The preseason for the Buffalo Bills is officially in the past, and for the first time since 2019 they went undefeated in their schedule. The Bills found themselves down 21-10 at one point in the third quarter, but they managed to make a comeback win to defeat the Steelers, 28-27. In a game that may not have meant much to a lot of people, it meant a lot for players who were fighting for a roster spot.
Through their three preseason games, the Bills played a lot of solid football. They won in two blowout fashions against the Panthers and Browns, and then made a comeback against the Steelers in a game that felt like Pittsburgh was on their way to giving Buffalo their first loss. However, Joe Brady found a way to keep everything calm and the Bills are now going into the regular season with a lot of momentum.
Winners
LB Keonta Jenkins
If there was one player on defense that stood out the most in this game, it was linebacker Keonta Jenkins. He wasn’t just making plays on defense (leading the team in total tackles and recording a sack), but he also had a great special teams tackle in the second half that helped the Bills pin the Steelers near the redzone.
While Jenkins could very well be the odd man out in the linebacker room behind Terrel Bernard, Kaleb Elarms-Orr, Dorian Williams, and Joe Andreessen, Jenkins certainly has made a name for himself to where if another team needed a young linebacker, he could be their answer.
WR Skyler Bell
After missing the first two preseason games, fans finally got to see rookie wide receiver Skyler Bell take the field for a game. The rookie out of UConn has had a lot of hype around him this entire offseason, and Bills Mafia got a chance to see a glimpse of what he can bring to the offense.
He finished the game with 10 targets, and getting 7 catches for 49 yards. He also had a 28-yard rushing touchdown on the ground to spark some life for the Bills in the third quarter. With working with the third string unit, Bell still managed to show signs of promise going into the regular season.
DT Phidarian Mathis
If he is on the final 53-man roster for the Bills, Phidarian Mathis is set to miss the first three games of the season due to a suspension. However, Mathis was solid in the preseason and he stood out against the Steelers. He finished the game with 4 total tackles which included a sack as well.
He is solid against the run, which is something that the Bills struggled against last season. Losing him for the beginning of the season is not ideal for the team.
S Damar Hamlin
In back-to-back games, Damar Hamlin has managed to record an interception as his solid summer continues on. When the Bills brought him back on a one-year deal, it was confusing considering that the Bills also signed C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Geno Stone. However, Hamlin has outperformed Stone for sure and it would be extremely surprising to see him not making the final roster.
RB Frank Gore Jr.
Even though it’s highly unlikely that he makes the final roster, Frank Gore Jr. finally had a solid game in this preseason. While he only rushed for 27 yards, he did manage to get into the endzone. In addition, he was used greatly in the passing attack with 5 catches for 45 yards. He showed some versatility which could get him back on the practice squad, if he doesn’t land somewhere else.
Losers
WR Mecole Hardman Jr.
If there was one player who needed a final push to try and get a roster spot, it was Mecole Hardman Jr. and he came up short against Pittsburgh. He had just one catch for two yards and he wasn’t impactful on special teams either, with just 50 yards on kickoff returns and 21 yards on punt returns. It feels like Trent Sherfield definitely earned a spot over him.
CB Maxwell Hairston
It hasn’t been the best summer for Hairston, as Davison Igbinosun has outshined him a bit in both training camp and the preseason. During the preseason finale, Hairston missed an open field tackle on WR Germie Bernard that led to a Steelers touchdown. It was yet another rough game for Hairston, who didn’t show any major improvement this preseason.
LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr
Jim Leonhard said earlier this week that the competition between Dorian Williams and Kaleb Elarms-Orr is a lot closer than they expected to where it could go into the regular season. However, Elarms-Orr didn’t stand out against the Steelers when he had the chance. He finished the game with just two total tackles and didn't create any noise to put himself ahead of Williams.
It will be interesting to see whether he or Williams will take the field against the Houston Texans.
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