The Buffalo Bills face a difficult roster puzzle ahead of their 2026 preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium on Thursday night. General manager Brandon Beane must narrow down 14 bubble players fighting for the final four or five roster spots before the August 30 cutdown day.
Roster Locks, Injury Questions, and the Punter Competition
As the Bills prepare for their final preseason matchup at Highmark Stadium, general manager Brandon Beane faces one of the more difficult roster puzzles of his tenure, according to The Athletic. The team has established 42 likely roster locks on offense, defense, and special teams, including quarterback Josh Allen, running back James Cook, wide receiver DJ Moore, defensive lineman Ed Oliver, and linebacker Terrel Bernard.
Behind the locks, several position battles remain unresolved. The punter competition between rookie Tommy Doman Jr. and Mitch Wishnowsky has tightened in recent days, according to The Athletic. Although Doman built an early lead, struggles with his final two punts against the Cleveland Browns and a subpar practice on Tuesday indicate the job is no longer a slam dunk, though Doman remains favored to win it.
Meanwhile, offensive tackle Jude Bowry presents a distinct roster math problem. Bowry is considered a lock if healthy, but he suffered an injury in Cleveland and opened the practice week in a walking boot. While head coach Joe Brady stated that injuries do not change the team’s roster math, stashing an injured player on injured reserve has been a staple of Beane’s tenure, which could offer a solution given the team’s 12-player offensive line crunch.
Players Trending Toward the 53-Man Roster
Six specific players have strengthened their bids to make the active squad heading into the final preseason game. Quarterback Kyle Allen secured the backup job in Cleveland, while center Lloyd Cushenberry III has worked exclusively with the first-team offense and Josh Allen since Connor McGovern’s injury. Tylan Grable is trending toward the top reserve swing tackle role, and Javon Solomon and Joe Andreessen have cemented themselves as core special teams assets. Safety Damar Hamlin has also emerged as the team’s top backup safety through the summer.
The 14 Bubble Players Fighting for Four or Five Spots
Fourteen players are currently competing for the remaining four or five open positions, depending on how the team handles injuries like Bowry’s. Wide receiver Mecole Hardman’s most viable path to the roster is as the primary punt returner. His offensive skill set sees limited use, and recent injuries to Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman are trending positively toward Week 1. Furthermore, backup running back Ray Davis has challenged Hardman by making significant strides in fielding kickoffs and punts, while Hardman missed practice on Tuesday due to a poorly timed injury.
Wide receiver Trent Sherfield has been a steady presence and delivered a strong performance against the Browns. However, the debate centers on whether to carve out a roster spot or attempt to stash him on the practice squad, as Sherfield is not subject to waivers. Tight end Keleki Latu opened training camp strongly before fading over the last couple of weeks, leaving his fate tied to whether the team chooses to carry his position. At fullback, Ben VanSumeren secured his standing after the team cut undrafted rookie Jackson Acker, leaving VanSumeren to prove his value as an almost every-phase special teams contributor.
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