Greg Dortch Added To Practice Squad As An Experienced Punt Returner Option,

Bills Add Return Specialist Greg Dortch to Practice Squad

The Buffalo Bills addressed a glaring special teams need on Monday, signing wide receiver and return specialist Greg Dortch to the practice squad. The move came after the Detroit Lions pared their roster down to 53 players, with Dortch being the most surprising roster cut Detroit made.

A Homecoming for the Rochester Native

The Bills have added Rochester native Greg Dortch to their practice squad, a potential key piece for a team that has struggled with punt returns.

This is a homecoming of sorts for the veteran wideout as Dortch was born in Rochester, NY, and played collegiately at Wake Forest before being signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Jets in 2019.

Dortch, 28, brings established chemistry to Buffalo's staff. Bills Special Teams Coordinator Jeff Rodgers and Wide Receivers Coach Drew Terrell spent time with the Cardinals while Dortch was there, and that's one of the things that brought him to Buffalo. "I feel wanted…showcase what I can do," Dortch said upon joining the team.

Career-Best Production in 2025

Dortch, 28, averaged 11.6 yards on 16 punt returns for the Arizona Cardinals last season, ranking 11th in the NFL. That mark represented the continuation of a steady climb, as Dortch had improved his punt return average in each of the last three seasons, going from 6.6 yards in 2022 to 9.5 in 2023, 9.6 in 2024 and 11.6 last season. He also excelled in the kick return game, as he compiled a career-best 811 kick-return yards with Arizona in 2025.

For his career, Dortch has returned 99 punts for 886 yards during his NFL career, along with 75 kickoffs for 1,773 yards, and has also caught 145 passes for 1,310 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Filling a Need on Special Teams

The signing addresses a significant void on Buffalo's roster. Buffalo didn't have an experienced punt returner on its initial 53-man roster, and the unit struggled mightily in 2025, as the Bills averaged only 6.5 yards per punt return on 30 attempts in 2025, ranking 28th in the league.

Buffalo spent training camp searching for an answer at the position, using Ray Davis, Keon Coleman, Mecole Hardman, Skyler Bell and Khalil Shakir as punt returners during training camp. However, Davis muffed a punt in the preseason finale against the Steelers, and Hardman, who made the Pro Bowl as a return specialist in 2019, was released during final roster cuts.

With Dortch now in the fold, Buffalo will have three opportunities to elevate Dortch from the practice squad in-season before needing to make a decision to add him to the active roster, giving the coaching staff a proven option to solidify the return game as the regular season begins.