote about the Bills' need for injury insurance when Hairston missed the Friday practice. On Tuesday, he was seen working on the side with trainers.

As for Walker, the undrafted rookie was absent Tuesday. Although he wore a sleeve on his left leg during Monday's practice, there was no indication he was injured when addressing reporters afterwards.

While no one presumably wants to risk further injury, Walker needs as many live reps as possible considering he's trying to make the team after going undrafted. He was listed as a second-team cornerback on the Bills' first unofficial depth chart.

Who is Anthony Kendall?

Playing his entire collegiate career for NCAA Division III member Baldwin-Wallace, Kendall went undrafted in 2023 before landing a free agent rookie deal with the Tennessee Titans.

Kendall, a 2022 D3 All-American at the Ohio-based institution, wound up playing in 16 games for the Titans as a rookie. Although he saw only three defensive snaps the whole season, he was a fixture on special teams, logging 323 live game reps.

After Tennessee cut ties, Kendall proceeded to spend the bulk on the 2024 season as a member of the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad. The Cleveland Browns signed the local cornerback in 2025, but a summertime injury forced him onto Injured Reserve for the season.

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