The Buffalo Bills opened the preseason with an all-around poor performance in a 33-6 loss to the Chicago Bears on Saturday. Head coach Sean McDermott made it clear the effort wasn’t up to the franchise’s standards.
“I don’t care who we play, where we play, or what time the game is, there is a standard of play when you put the Buffalo Bills colors on,” McDermott told reporters.
Those comments send a clear message to the entire Bills roster: it’s put-up-or-shut-up time heading into the final pair of exhibition contests. It also opens the door to some surprise cuts if there isn’t improvement against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers.
Let’s analyze a few players who could find themselves on the wrong side of the cut line if they struggle in the coming weeks.
Bills Stars in Potential Danger of Getting Cut
QB Mitchell Trubisky
Trubisky seemed safe throughout training camp. Not because he was playing great, but because fellow backup Shane Buechele was struggling. Buechele remained completely overmatched Saturday, so his chances of making the roster are almost gone, but that doesn’t mean Trubisky’s status is solidified.
The 2017 second-overall pick completed 10 of his 18 passes for just 82 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. He was sacked twice. He also missed a wide-open TD pass to Quintin Morris. It was one of the most egregious misfires you’ll see in the NFL.
The #Bills might want to consider probing the market for a new backup QB. Mitch Trubisky was big yikes today #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/NceYPGb9j5
— alex brasky (@alexbrasky) August 11, 2024
While Trubisky likely won’t be overtaken by Buechele, the Bills may survey the free-agent market after 53-man roster cuts. They may decide to release both non-Josh Allen quarterbacks in favor of a different veteran. They can’t afford QB play like the reserves showed against the Bears.
The former Bears and Steelers starter should get plenty of snaps over the next couple of weeks to save his job. Even modest improvement will probably be enough, but if he keeps missing open throws it’ll get interesting.
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
No player’s stock ebbed and flowed more throughout Buffalo’s camp than Valdes-Scantling. He started incredibly slow, lowlighted by some drops, but then flashed his big-play ability in recent weeks. He appeared safely inside the 53-man cut line before Saturday.
That might be changing. MVS dropped a pass that should be caught 100 percent of the time—drop problems have always been his Achilles heel—and he finished without a catch despite playing 29 snaps, the most of any Bills wide receiver.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling dropped a pass
Football truly is back
— Jarrett Bailey (@JBaileyNFL) August 10, 2024
Four Bills wideouts appear like roster locks: Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel, Keon Coleman and Mack Hollins. KJ Hamler, who’s leading the returner competition, will be the fifth if he earns that job. That leaves just one WR spot up for grabs.
Buffalo would probably prefer if Valdes-Scantling can claim it because he does bring some field-stretching ability. But, at least for now, he’s caught in a race with Justin Shorter, Andy Isabella, Chase Claypool and Tyrell Shavers.
DT DeShawn Williams
The Bills struggled to replace DaQuan Jones when he was hurt last year because of underwhelming depth at defensive tackle. The front office worked to rectify that problem in the offseason with the signing of Williams and Austin Johnson. General manager Brandon Beane also selected DeWayne Carter in the third round.
Williams failed to deliver a standout training camp. Now he might lose a numbers game if Buffalo decides to keep only four defensive tackles on its final roster. That outcome became more probable after he didn’t make an impact Saturday.
Bills DEF PFF grades vs CHI
1. Baylon Spector – 75.5 🟩
2. Kaiir Elam – 71.9 🟩
3. AJ Epenesa – 69.0 🟩
4. Terrel Bernard – 67.7 🟩
5. Dee Delaney – 67.1 🟩
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33. Rondell Bothroyd – 35.8 🟥
34. DeShawn Williams – 34.2 🟥
35. Gable Steveson – 33.5 🟥
36. Te'Cory Couch – 31.5 🟥— Tweets by Sneaky Joe (@SneakyJoeSports) August 12, 2024
Ed Oliver picked up a knee injury against the Bears. Initial indications suggest it’s a minor issue. Barring a setback there, it’s trending toward Oliver, Jones, Carter, and Johnson as the team’s four defensive tackles.
The Bills do have some roster flexibility at other positions, so it’s possible Williams could convince them to keep five DTs with a strong finish to the preseason. He’s got work to do, though.
Main Photo: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
