Many Buffalo Bills fans came away from their Week 2 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers with mixed feelings. There was a lot of good from the game, and there were a few players/areas of the ball that we wanted more from. Both sides of the ball had their flaws, including one of Josh Allen’s backup quarterbacks. For every two bright spots from this game, the Bills had a low light to go with it. In this article, let’s examine two players the Buffalo Bills should cut after Week 2.
Linebacker Deion Jones
Deion Jones can’t seem to find his footing in the Bills’ linebacker room, despite the many opportunities he’s had to make the roster. With injuries to Matt Milano, Baylon Spector, and rookie Edefuan Ulofoshio since the start of training camp, Jones had the perfect chance to lock down a roster spot. However, that hasn’t been the case for the 29-year-old as he enters his ninth NFL season.
Jones got in the game in the second half and stayed on the field all the way until the game ended. It's not a good look for a veteran trying to latch onto the roster. He finished the night with five total tackles, including three solo. Buffalo will likely head into the Arizona Cardinals game in Week 1 with six linebackers. Jones will have the opportunity to remain on the practice squad, given the unfortunate injuries in the last week as added insurance for the season.
The latest injuries to Milano and Spector have forced Dorian Williams into a more prominent role, and undrafted rookie Joe Andreessen now has a clearer path to the roster than Jones. Whether or not Buffalo keeps him on the practice squad, one thing is for certain. Jones won’t be on the active roster come Week 1.
Wide receiver KJ Hamler
I get it, the Bills have suffered many injuries to the wide receiver position. Why cut from a position they’re already thin at? Well, a handful of reasons. Hamler was brought in to compete for the starting returner position. However, rookie cornerback Daequan Hardy seems to have locked up that job, and Hamler hasn’t produced on offense through the last two games.
Saturday, the Bills were without Curtis Samuel and Lawrence Keys heading into the game and lost Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the first half. Somebody had to step up, but it wasn’t Hamler, who’s been with the team since January. Despite the multitude of injuries, Hamler has managed two catches for 18 yards while being targeted three times in the preseason.
From Hamler’s dropped kickoff to his ineffectiveness on offense through training camp and the preseason, his chances of making the team are dwindling down to nothing as the Bills face the Carolina Panthers in their final preseason matchup. The Bills will likely keep six receivers on the roster, but Hamler won’t be one of them.