Buffalo Bills 2025 roster tracker: Maxwell Hairston starts the season on injured reserve as initial 53-man roster is set


Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott said his team would take its time in deciding who would make its initial 53-man roster.

The head coach was not kidding. Although the deadline to do so was 4 p.m. Tuesday, it wasn't until two hours later, shortly after 6 p.m., that the team announced it had released 27 players and placed two on injured reserve to make their roster compliant.

Rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston, the team's first-round draft pick in April, and second-year offensive tackle Tylan Grable were placed on injured reserve with a designation to return, meaning they will miss at least the first four games of the season. Hairston is dealing with a knee injury, while Grable has a concussion.

The Bills also cut more than two dozen players from their roster Tuesday. Those let go were: Quarterbacks Mike White and Shane Buechele, running back Frank Gore Jr., wide receivers Deon Cain, Stephen Gosnell, K.J. Hamler, Laviska Sheanult and Kristian Wilkerson, tight ends Zach Davidson and Keleki Latu, offensive linemen Jacob Bayer, Travis Clayton, Mike Edwards, Dan Feeney, Richard Gouraige and Kendrick Green, defensive end Paris Shand, defensive tackles Marcus Harris, Zion Logue, Jordan Phillips and Casey Rogers, linebackers Jimmy Ciarlo, Keonta Jenkins and Edefuan Ulofoshio, cornerbacks Daequan Hardy and Dane Jackson and safety Darrick Forrest.

As a reminder: Players with less than four years of NFL experience are subject to waivers, meaning they can be claimed by any of the league's other 31 teams and put on the claiming team's 53-man roster. If unclaimed, that player becomes an unrestricted free agent. Veterans with at least four years of NFL experience are not subject to waivers and immediately become unrestricted free agents.

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The Bills have reportedly released veteran cornerback Dane Jackson. Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News

Additionally, defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi and edge rusher Michael Hoecht were placed on the league's reserve/suspended list. They will each miss the first six games of the season.

Teams can begin assembling their 16-player practice squad Wednesday by signing players who have cleared waivers.

Here is a closer look at some of those who were waived or released Tuesday:

• Buechele will have to go through waivers, while White immediately becomes a free agent. It's expected at least one of them will return to the practice squad to serve as the team's third quarterback, with Mitch Trubisky backing up Josh Allen on the active roster.

• Veteran cornerback Jackson was released. He re-signed with the Bills this offseason after spending last year with Carolina, but had some struggles in the preseason and was passed on the depth chart by rookie Dorian Strong. Assuming another team doesn’t show interest in signing him to its 53-man roster, a return to the Bills' practice squad could make sense for both sides. Jackson's release also could be viewed as a good sign for veteran cornerback Tre'Davious White, who suffered a lower-body injury in practice last week. General manager Brandon Beane is expected to provide an update on White's condition Wednesday when he speaks to the media. If he's not ready for Week 1, it remains to be seen who will start opposite Christian Benford at cornerback against the Ravens. Rookie Dorian Strong and veteran Ja'Marcus Ingram are veterans who made the 53-man roster.

• Wide receiver Gosnell was waived, but the team hopes to re-sign him to its practice squad if he clears waivers. Gosnell had some strong moments during training camp, and finished the preseason with five catches for 41 yards.

• Cornerback Hardy, a 2024 sixth-round draft pick, was unable to win the team’s return jobs and struggled to move up the defensive depth chart.

• Offensive lineman Gouraige spent the 2024 season on the Bills’ practice squad, but with little turnover ahead of him on the depth chart, was unable to make the 53-man roster.

• Wide receiver Shenault Jr., a sixth-year veteran, had some strong moments in the preseason, particularly in the first game against the Giants, but appeared to fade as the summer wore on. His best shot at making the roster was as the team’s primary return man. With Hamler, Shenault and Hardy being cut, the primary return man looks to be cornerback Brandon Codrington.

• Offensive lineman Edwards is a mountain of a man at 6-foot-5 and 363 pounds. He works mostly on the interior of the offensive line. Like Gouraige, Edwards was hurt by the fact the Bills have so much continuity up front.

• Offensive lineman Feeney, a ninth-year veteran who is not subject to waivers, signed during training camp to provide depth, but was not able to unseat anyone ahead of him on the depth chart.

• Running back Gore Jr. led the Bills in both rushing and receiving in the preseason with 23 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown and 11 catches for 109 yards. Gore spent most of last season on the practice squad and could land there again as depth behind James Cook, Ray Davis and Ty Johnson.

• A seventh-round pick of the team in 2024, Clayton is part of the NFL's International Player Pathway program. If he goes unclaimed through waivers, he could rejoin the team's practice squad. The NFL provides a roster exemption for a 17th spot on the practice squad to an international player.

• The Bills waived linebacker Ulofoshio, a 2024 fifth-round draft pick who played in four games as a rookie. Veteran Shaq Thompson and Lancaster High School product Joe Andreessen made the team as depth linebackers behind Terrel Bernard, Matt Milano and Dorian Williams.

• The Bills released fourth-year veteran receiver Hamler. A star of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” series that has followed the Bills this summer, Hamler wasn’t able to win the team’s return job, which hurt his chances. Despite moving on from Hamler, Shenault, Cain, Gosnell and Wilkerson, the Bills still kept six wide receivers on the active roster -- Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer, Curtis Samuel, Elijah Moore and Tyrell Shavers.

• Both tight ends who were let go, Latu and Davidson, are expected to be candidates for the practice squad.

• According to a report from the Associated Press, the Bills hope to bring linebacker Jimmy Ciarlo back to the practice squad, should he clear waivers. Ciarlo made a strong impression after joining the Bills during training camp.

• Forrest, a fifth-year veteran, was released. Signed to a one-year contract during the offseason, Forrest struggled to move up the depth chart during the summer, even while projected starters Cole Bishop and Taylor Rapp missed time with injuries.

• Rogers appeared in two games with the Giants last season after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent. The Bills claimed him off waivers, but after adding to defensive tackle both in free agency and the draft, he wasn't able to make the active roster.

• Jenkins, a rookie undrafted free agent linebacker, had a strong first preseason against the Giants, but suffered an ankle injury a short time after that. The Bills have hopes of bringing Jenkins back to the practice squad if he clears waivers, a league source told The News.

Elsewhere around the NFL in former Bills news, veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas is signing with the Miami Dolphins, according to multiple reports. Douglas becomes the second former Bills player in as many days to find a new home, after veteran wide receiver Amari Cooper agreed to terms Monday with the Raiders. Additionally, former Bills edge rusher Boogie Basham, a second-round pick of the team in 2021, was released by the Carolina Panthers. Former Bills receiver Robert Woods was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
 

The Athletic: Bills initial 53-man roster analysis: Tyrell Shavers, ‘Buffalo Joe’ Andreessen make the cut​


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The NFL’s deadline to reduce rosters to their regular-season limits has passed. The Bills pared down to 53 players on their active roster, signaling the 2025 regular season has arrived.

Who made the team, and what led to the Bills making those decisions? How do some of the positions look now that we have the early-season answers?

Here is a complete analysis of the Bills’ initial 2025 active roster.

Quarterback (2)​

Josh Allen, Mitchell Trubisky

The Bills showed their hand in the preseason finale that the backup quarterback competition was over when they didn’t use either Trubisky or Mike White. Trubisky had been the better quarterback of the two over the final two weeks of preseason and training camp, which led the Bills to make Trubisky the backup to Allen for the third time over the last five years. As the Bills have spoken highly about White and Shane Buechele, it would not be a surprise if they tried to carry two quarterbacks on the practice squad this season.

Released: Mike White
Waived: Shane Buechele


Running back (4)​

James Cook, Ray Davis, Ty Johnson, Reggie Gilliam (FB)

Although Frank Gore Jr. had a nice summer and preseason, keeping four traditional running backs was always a long shot. Cook, Davis and Johnson will all have their specific roles on offense, much like they did in 2024, and the Bills will likely try to get Gore back to the practice squad.

Waived: Frank Gore Jr.

Wide receiver (6)​

Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer, Elijah Moore, Curtis Samuel, Tyrell Shavers

The answer fans were waiting for arrived Tuesday. Shavers, who Bills head coach Sean McDermott raved about during training camp and put together an outstanding preseason, has made the initial 53-man roster. Shavers gives the Bills someone who played at all three receiver positions during camp and provides excellent depth, while also showing special teams ability late in the preseason. Outside of the Bills keeping six receivers, there weren’t any surprises at receiver. Both Moore and Samuel have a fully guaranteed base salary in 2025 and have built a good rapport with Allen during the summer practices they participated in. The team hopes Samuel can continue to build on his strong late-season performances from 2024.

Released: Laviska Shenault, KJ Hamler
Waived: Kristian Wilkerson, Stephen Gosnell, Deon Cain

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6571163/2025/08/26/afc-east-predicted-standings-win-totals/

Tight end (3)​

Dawson Knox, Dalton Kincaid, Jackson Hawes

Much like it was at running back, there wasn’t much of a decision at tight end for the Bills. Knox and Kincaid will be staples on offense, as Hawes could be game day active for special teams and mix in on a handful of offensive snaps throughout the game. Hawes’ strength is as a blocker, so he would be a compelling game day option. The Bills wouldn’t have to rely as heavily on jumbo packages with six offensive linemen on the field.

Waived: Zach Davidson, Keleki Latu

Offensive line (9)​

Dion Dawkins, David Edwards, Connor McGovern, O’Cyrus Torrence, Spencer Brown, Alec Anderson, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, Chase Lundt, Ryan Van Demark

The Bills were able to keep all 10 of the offensive linemen they wanted; they just had to make one tiny sacrifice to do it and keep a roster spot available for another position. Second-year player Tylan Grable, whom the Bills are extremely high on, is heading to injured reserve to begin the season. Grable has been in concussion protocol, and rather than trying to rush him back to play within the first month of the season, they’ll keep him on IR for at least the first four weeks.

Grable did practice in a non-contact jersey for the first two of three sessions last week, but was not spotted on the field during the third practice. Putting Grable on IR means the Bills will likely look to Van Demark to be their top reserve offensive tackle, with Anderson as their top interior backup. The Bills are planning to sign veteran interior offensive lineman Kendrick Green to their practice squad if another team doesn’t come calling for the 53-man roster, according to a league source. It would not be a surprise to see Green get used for game day call-ups early in the season as Van Pran-Granger ramps up from his injury. The Bills activated Van Pran-Granger from the physically unable to perform list, despite the second-year player not practicing once this summer due to a calf injury.

Injured reserve (designated to return): Tylan Grable

Released: Dan Feeney, Kendrick Green
Waived: Mike Edwards, Richard Gouraige, Travis Clayton, Jacob Bayer


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A.J. Epenesa will be the top backup defensive end, at least while Michael Hoecht is serving a six-game suspension. (Shawn Dowd / USA Today)

Defensive end (5)​

Greg Rousseau, Joey Bosa, A.J. Epenesa, Javon Solomon, Landon Jackson

With Epenesa proving this summer that he’s firmly the team’s top backup defensive end for at least the first six games, it removed any idea that the Bills could try to trade him to free up a roster spot. Solomon proved to be an asset on special teams last year and continued to show his ability as a pass rusher throughout the summer, making him an easy keep and likely to be active every week. The 2025 third-round pick Jackson has raw ability, though he didn’t challenge Epenesa at all in the summer. The big question will be where the Bills find a roster spot for Michael Hoecht once his six-game suspension is over, but that’s a long way down the road in NFL terms.

Reserve/Suspended: Michael Hoecht

Waived: Paris Shand


Defensive tackle (5)​

Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, T.J. Sanders, Deone Walker, DeWayne Carter

There was some intrigue at defensive tackle earlier in the week when the team signed Jordan Phillips once again, though the practice squad was always the direction and thought process behind bringing in the soon-to-be 33-year-old. The Bills want to see how their three young players, Sanders, Walker and Carter, develop behind the two clear starters in 2025. By the time Larry Ogunjobi’s suspension is over in six weeks, the Bills will have a much better idea about how this group is performing. If it’s playing well enough, it makes you wonder where the roster spot will come from for Ogunjobi, because six defensive tackles — all of whom do not play special teams — is a difficult thing to carry. For now, that’s another problem for another day.

Reserve/Suspended: Larry Ogunjobi

Released: Jordan Phillips
Waived: Zion Logue, Marcus Harris, Casey Rogers


Linebacker (5)​

Terrel Bernard, Matt Milano, Dorian Williams, Joe Andreessen, Shaq Thompson

The biggest intrigue of the group was with Thompson, who played for McDermott in Carolina and looked good in training camp before sustaining a hamstring injury. Thompson will provide the Bills with another veteran presence in the linebacker room and a potential option for them to turn to should Williams or Andreessen struggle in spot start duty. It remains to be seen how much he’ll be used on special teams. Jimmy Ciarlo, who was featured on “Hard Knocks” last week, looks like a rock-solid practice squad player. The team’s practice squad could be a future option for Edefuan Ulofoshio, a fifth-round pick in 2024.

Waived: Jimmy Ciarlo, Keonta Jenkins, Edefuan Ulofoshio
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6572327/2025/08/25/nfl-2025-win-totals-projections-analysis/

Nickel (2)​

Taron Johnson, Cam Lewis

Johnson is one of the most important defenders on the team, and Lewis is one of the most important special teams and defensive depth players on the roster. The Bills likely didn’t give much thought to parting with either of them.

Waived: None

Cornerback (4)​

Christian Benford, Tre’Davious White, Dorian Strong, Ja’Marcus Ingram

The biggest answer of the day was given on rookie Maxwell Hairston and White. For Hairston, beginning the year on injured reserve means he’s out from practice and games for the first four weeks. Although it will cost him more practice time, this clears a roster spot and removes any pressure to return early from his injury. White avoiding IR is a big win for the Bills after he left the final practice of training camp early with a lower leg injury. Whether White will be ready for Week 1 is a different conversation.

The first reported cut of the morning was Dane Jackson, who spent his first four seasons with the Bills before signing as a free agent with the Panthers in 2024. His return to Buffalo didn’t go as planned in 2025, but there could be roster gymnastics at play. Rather than subjecting Ingram — Jackson’s main opponent for the final cornerback spot — to waivers, they instead chose to cut Jackson. Ingram spent all of last season on the 53-man roster, and he could have been an attractive waiver claim target. Because Jackson is a vested veteran, he is not subject to waivers and could be re-signed to the practice squad if no other team signs him to the 53-man roster.

Injured reserve (designated to return): Maxwell Hairston

Released: Dane Jackson
Waived: Daequan Hardy


Safety (4)​

Taylor Rapp, Cole Bishop, Damar Hamlin, Jordan Hancock

The Bills are moving forward with Rapp and Bishop as their starting safeties, with Hamlin as experienced depth, and Hancock as the intriguing young player with potential. The team signed Darrick Forrest before drafting Hancock, and as camp progressed, it was clear that when the rookie lined up at safety, he was playing at an advanced level for his NFL experience. Forrest never really stood out during the summer. The Bills may look to sign a different safety to their practice squad.

Released: Darrick Forrest

Specialist (4)​

Tyler Bass (K), Brad Robbins (P), Reid Ferguson (LS), Brandon Codrington (KR/PR)

Having two suspended players allowed the Bills to keep one or two luxury positions to begin the season, and Codrington qualifies as one of them because his only likely function is as a returner. He was their best answer at punt returner this summer, which is probably the most prominent reason for him to stick, though he faced competition for kickoff return duties from rostered players Ray Davis and Ty Johnson. Keeping Codrington removes any temptation to put the punt returner duties on Shakir immediately, as Shakir has missed all of August with a high ankle sprain. If the Bills don’t have any long-term injuries when Hairston, Grable, Hoecht or Ogunjobi need to come back, Codrington could be one they consider releasing from the 53-man roster.

Waived: None
 
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