Bills Offseason Update: Week of July 6

Opening

It was a landmark week for the Buffalo Bills off the field, as the franchise continued to build anticipation for a 2026 season unfolding under new head coach Joe Brady and inside a brand-new Highmark Stadium. Between national recognition for Josh Allen, fresh roster tinkering at wide receiver, and a flurry of ticket announcements for fans eager to see the new building, Bills Mafia had plenty to celebrate even with training camp still two weeks away. Add in a heartwarming community moment from CJ Gardner-Johnson in Florida, and it was a busy stretch of storylines heading into the final countdown to St. John Fisher.

Top Stories

Josh Allen Crowned No. 1 QB by ESPN The biggest headline of the week came from Bristol, where Josh Allen was named the NFL's top-rated quarterback heading into the 2026 season, earning the No. 1 spot in ESPN's annual poll of league evaluators, scouts, general managers, and coaches. Perhaps most notably, it marked the first time since the poll began in 2020 that a Bills quarterback has topped the list , finally leapfrogging Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes. One anonymous evaluator didn't hold back, telling ESPN that Allen is "the most singularly unstoppable player at the position when you get his A-game. And he has cut down on the turnovers the past two seasons." The numbers back it up — over the last two seasons, Allen has combined for 80 total touchdowns in the regular season, and he's the only NFL player in history with at least 200 passing touchdowns and 50 rushing touchdowns. Interestingly, ESPN's report also credited new head coach Joe Brady, Allen's former offensive coordinator, with "streamlining Allen's game" according to multiple opposing coaches. James Cook also earned recognition, checking in at No. 7 on ESPN's running back rankings after setting a career-best with 1,621 rushing yards in 2025, also totaling 12 rushing touchdowns.

Highmark Stadium Hosts First Public Events With the new Highmark Stadium set to open its doors, the Bills clarified plans for two marquee summer events. The Return of the Blue & Red practice, presented by Wegmans, will be held at Highmark Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 8 at 7 p.m., marking the first time the Bills will take the field at the new venue. That event initially drew backlash when it was announced as exclusive to season ticket holders and PSL owners, but the organization responded by adding a second event — an open practice for the general public on Tuesday, Aug. 18, with the team noting that due to increased demand, they added the additional practice that will be open to the public. Team president Pete Guelli explained the thinking directly: "We know how excited our fans are to see Highmark Stadium... The Return of the Blue & Red practice will continue to be offered to season ticket members first as it has in past years."

Roster Shuffling at Wide Receiver Buffalo made a notable swap in the receiver room, claiming wide receiver Quentin Skinner off waivers from the division-rival New York Jets just weeks before camp. The 6-foot-4 target had an eventful rookie year — Skinner impressed during the preseason, totaling a team-leading 114 receiving yards over a three-game span, and in the annual exhibition against the New York Giants, caught all four of his targets for 48 yards and the Jets' lone touchdown. He even made his regular-season debut against Buffalo, ironically enough. To clear a roster spot, the Bills terminated Deven Thompkins to make room for Skinner.

Quick Hits

• DJ Moore continues to be a major storyline entering Joe Brady's new offense, with analysts calling him a potential difference-maker for a receiver corps that lacked stability a year ago.

• CJ Gardner-Johnson gave back to his hometown community, as the Super Bowl champion hosted his third youth football camp in New Smyrna Beach on July 12.

• The Bills also announced ticket logistics for the Aug. 18 open practice, with tickets limited to four seats per order and available through Ticketmaster beginning Tuesday, July 21 at 10 a.m.

Roster Watch

Buffalo's only notable transaction this week was the receiver swap, adding Quentin Skinner off waivers and releasing Deven Thompkins. Skinner will now compete for a depth role behind Buffalo's top targets as camp battles begin to take shape. No major injury updates emerged this week, as the team remains in the quiet stretch of the offseason before padded practices begin.

Looking Ahead

The calendar is about to flip in a big way. Rookies are expected to report to St. John Fisher on July 21, with veterans following on July 28 ahead of the first practice on July 29 — the start of a shortened, seven-practice camp under Joe Brady. Fans should also keep an eye on the wide receiver room, where names like Brandin Cooks continue to be floated as potential free-agent additions, and on early roster-bubble battles at safety and offensive line as the Bills round out their 90-man roster before final cuts.