The Buffalo Bills have been working extremely hard this offseason in training camp, and it's led to early injuries that have sidelined a few players. While these injuries don't seem severe, head coach Joe Brady wants to play it safe and be prepared.
These injuries open the door for the team to work out some players who have either played in the NFL or are familiar with the defensive scheme that defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard will be running this season.
Five players Bills worked out on Wednesday (with one signing)
1.) DB Anthony Kendall
The former product of Baldwin-Wallace landed a UDFA rookie contract in 2023 with the Tennessee Titans. He landed on the Titans' 53-man roster while mostly contributing on special teams.
At 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, Anthony Kendall is athletically gifted and can play multiple positions, but he's every coach's dream because he's a special-teams mainstay. Later on, it was reported that Kendall eventually signed with the Bills.
2.) DB BJ Mayes
From college to being unsigned in 2025 with the Indianapolis Colts, BJ Mayes took this failed opportunity and decided to try the UFL with the Houston Gamblers.
The 6-foot, 187-pound corner is a ball hawk who creates turnovers and is a clone of the Bills' defensive coordinator, Jim Leonhard, who might want to try him in his aggressive, turnover-creating scheme.
3.) DB Troy Pride
While four of the five players on this list are undrafted, Troy Pride stands out as the only one drafted, highlighting his unique journey. The 2020 fourth-round pick of the Carolina Panthers appeared in 14 contests, starting in eight games as a rookie. He has a connection with Joe Brady, who was the Panthers' offensive coordinator at the time.
The 5-foot-11, 195-pound corner has brought his 4.40 speed to the field with solid man coverage skills and can provide depth on the Bills' cornerback roster right away until players become healthy again.
4.) DE Cam Rice
The 6-foot-2, 303-pound lineman out of Maryland shows impressive size and speed, which can instill confidence in his physical presence and reliability within Leonhard's aggressive 3-4 defense. Cam Rice can play either the 1-tech, 5-tech, or 4i-tech defensive end due to his size and power rushing ability, or he can be a smaller, quicker nose tackle to stop the run.
He has yet to make an NFL roster, but right now the Bills could use more positional versatility and size depth on the defensive line. Showing he's ready to step up now can lift the team's trust in his potential to make an impact.
5.) DT Evan Anderson
The Bills definitely could use more true nose tackle depth. Right now, they have Deone Walker, DeWayne Carter, and Phidarin Mathis all spending time with the starters during training camp.
Evan Anderson is still a young player at 24 and has the ideal frame for a true nose tackle at 6-foot-3, 326 pounds. He's a big-bodied nose tackle with rare quickness to stop the run and shoot the gaps.
He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Francisco 49ers in 2024 out of Florida Atlantic. The former Group of Six star appeared in 12 regular-season games while also spending a full year on the practice squad.
He also played in 267 defensive snaps in the Bay Area, making 24 tackles and two quarterback pressures in over 12 games.
Buffalo really needs immediate depth at nose tackle, but don't be surprised if Troy Pride, with his previous connections to both Joe Brady and the Carolina Panthers, is the reason he ends up making the 53-man roster first over the other players.
Add us as a preferred source on Google