Bills Released 21 Players, Placed 2 Players On Injured Reserve, And Placed 1

Bills Trim Roster to 53, Set Initial Lineup for 2026 Season

The Buffalo Bills finalized their initial 53-man roster for the 2026 season, announcing a wave of roster moves that included releasing 21 players and placing three others on reserve lists ahead of Sunday's NFL deadline.

The Cuts

The 21 players released include G Nick Broeker, QB Shane Buechele, ILB Jimmy Ciarlo, DL Travis Clayton, DB Te'Cory Couch, RB Frank Gore Jr., WR Stephen Gosnell, ILB Keonta Jenkins, OLB Andre Jones Jr., CB Anthony Kendall, T Chase Lundt, WR Ja'Mori Maclin, CB Toriano Pride Jr., WR Trent Sherfield Sr., S Geno Stone, WR Max Tomczak, FB Ben VanSumeren, CB Kani Walker, G Da'Metrius Weatherspoon, RB Ian Wheeler, and P Mitch Wishnowsky.

Among the notable names, veteran safety Geno Stone and longtime punter Mitch Wishnowsky were among the cuts, while the release of cornerback Kani Walker raised some eyebrows. Walker's release came as a surprise after a strong training camp and preseason had generated a growing belief he had done enough to make the roster. The team also opted not to keep a fullback on the active roster, releasing Ben VanSumeren, but kept four tight ends, including Keleki Latu.

Reserve List Moves

Buffalo also addressed three additional roster spots through reserve designations. Buffalo placed wide receiver Tyrell Shavers on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list, defensive lineman Zane Durant on injured reserve and defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis on the Reserve/Suspended list.

Shavers was placed on the physically unable to perform list as he continues his recovery from tearing a knee ligament in last season's playoffs.

Durant was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return after four games of the regular season, and Mathis was placed on the reserve list while serving a three-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.

Roster Breakdown

The Bills kept 26 players on defense and only 24 on offense while cutting down to the NFL-mandated 53-man roster limit. The offensive line group is notably deep, as Buffalo is going with 10 offensive linemen to start the season, including Dion Dawkins, Connor McGovern, O'Cyrus Torrence, Spencer Brown, Alec Anderson, Lloyd Cushenberry, Austin Corbett, Tylan Grable, Jude Bowry and Ar'maj Reed-Adams.

On the defensive side, the Bills kept six edge rushers, including veteran Mike Danna, who was on the roster bubble, alongside Greg Rousseau, Bradley Chubb, Michael Hoecht, TJ Parker and Javon Solomon.

What's Next

Buffalo reduced its roster to 53 players ahead of Sunday's NFL deadline after three preseason games and more than a month of training camp, though the roster still could change before the Bills open the regular season Sept. 13 against the Houston Texans, as waiver claims will be processed Monday and the team can also make additional signings and injured-reserve moves. Several of the released players could be candidates to re-sign with Buffalo's practice squad in the coming days.