The Buffalo Bills’ preseason opener against the New York Giants was historic as it marked the final preseason game at the current Highmark Stadium, aka The Ralph, before the team moves into its new home. The 34–25 loss didn’t carry much weight in the standings, but it provided plenty of insight into roster battles, standout performances, and players who may have hurt their chances.
Backup QB Battle Heats Up
The headline competition coming into camp was the battle to back up Josh Allen, and both Mitch Trubisky and Mike White made strong cases.
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Trubisky got the start, leading scoring drives of 65 and 68 yards in the first half. His best moment came with four seconds left before halftime — a well placed deep ball to Tyrell Shavers for 58 yards, setting up a field goal. He finished 9/13, 138 yards, 1 TD.
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White took over in the second half, shaking off a rough opening drive to connect with K.J. Hamler on a 39-yard fourth-down touchdown and later hit Darrynton Evans for a 7-yard score, adding a two-point conversion to Laviska Shenault. He finished 8/13, 112 yards, 2 TDs.
Trubisky entered camp as the favorite, and after playing against tougher competition, he may still hold a slight edge. But this race is far from over.
Shavers Forcing the WR Conversation
Few players have done more for their roster stock this summer than Tyrell Shavers. After a standout camp in Rochester, he continued his momentum with:
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A 58-yard catch from Trubisky — the Bills’ biggest play of the day.
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A 12-yard reception earlier in the game.
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Contributions on special teams.
The wide receiver room is crowded, with Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, Josh Palmer, Elijah Moore, and Curtis Samuel likely locks. If Buffalo keeps six, Shavers is a strong candidate; if they keep five, a tough decision looms — especially with Samuel’s $12M dead cap hit making him hard to cut.
Rookie Defensive Linemen Flash
Buffalo’s second-rounder T.J. Sanders and fourth-rounder Deone Walker both showed why the Bills invested in them:
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Sanders pressured Giants rookie QB Jaxson Dart on a third-and-five, forcing a rushed throw (though it still resulted in a TD over Dane Jackson). He also teamed with Jordan Hancock for a pressure on Jameis Winston that ended a drive.
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Walker tipped a Dart pass at the line and disrupted multiple plays with his size and power.
Both look like they could play rotational snaps as rookies.
Veteran Debuts and Defensive Notes
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Joey Bosa played two series opposite Greg Rousseau and made an immediate impact with several strong reps. His pairing with Rousseau could be a preview of Buffalo’s pass rush rotation.
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Matt Milano played the first two series and was his usual instinctive self, including a textbook open-field tackle on the first play from scrimmage.
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Tre’Davious White had an up-and-down outing — allowing a few completions, missing a tackle, but also making a solid short-yardage stop.
Special Teams Twist
With Tyler Bass still out, the Bills signed kicker Caden Davis — but also gave running back Ray Davis a shot at an extra point as an emergency kicker. Davis nailed it, completing what Sean McDermott called a “really good pit stop” between the score and the kick.
Players Who Struggled
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Landon Jackson (DE): No recorded stats and a penalty that wiped out a Jordan Hancock interception.
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Zach Davidson (TE): Targeted four times, caught just one pass, and had a costly drop. Already behind in the TE3 race, his receiving struggles hurt.
Injury & Availability Notes
The Bills escaped without major injuries. CB Daequan Hardy left with a shoulder injury, while Taron Johnson was evaluated for a concussion but returned.
RB James Cook suited up for warmups despite his ongoing “hold-in” for a new contract but did not play.
Stock Up
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Tyrell Shavers
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T.J. Sanders
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Deone Walker
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Joey Bosa
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Matt Milano
Stock Down
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Landon Jackson
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Zach Davidson
Bottom Line:
The scoreboard won’t matter come September, but the Bills’ preseason opener provided valuable tape for roster decisions. Shavers continues to push for a WR spot, the backup QB battle is alive and well, and Buffalo’s rookie defenders are already making noise.
Who did you think stood out for the Bills, good or bad?
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