The Buffalo Bills only kept three true outside corners, four inside linebackers and five wide receivers on their initial 53-man roster. That sounds risky. But Brandon Beane just explained why Buffalo might not be nearly as thin as those numbers suggest. The Bills aren't really looking at this as a 53-man roster. With 16 practice squad spots, an international exemption and the ability to elevate two players on game day, Buffalo is essentially managing a pool of nearly 70 players throughout the season. And Joe Brady took that idea even further. There could be certain matchups where a player on the practice squad is actually ahead of someone on the active roster because Buffalo believes that player gives them something they need that week. That completely changes how we should look at some of the Bills' biggest roster questions. Especially at cornerback and linebacker. Buffalo already has potential answers sitting on the practice squad, including veteran linebacker Shaq Thompson and another boundary corner option in Connie Walker. Then there's Greg Dortch. Buffalo still hasn't completely settled its punt returner situation, and Dortch has years of experience doing exactly that. More importantly, he emphasized making the right decisions and protecting the football — something that matters even more after Ray Davis' costly preseason muff. Could Dortch actually be elevated as early as Week 1 against Houston? That's why this doesn't feel like a normal practice squad. Brandon Beane and Joe Brady are building a roster where the final 53 isn't really the final 53. And some of these players could matter much sooner than we think. #BuffaloBills #BillsMafia #Bills #NFL #BrandonBeane #JoshAllen Photo Credit: Shawn Dowd IMAGN Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! KALSHI For a limited time, Download the Kalshi app and use code [LOCKEDON] to get up to $500 in bonus credits when you trade $25.
The Buffalo Bills only kept three true outside corners, four inside linebackers and five wide receivers on their initial 53-man roster. That sounds risky. But Brandon Beane just explained why Buffalo might not be nearly as thin as those numbers suggest. The Bills aren't really looking at this as a 53-man roster. With 16 practice squad spots, an international exemption and the ability to elevate two players on game day, Buffalo is essentially managing a pool of nearly 70 players throughout the season. And Joe Brady took that idea even further. There could be certain matchups where a player on the practice squad is actually ahead of someone on the active roster because Buffalo believes that player gives them something they need that week. That completely changes how we should look at some of the Bills' biggest roster questions. Especially at cornerback and linebacker. Buffalo already has potential answers sitting on the practice squad, including veteran linebacker Shaq Thompson and another boundary corner option in Connie Walker. Then there's Greg Dortch. Buffalo still hasn't completely settled its punt returner situation, and Dortch has years of experience doing exactly that. More importantly, he emphasized making the right decisions and protecting the football — something that matters even more after Ray Davis' costly preseason muff. Could Dortch actually be elevated as early as Week 1 against Houston? That's why this doesn't feel like a normal practice squad. Brandon Beane and Joe Brady are building a roster where the final 53 isn't really the final 53. And some of these players could matter much sooner than we think. #BuffaloBills #BillsMafia #Bills #NFL #BrandonBeane #JoshAllen Photo Credit: Shawn Dowd IMAGN Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! KALSHI For a limited time, Download the Kalshi app and use code [LOCKEDON] to get up to $500 in bonus credits when you trade $25.