The Buffalo Bills play football again in just a few days, opening up the 2025 season for a team that will look different from the 2024 roster. Without key players such as Von Miller and Raul Douglas, the defense will have a new look. The Bills made some additions to the roster as well, such as pass catcher Josh Palmer, Joey Bosa, and familiar face Tre White.
With a new look roster, there will be some bigger names who don’t make it through training camp or preseason. Let’s take a look at several names who may not be in Buffalo much longer.
Linebacker Shaq Thompson
General manager Brandon Beane brought in an old friend, Shaq Thompson, who was with the Carolina Panthers from 2015 to 2024. Buffalo brought Thompson in to add depth to an injury-prone position, but as training camp moves along, it’s become clear that there’s not a spot on this roster for the former first-round pick. Buffalo-born Joe Andreessen and Baylon Spector seem to have the edge on Thompson, as both of them have received first-team reps throughout camp. If the Bills can stay healthy at the position, the group, headlined by Matt Milano, Terrel Bernard, and Dorian Williams, can be one of the best trios in the league, leaving Thompson looking for work elsewhere.
Wide receiver Laviska Shenault
A lot can be made to keep Shenault around a little bit longer, given the long list of injuries to the wide receiver position, but the fact is, Shenault hasn’t seen the field enough to keep him around for long. Dealing with his own injury, Shenault has barely seen the practice field this summer. Undrafted wide receiver Stephen Gosnell has looked very good when on the field together with Josh Allen, and could be one of the Bills' wide receivers they keep on the active roster if he has a good preseason, forcing Shenault out sooner rather than later.
Offensive lineman Kendrick Green
The Bills signed Green back in March, adding depth to the interior offensive line. After a rough go with the Houston Texans, Green’s path to the roster has always been challenging, even as a backup to Connor McGovern. Now, he may last a little bit past training camp, until final roster cuts begin, but Green will only be here for a cup of coffee. With Dan Feeney now in the mix as of Monday morning, and Sedrick Van Pran-Granger in the mix, Green has a little more competition for the backup job. Feeney has 65 starts throughout his career, his last start coming with the Chicago Bears in 2023.