Buffalo Bills preseason Week 3 bright spots in loss vs. Panthers

The Buffalo Bills preseason has come and gone and they had some bright spots in their third preseason game against the Carolina Panthers. Despite the 31-26 loss, the Bills had a lot of good come out of this game. With new quarterback Anthony Brown barely getting his feet wet in Buffalo and leading scoring drives, to KJ Hamler coming into the game as a running back. This game didn't just have bright spots but also was fun to watch in the final minutes of the game. Let’s take a look at some of the bright spots.

No major injuries

For the first time in 2024, the Bills came out of a football game without having any serious injuries. Rookie running back Frank Gore Jr and veteran defensive back Dee Delaney suffered knee injuries, but both were seen running on the sideline. Veteran running back Darrynton Evans was ruled out halfway through the game with a hamstring injury but was in good spirits on the sideline. We’ll get updates on all of them, but neither should be major. 

Frank Gore Jr shines

After Evans left the game, Gore Jr was the only running back healthy or active for the game. The rookie made the most of his opportunity as he made his case for the Bills to keep him as the fourth running back. He totaled 101 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries and averaged 5.6 yards per carry. 

The Bills will have a tough decision to make in the upcoming days. Do they keep four running backs and five wide receivers? It would be tough to keep six wide receivers and four running backs, but that’s a tough decision that GM Brandon Beane and HC Sean McDermott will have to make. It will ultimately end with Gore Jr being a part of this Bills roster. 

Te’Cory Couch made the most of his opportunity 

The Bills seem to find hidden gems in the secondary every year. Whether that's through undrafted free agency, or in the late rounds of the draft. They’ve done it with Levi Wallace, Dane Jackson, Ja’Marcus Ingram, and more recently Te’Cory Couch and Daequan Hardy. Couch finished the day with a team-leading 10 total tackles, eight solo tackles, and one sack. He saw a good amount of work today, starting the game and playing lights out early on in the game. The undrafted rookie has a strong chance to make the practice squad and become another under-the-radar corner in Buffalo.