Frank Gore Jr., who led NFL RBs in preseason rushing, among Bills practice squad players
Gore, the undrafted rookie and son of the retired NFL star, led the Bills in rushing in preseason with 163 yards on 33 carries.
Preseason success stories Frank Gore Jr. and Tyrell Shavers were among 16 players the Buffalo Bills signed to the practice squad, the team announced Wednesday.
Gore, the undrafted rookie and son of the retired NFL star, led the Bills in rushing in preseason with 163 yards on 33 carries, a 4.9-yard average. Gore led all NFL running backs in rushing in the exhibition season this summer.
Rookie running back Frank Gore Jr. rushes against the Carolina Panthers in the exhibition finale at Highmark Stadium. Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News
Shavers, the 6-foot-4 second-year wideout, had a strong training camp and was viewed as a strong candidate to be a sixth receiver on the 53-man roster. However, the Bills opted to keep five wideouts on the active roster, the same as they kept last season. That's a sign the team is confident that two veteran receivers who have been dealing with minor injuries – Curtis Samuel (turf toe) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (sore neck) – will be ready for the season opener Sept. 8.
Other offensive players signed to the practice squad were: quarterback Mike White, receivers K.J. Hamler and Deon Cain, tight end Zach Davidson, tackle Richard Gouraige and interior offensive linemen Will Clapp and Mike Edwards.
Defensive players signed to the practice squad were: defensive ends Kingsley Jonathan and Kameron Cline, defensive tackles Eli Ankou and Branson Deen, cornerbacks Daequan Hardy and Te'Cory Couch, and safety Kareem Jackson.
Jonathan, born in Nigeria, counts as an international player, which means the Bills can have 17 players on the practice squad (one more than standard). They still have one opening. Bills general manager Brandon Beane said the Bills have talked with receiver Jalen Vigil, who was among the final cuts of the Denver Broncos, about joining the practice squad.
White was among the final cuts of the Miami Dolphins. He went 2-5 in 2021 and 2022 as a fill-in starter for the New York Jets. He was a backup in Miami last season but attempted only six passes.
Bills No. 2 quarterback Mitch Trubisky is recovering from a sprained knee suffered in Pittsburgh on Aug. 17. If Trubisky isn't recovered enough to serve as Josh Allen's backup for the opener, White would be promoted from the practice squad for that game.