1. Tyler Kroft working back from injury
The Bills will have four tight ends on their opening day roster, including Tyler Kroft. Kroft, who has been out since OTAs with a foot injury, was not placed on the physically unable to perform list which would have kept him sidelined for the first six weeks of the season.
"I don't know which game he's going to come back yet, that's still undetermined," general manager Brandon Beane said. "He's done a good job and showed us that he's on the mend."
Beane cited how frustrating it has been for Kroft who was injured on the first day of OTAs and gives him credit for how Kroft has handled the situation. Kroft was worked continuously with the training staff and sports science staff to work back from his injury. Still, Beane could not have made this decision a month ago.
For now, Kroft will have to work on building continuity with the first-team offense.
"He won't have that continuity with Josh Allen and the first team, so that's going to take some time. It may be learned that he's cleared to practice and ready to go here, but maybe the coaches don't have him up to speed yet," Beane said.
In other tight end news, Beane announced that the Bills have placed Jason Croom on IR and have re-signed Kurt Coleman.
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4 Stephen Hauschka, K
5 Matt Barkley, QB
8 Andre Roberts, WR
9 Corey Bojorquez, P
10 Cole Beasley, WR
11 Zay Jones, WR
15 John Brown, WR
16 Robert Foster, WR
17 Josh Allen, QB
19 Isaiah McKenzie, WR
20 Frank Gore, RB
21 Jordan Poyer, S
23 Micah Hyde, S
24 Taron Johnson, DB
27 Tre'Davious White, CB
28 Kurt Coleman, S
29 T.J. Yeldon, RB
31 Dean Marlowe, S
33 Siran Neal, DB
36 Kevin Johnson, CB
39 Levi Wallace, CB
40 Devin Singletary, RB
41 Maurice Alexander, LB
42 Patrick DiMarco, FB
46 Jaquan Johnson, S
49 Tremaine Edmunds, LB
51 Julian Stanford, LB
52 Corey Thompson, LB
55 Jerry Hughes, DE
57 Lorenzo Alexander, LB
58 Matt Milano, LB
60 Mitch Morse, OL
61 Spencer Long, OL
65 Ike Boettger, OL
67 Quinton Spain, OL
68 Conor McDermott, OL
69 Reid Ferguson, LS
70 Cody Ford, OL
71 Ryan Bates, OL
73 Dion Dawkins, OL
76 Jon Feliciano, OL
77 Ty Nsekhe, OL
81 Tyler Kroft, TE
85 Lee Smith, TE
88 Dawson Knox, TE
89 Tommy Sweeney, TE
90 Shaq Lawson, DE
91 Ed Oliver, DT
92 Darryl Johnson, DE
93 Trent Murphy, DE
97 Jordan Phillips, DT
98 Star Lotulelei, DT
99 Harrison Phillips, DT
2. Cody Ford's spot still yet to be finalized
Rookie offensive lineman Cody Ford has alternated between the right guard and right tackle position since he has joined the team. Beane does not know where Ford will play, that decision will be for Sean McDermott and Brian Daboll.
"I'll totally leave that up to Brian [Daboll] and Sean [McDermott] to where they're going to put him," Beane said. "I think he can play either and wouldn't be surprised if you saw him play both this season. I don't think we're just going to lock it in and say he's going to play one spot."
3. Why did the Bills keep 10 offensive linemen?
The Bills decided to keep 10 offensive linemen for their 53-man roster. The offensive line includes Mitch Morse, Dion Dawkins, Quinton Spain, Jon Feliciano, Spencer Long, Cody Ford, Ty Nsekhe, Ryan Bates, Ike Boettger and Conor McDermott.
Morse's injury history did not contribute to the number of linemen the Bills kept.
"It really didn't," Beane said. "We really just try to keep the best. I think we've got some guys that you saw get out there and play because Mitch [Morse] wasn't even quite heathy in the preseason."
The Bills have preached versatility for their offensive linemen and challenged them throughout the preseason to play in different roles.
"I think we've got pretty good versatility whether we kept nine or 10 with the guys that will be there on game day," Beane said. "Feliciano, Long played center in the past and even Ryan Bates came in and played some. I think we've got enough options. We tried to keep as many guys that could play more spots."
Beane feels that line depth is important and that every player they decided to keep earned the right to stay.
