Strategic Rest Pays Off in Preseason Win
The Buffalo Bills entered their August 22 preseason game against the Cleveland Browns with a clear plan: rest several key veterans after a productive joint practice. Head coach Joe Brady explained his reasoning before the game, saying, "I told the team, I want to see how today's practice goes. Ideal world, a lot of the 1s would, hey, we get a great day's practice today, and we kind of go from there and I feel like they got the work they needed."
That approach meant franchise quarterback Josh Allen, who had led back-to-back scoring drives in the preseason opener, did not play. Offensive line starters Dion Dawkins, Spencer Brown, O'Cyrus Torrence, and Connor McGovern were also held out, along with tight ends Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid, running back James Cook, and wide receiver DJ Moore. Ray Davis got the start at running back and opened the game with an eight-yard gain.
The game, which ended in a 31-7 Bills victory, was delayed by lightning after just 1:49 of play in the first quarter. Several defensive starters, including Christian Benford, Cole Bishop, Greg Rousseau, Deone Walker, and Michael Hoecht, were seen working out before the game, indicating they would not play. Khalil Shakir, Skyler Bell, and Dante Pettis were listed with lower-body injuries but worked out with trainers. The offensive line was comprised entirely of reserves, including Alec Anderson and Tylan Grable.
Backup Quarterback Competition Heats Up
With Allen resting, the backup quarterback battle took center stage. Kyle Allen, signed in March, completed 10 of 12 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown in the first half against the Browns. His performance, which included a deep ball to Ja'Mori Maclin for a 37-yard gain and a quick strike to Mecole Hardman for a touchdown before halftime, may have ended the competition for the backup job, according to one report.
Shane Buechele, the third-stringer, also made a case for himself in the third quarter. He connected with Maclin on a 71-yard touchdown strike, showing impressive patience in the pocket before delivering a layered pass over the middle. Maclin made one tackler miss and raced to the end zone. Buechele later added a rushing touchdown.
Maclin's Breakout Performance
Ja'Mori Maclin, an undrafted rookie, was the star of the game. He finished with two catches for a game-high 108 yards and a touchdown, including the 71-yard score. Maclin's journey has been anything but smooth. He battled injuries during organized team activities after signing with the Bills as an undrafted free agent, and head coach Joe Brady didn't sugarcoat the reality facing him. "You're undrafted and you're battling injuries in OTAs, you better hope that you show something early to be able to continue to stick around," Brady said.
Maclin took advantage of his opportunity. After the game, he described his mindset on the touchdown play: "We checked it to our man-beater and in my mind, anytime it's man, I've got to go win. I'm glad the quarterback was able to give me the opportunity. So when I caught it, it happened so fast. I didn't even think I was going to score."
Brady was impressed with the play, saying, "There was a lot going on in that play. It was like, is it a catch? Is it almost a fumble? Is it a drop? And then it's a touchdown, right? So we got the full experience right there."
Maclin's college career included stops at Missouri, North Texas, and Kentucky, with 100 career receptions for 1,891 yards and 17 touchdowns. He is the cousin of former NFL receiver Jeremy Maclin. Veteran Tyrell Shavers, who went undrafted himself, has been a mentor to Maclin.
Wide Receiver Competition Intensifies
The Bills appear likely to keep a sixth wide receiver on the roster, with DJ Moore, Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer, and Skyler Bell seemingly locked in. That leaves several players competing for one spot, and the competition only intensified after the Browns game.
Trent Sherfield, a veteran who played for the Bills in 2023, caught all four of his targets for 54 yards. Josh Allen, who played with Sherfield in that season, endorsed him: "Trent's always been great. I think everyone in this building has a lot of trust in Trent, and he just gets open, makes contested catches. I feel great throwing him the ball. I know he's going to protect it, and it's just hard work, man. So, it's awesome to see him have success."
Sherfield also discussed embracing special teams for longevity, noting his time in Minnesota in 2024. Coach Brady praised Sherfield's versatility and selflessness, saying, "I love Trent. The personality that he has, the way that he goes about it, he's a leader in that room. He wanted to be a part of Buffalo, and he's doing everything he can to try and continue to be a part of the Buffalo Bills."
Mecole Hardman, who had two drops in the game, saw his path to the roster become less clear. Sherfield and Maclin, however, made strong statements against the Browns.
Other Standout Performances
The game also featured strong defensive performances from Landon Jackson and T.J. Parker, with Jackson being described as a constant presence in the offensive backfield. Jordan Hancock was a standout on defense with a pass breakup. Ian Wheeler rushed six times for 30 yards and had a 17-yard catch. Tyler Bass made a 52-yard field goal.
Injury Concerns Mount
The Bills' injury list grew after the game. Four players were added: inside linebacker Terrel Bernard, outside linebacker Javon Solomon, center Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, and fourth-round rookie tackle Jude Bowry. Six players remain sidelined with injuries dating back at least a week. Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman were not seen practicing due to lower-body issues. Ty Johnson, Connor McGovern, Ed Oliver, and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson also missed practice. Bowry was seen wearing a walking boot. Johnson and McGovern have been out since August 8 with apparent hamstring injuries.
Secondary Chemistry Concerns
Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard expressed concern over the secondary's lack of reps together due to injuries. "It's still concerning to me, just the whole secondary, because it's been limited snaps with everybody," Leonhard said. "It's more about how they gel and how they communicate, continuing to build up reps from now until Houston (in the season opener). It's always concerning when you're not banking those reps with who you'd probably consider to be the starting group out there."
C.J. Gardner-Johnson has missed most of training camp and the preseason with a lower-body injury. Cole Bishop and Maxwell Hairston have also missed time but are back practicing. Gardner-Johnson said he and Bishop have been in the film room together every morning at 7 a.m. to build chemistry. "Me and Cole are always with each other," Gardner-Johnson said. "We feel great. We're not worried. ... We've been seeing a lot of ball with each other. It's not going to be hard to gel."
Leonhard praised the group's mentality and energy, calling them "hungry." Rookies Davison Igbinosun and Kani Walker have taken advantage of more playing time. Maxwell Hairston struggled in practice, getting beat by Mecole Hardman and Josh Palmer. Veteran Christian Benford has been a leader in the secondary.