After a preseason blowout loss a week ago, the Buffalo Bills answered in their second exhibition game with a much better effort and a 9-3 victory over the Steelers on Saturday at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. However, some of the participation wasn’t what the Bills had in mind entering the game.
The team’s original plan was for all the starters to play — including franchise quarterback Josh Allen. But with inclement weather rolling through Pittsburgh in the buildup to the game, coach Sean McDermott swerved from the original plan.
Allen went through warmups, but rather than risk it in a game that doesn’t count in the standings, McDermott played it safe and kept Allen on the sideline. The coach also acknowledged the Bills were influenced by losing star outside linebacker Matt Milano indefinitely, leading them to rest starting middle linebacker Terrel Bernard as well.
Even without those two players, some of the team’s usage of players and the performance of others provided valuable insight into the race for roster spots. Who took a step forward and who might be in a worse position?
Here’s a stock report from the Bills’ second preseason game.
Risers
DE Greg Rousseau
Rousseau, entering his fourth season, has been a standout throughout training camp with his numerous pass-rushing victories, and that positive trend bled into his short time on the field Saturday night. Rousseau played only 11 total snaps — seven of which were pass-rushing opportunities. And on those seven pass-rushing reps, Rousseau came away with 2 1/2 sacks — a dominant performance. But it wasn’t just the stats; it was how he was winning. Rousseau outmuscled Steelers right tackle Broderick Jones, a 2023 first-round pick who is known for his physicality. The way Rousseau set up his pass-rush moves to help him win differently than he usually does is a positive sign as the Bills approach the season opener.CB Daequan Hardy
As a 2024 draft pick, the rookie had the inside track to be the primary return specialist heading into the game. And with how the Bills used him early in the game and his performance, Hardy might be closing in on winning the job to secure a roster spot. He looked confident catching the ball on all opportunities, then may have cinched it with a 31-yard return on one of those chances. It was his best return to date and helped put the Bills in a much better situation to start a drive. On top of that, he was the second-team boundary cornerback, continuing to show he can also provide value on defense.DB Cam Lewis
The Bills started using Lewis at safety at this time last preseason and, like clockwork, replicated it against the Steelers. Without the trio of Cole Bishop, Mike Edwards and Damar Hamlin available, Lewis received the start next to Taylor Rapp, continuing to prove how valuable he is to the entire defensive operation. Injuries can always provide some opportunities for movement on depth charts, and with Lewis being more of a natural fit for the vacant free safety role, he might be someone to keep an eye on in the competition as long as Bishop remains sidelined.CB Ja’Marcus Ingram
Usually a boundary cornerback, Ingram worked as the backup nickel to starter Taron Johnson and made some nice plays on defense. But a better sign was his special teams usage on one particular unit. Early in the game, the Bills appeared to go with as close to their regular-season first unit punt coverage as possible, and Ingram pushed himself into the top two of the all-important gunner role. Between that burgeoning special teams prowess and the inside-outside versatility at cornerback, he is getting closer to securing a spot on the 53-man roster.
Rookie running back Ray Davis showed the Bills what they were looking for Saturday night. (Joe Sargent / Getty Images)
RB Ray Davis
Davis put together some great runs, specifically during his only drive of the second half. It’s the running style the Bills had been waiting to see from the rookie, with him looking physical and exhibiting the good rushing vision they believed in when they drafted him. But it was an equally good sign that Davis was the second running back to play, ahead of Ty Johnson, the player he’s battling to be James Cook’s backup. Johnson did sub in for Davis at one point in the first half, so Davis hasn’t won the job outright. However, the appearance order can often signal the current state of the depth chart, which is a positive indicator for the rookie.LB Joe Andreessen
The Buffalo native Andreessen was the story of the evening. With injuries to both Baylon Spector and Nicholas Morrow, plus the team’s choice to rest Bernard, the undrafted rookie received the start at middle linebacker and played a lot of snaps before exiting the game. He showed up in a big way with 12 total tackles, flying to the ball all game. Although Andreessen will unlikely factor into the 53-man roster discussion for the Bills in 2024, he has easily put himself on the practice squad radar. He could be positioning himself as the next University at Buffalo undrafted player on the long-term Bills practice squad development plan, following in the footsteps of Lewis and Ingram.Fallers
WR K.J. Hamler
Hamler has been the primary competition for Hardy in the battle to be the team’s return specialist, but he did not receive a single opportunity to do so against the Steelers. He has struggled with ball security several times throughout the summer, most notably in the team’s first preseason game against the Bears. On top of that, Hamler didn’t get on the field on offense until the second half — and that was without Curtis Samuel available. These are all discouraging signs for Hamler, who appears to be on the outside looking in on the 53-man roster.OL Will Clapp and La’El Collins
Clapp and Collins get lumped together because they have similar situations. They are the only two experienced blockers of the backup offensive line options, but both are signed only to one-year deals and have struggled throughout the summer. That trend continued in the game, and making it more intriguing, they were rotated out for a pair of young players while the second-team offensive line was still in the game. The Bills reshuffled that unit a bit, with rookie Sedrick Van Pran-Granger entering the lineup at center and 2023 undrafted free agent Richard Gouraige getting in at guard. Gouraige getting time with the second unit is the most intriguing because if the Bills decide to keep 10 offensive linemen, he’s likely the biggest threat to Collins and Clapp in making the 53-man roster. Gouraige is usually an offensive tackle, and giving the Bills the tackle-guard versatility is notable because that’s what they had hoped Collins could provide. Collins has quickly become a guard-only option.QB Mitchell Trubisky
There weren’t any excuses for Trubisky in this game. He was facing a Steelers defensive line without a few of their key players and working with the entire first-team Bills offense. Trubisky couldn’t get out of his own way. He got sacked twice, didn’t push the ball down the field with his top skill players available and threw a particularly terrible interception. Trubisky did have a nice throw to tight end Zach Davidson to gain 27 yards later, but it wasn’t enough to salvage his day. Making it even worse, Trubisky had to leave with a knee injury. The Bills will have to hope the injury isn’t severe, but either way, Trubisky’s performance also has to have the team feeling like it made the right call in resting Allen.WR Tyrell Shavers
After a solid start to training camp, the 2023 undrafted free agent looked to be in a good position to make the team. But Shavers didn’t get any first-team time on offense, and worse yet, saw his gunner role on first-team punt coverage go to another player. He also took two special teams penalties, which could be challenging to overcome for one of the final spots. It was a rough evening, but it wasn’t all bad for Shavers. He played as both a Z receiver and in the slot during his time on offense, which showed his versatility. He was also clearly the fifth receiver to enter the game and one player ahead of him, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, suffered a neck injury. But Shavers’ roster odds certainly took a hit Saturday night, and he’ll need a strong finish next weekend to make the team.Up next: The Bills finish their preseason schedule with a home game against the Carolina Panthers at 1 p.m. Saturday.
