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The Buffalo Bills will be back on the grass, and against a different opponent for the first time all year this weekend. Before we get there, however, let’s take a look at what the Bills’ depth chart may look like.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen throws during position drills during the final day of Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fisher University Friday, August 7, 2026 in Pittsford.
Shawn Dowd/Rochester Democrat an / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Buffalo Bills football is finally back. For the first time since the playoffs, Bills Mafia will be able to cheer on their team, and there is plenty to be excited about. New faces on offense like DJ Moore, a new head man in Joe Brady, and plenty of rookies are building anticipation.
But before we get there, let’s simulate what the depth chart might look like, using our friend Grok.
Bills 2026 preseason schedule
Week 1: vs. Carolina Panthers (Saturday, 8/15).
Week 2: @ Cleveland Browns (Saturday, 8/22).
Week 3: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Thursday, 8/27).
Buffalo Bills projected depth chart ahead of Preseason Week 1
This is a composite projection based on the most recent available depth charts (NBC Sports, Ourlads as of early August), the active roster (as of ~Aug. 10), training camp reports, first-team/nickel reps, and position battle notes. Official depth charts can shift with practice participation, minor injuries, and preseason evaluations. Starters are largely set; several depth spots (especially LG, CB, ILB, and WR5+) remain competitive. Tyrell Shavers is on PUP (knee) and is expected to miss the early part of the regular season.
Offense
QB
Josh Allen
Kyle Allen
Shane Buechele
RB
James Cook
Ty Johnson
Ray Davis
Frank Gore Jr.
Ian Wheeler
FB
Ben VanSumeren
Jackson Acker
WR (X/LWR)
DJ Moore
Keon Coleman
Trent Sherfield / Quentin Skinner (depth; Shavers on PUP)
WR (Slot/SWR)
Khalil Shakir
Skyler Bell (rookie 4th-rounder; working into the mix)
Stephen Gosnell / Mac Dalena / Max Tomczak
WR (Z/RWR)
Joshua Palmer
Mecole Hardman
Dante Pettis / Ja’Mori Maclin
(Top group typically Moore, Shakir, Coleman, Palmer; Bell is rising and competing for the No. 5/6 role. Hardman and Sherfield bring return/special-teams value.)
TE
Dalton Kincaid
Dawson Knox
Jackson Hawes
Keleki Latu / Shane Zylstra
OL
LT: Dion Dawkins | Jude Bowry | Chase Lundt
LG: Alec Anderson (early first-team looks) | Austin Corbett | Nick Broeker
C: Connor McGovern | Lloyd Cushenberry | Bruno Fina
RG: O’Cyrus Torrence | Sedrick Van Pran-Granger | Ar’maj Reed-Adams
RT: Spencer Brown | Tylan Grable | Da’Metrius Weatherspoon
(Starting five is largely settled with Dawkins-Anderson-McGovern-Torrence-Brown; Corbett is pushing hard at LG.)
Defense (leaning 3-4 base under new DC Jim Leonhard)
DL
LDE/DE: T.J. Sanders | Landon Jackson | Travis Clayton / Kody Huisman
DT: Ed Oliver | Zane Durant | Tommy Akingbesote
NT: Deone Walker | DeWayne Carter | Phidarian Mathis / Zion Logue
EDGE/OLB
LOLB: Greg Rousseau | T.J. Parker (rookie) | Mike Danna / Cade Denhoff
ROLB: Bradley Chubb | Michael Hoecht | Javon Solomon / Andre Jones Jr.
ILB
MLB: Terrel Bernard | Kaleb Elarms-Orr (rookie; rising) | Jimmy Ciarlo / Otis Reese
WLB: Dorian Williams | Keonta Jenkins | Joe Andreessen / Theron Gaines
(Bernard is the clear starter; Williams and Elarms-Orr are battling for the second ILB role and nickel packages.)
CB
LCB: Christian Benford | Kani Walker (UDFA rising) | Toriano Pride Jr. / D.J. Miller
RCB: Maxwell Hairston | Davison Igbinosun | Jordan Dunbar
Nickel/NB: Dee Alford | Jordan Hancock | Te’Cory Couch
(Recent nickel first-team reps: Benford + Igbinosun outside with Alford in the slot when Hairston has been limited. Outside CB competition remains open.)
S
SS: C.J. Gardner-Johnson | Damar Hamlin | Jalon Kilgore (rookie)
FS: Cole Bishop | Geno Stone | Sam Franklin Jr.
(Bishop and Gardner-Johnson are the projected starters.)
Special Teams
K: Tyler Bass
P: Tommy Doman | Mitch Wishnowsky
LS: Reid Ferguson
KR: Ray Davis / Ty Johnson / Mecole Hardman / Skyler Bell
PR: Khalil Shakir / Mecole Hardman / Keon Coleman / Skyler Bell
Preseason Week 1 Notes
This is the first game at the new Highmark Stadium. Expect starters (especially on offense with Josh Allen) to see limited snaps (typical for Week 1 preseason), with heavy evaluation of backups, rookies (Bell, Elarms-Orr, Parker, Igbinosun, Kilgore, Bowry, etc.), and bubble players.
Panthers plan to play their starters (including Bryce Young) for ~10–20 snaps.
Depth chart battles to watch in this game and the rest of camp: LG (Anderson vs. Corbett), outside CB (Hairston/Igbinosun), second ILB, WR5/6 (Bell vs. Hardman/Sherfield), and special-teams contributors.
Projections will firm up after this game and the next two (at Browns, vs. Steelers). Sources include NBC Sports/Ourlads depth charts, Wikipedia roster (Aug. 10), camp reports and recent practice notes.
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