We can say that is game week for the Buffalo Bills! This Saturday, the Bills will host the Chicago Bears in their first preseason game in front of Bills Mafia. After a forever long wait since January, the Bills are back in action even though it is only preseason. While these games won’t matter when it comes to the standings, it does mean the world to players who are not guaranteed locks to make the roster.
Bills fans have an idea as to who is a guaranteed lock, who is more than likely safe, and who could be in jeopardy of missing out on a roster spot. The preseason is a chance for under-the-radar players to make a statement as to why they should be added on the final 53-man roster. Roster cuts are going to begin very soon so players could legitimately have only one shot at making the most of their opportunity to keep their lockers in Buffalo.
As the Bills prepare to kickoff their preseason schedule, there are three players that Bills fans should watch closely in their first game. This could be due to their training camp hype or even the upside potential that they have.
DE Javon Solomon
The Bills’ fifth-round draft pick this year joins a defensive edge group that features some underrated pass rushers like Greg Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa. Not to mention, Von Miller is looking to make a comeback from a torn ACL that heavily limited him last season. Javon Solomon was highly productive at Troy which helped him become an All-Sun Belt First Team player and leading the FBS with 16 sacks.
Solomon has a lot of upside to his game, but he will need to be able to show that he can burst past bigger matchups on the outside to enforce pressure. He will be a player that Bills fans should watch throughout the preseason rather than just the first game.
WR Tyrell Shavers
Throughout training camp, Tyrell Shavers has been catching the attention from fellow teammates and the coaching staff. His work ethic has been highlighted and he is earning respect from everyone due to his production in practice. Shavers is in an interesting spot because the Bills don’t have the big name at wide receiver. Instead, they will more than likely roll with a committee of solid players to help balance out the offense.
As of right now just based on what we have seen in training camp, Shavers is making a serious push to make the final roster. However, the true test will come in preseason. He is arguably the number one player to watch just because of how much he has worked on improving his game to be featured in Week 1 of the regular season and beyond.
CB Kaiir Elam
Kaiir Elam is having a strong training camp and is making a big push to not only earn himself a roster spot, but also a potential starting job. Throughout the offseason, the two expected starting corners were Rasul Douglas and Christian Benford. Between Elam and Benford, there has been competition between the two for quite some time now. However, this will be an intriguing battle throughout preseason. The biggest difference between the two is that Benford has proven his worth while Elam has been unsuccessful in game situations.
Elam will more than likely be on the final roster come next month, but this preseason will show Bills fans who will be guarding the secondary against opposing receivers. Elam has a lot to prove as a former first round pick back in 2022 and it starts with this preseason.