Bills GM Brandon Beane met with the media Wednesday afternoon as the team's Week 1 roster starts to take its final shape.
The Bills added a left tackle to the 53-man roster and signed 14 players to the practice squad on Wednesday.
Here's the top 3 things we learned from Beane on the state of the Bills roster:
Beane updates Von Miller's timeline
Beane gave some insight on the decision to leave edge rusher Von Miller on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Because he carries this designation into the regular season, Miller will not be eligible to play until the Bills face the Jacksonville Jaguars in London in Week 5.
Beane said that because of the positive progression Miller has made in the offseason, it was a tough decision to leave the 34-year-old on the PUP.
"Debated round and round a little bit, but ultimately, long season and we want Von for the stretch run," Beane said. "He's trending up and it was a chance he would've been practicing soon. But he's just not quite there. And the closer we got, don't think he would have been ready to immediately start the season and so we're just going to try to play it smart."
Miller, who had eight sacks in 11 games last season in his first year as a Bill, has still been active in the film room and as an observer of practice according to multiple teammates. Beane said that the seven-time All-Pro is mentally ready to get back on the field.
With an atypical practice schedule preceding the London game, Beane said he is taking it one day at a time with the potential decision to play Miller in Week 5.
"If he's confident and ready to roll and we feel he's had enough in pads, because you're not gonna be able to wear pads in practice until then," Beane said. "So that would probably be a decision we'd have to make that week. He hasn't played football since last Thanksgiving … but I know he's going to want to play in that game, and we'd be crazy not to want him out there. So hopefully the stars align."
Why the addition of Germain Ifedi made sense
With LB Baylon Spector and WR Justin Shorter placed on the injured reserve following the release of the initial 53-man roster, the Bills re-signed long snapper Reid Ferguson, as expected, and brought in offensive tackle Germain Ifedi.
Ifedi is in his seventh season in the NFL, spending most of his career as a right tackle. Beane credited his experience in the league as a motivation behind the Bills' transaction.
"He's started a lot of games … he's played a lot," Beane said. "He's just a big man, he's long. And the thing that I saw is that if he got beat, it wasn't an immediate loss. It was a fight to the third or fourth second of the play."
With the Bills keeping linemen Ryan Van Demark, Alec Anderson and O'Cyrus Torrence, all in either their first or second season in the league, Ifedi's veteran experience and reliability will serve the Bills' line well.
"We went a little bit young with Van Demark, and when [Ifedi] became available a couple of days ago, we got on the horn and got him over here and had a visit with him and got him signed today," Beane said.
Beane said that he was impressed by the work that Anderson and Van Demark put in over the offseason and that they both had strong showings in training camp.
The plan at middle linebacker & adding another QB
As mentioned, LB Baylon Spector is headed to IR and after LB A.J. Klein did not make the 53-man roster, the Bills have been on the lookout this week for another player to bring in for that middle linebacker position.
According to Beane, that figures to be Christian Kirksey, a former starting linebacker for the Texans. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound linebacker has experience playing both inside and outside spots; he's started in 29 games with the Texans since 2021.
The move still needs to be finalized as Kirksey has to pass his physical. He would be a practice squad addition if he does sign.
"He's agreed to come here but he's in the process, physical and all that stuff, so he's not signed yet. He'd be a veteran practice squad," Beane said.
The Bills also placed QB Matt Barkley on IR this week, leaving an opening for a quarterback on the practice squad. QB Kyle Allen is currently the primary backup behind Josh Allen on the active roster.
"Working on that (third) quarterback. It's in motion. We are going to add one, it's in motion, it'll probably be finalized (Thursday)," Beane said.
The signing of Kirksey and a quarterback would complete Buffalo's 16-man practice squad as the team heads into Week 1.
Scroll through to meet the 2023 Buffalo Bills!
Gabe Davis (13). Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins, Wild Card Game, January 15, 2023 at Highmark Stadium.
Ryan Van Demark (74) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023.
Terrel Bernard (43) at 2022 Buffalo Bills Media Day, May 12, 2022. Photo by Bill Wippert
Mitch Morse (60). Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins, Wild Card Game, January 15, 2023 at Highmark Stadium.
Quintin Morris (85) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023.
Dalton Kincaid (86) at Buffalo Bills Media Day at One Bills Drive, May 11, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Tyler Matakevich (44) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023.
Dorian Williams (42) at Buffalo Bills Media Day at One Bills Drive, May 11, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Dion Dawkins (73) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023.
Tyler Bass (2) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Christian Benford (47). Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher University, August 07, 2023.
Connor McGovern (66). Buffalo Bills vs Indianapolis Colts, preseason, August 12, 2023 at Highmark Stadium.
Leonard Floyd (56) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills vs Indianapolis Colts, Preseason, August 12, 2023 at Highmark Stadium.
Damien Harris (22) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Tre'Davious White (27). Pittsburgh Steelers vs Buffalo Bills, Preseason, August 19, 2023 at Acrisure Stadium.
Damar Hamlin (3). Pittsburgh Steelers vs Buffalo Bills, Preseason, August 19, 2023 at Acrisure Stadium.
Trent Sherfield (16). Pittsburgh Steelers vs Buffalo Bills, Preseason, August 19, 2023 at Acrisure Stadium.
Alec Anderson (70). Buffalo Bills vs Indianapolis Colts, preseason, August 12, 2023 at Highmark Stadium.
Ed Oliver (91). Pittsburgh Steelers vs Buffalo Bills, Preseason, August 19, 2023 at Acrisure Stadium.
Jordan Phillips (97). Chicago Bears vs Buffalo Bills, Preseason, August 26, 2023 at Soldier Field.
O'Cyrus Torrence (64). Pittsburgh Steelers vs Buffalo Bills, Preseason, August 19, 2023 at Acrisure Stadium.
Taron Johnson (7). Buffalo Bills Training Camp at One Bills Drive, August 23, 2023.
Sam Martin (8). Chicago Bears vs Buffalo Bills, Preseason, August 26, 2023 at Soldier Field.
Tyrel Dodson (53). Chicago Bears vs Buffalo Bills, Preseason, August 26, 2023 at Soldier Field.
Cam Lewis (39). Chicago Bears vs Buffalo Bills, Preseason, August 26, 2023 at Soldier Field.
David Edwards (76). Chicago Bears vs Buffalo Bills, Preseason, August 26, 2023 at Soldier Field.
Greg Rousseau (50). Chicago Bears vs Buffalo Bills, Preseason, August 26, 2023 at Soldier Field.
Siran Neal (33). Chicago Bears vs Buffalo Bills, Preseason, August 26, 2023 at Soldier Field.
Taylor Rapp (20). Chicago Bears vs Buffalo Bills, Preseason, August 26, 2023 at Soldier Field.
Khalil Shakir (10) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Stefon Diggs (14). Chicago Bears vs Buffalo Bills, Preseason, August 26, 2023 at Soldier Field.
Kaiir Elam (24). Chicago Bears vs Buffalo Bills, Preseason, August 26, 2023 at Soldier Field.
DaQuan Jones (92). Chicago Bears vs Buffalo Bills, Preseason, August 26, 2023 at Soldier Field.
Shaq Lawson (90). Chicago Bears vs Buffalo Bills, Preseason, August 26, 2023 at Soldier Field.
Ryan Bates (71). Chicago Bears vs Buffalo Bills, Preseason, August 26, 2023 at Soldier Field.
Poona Ford (98). Chicago Bears vs Buffalo Bills, Preseason, August 26, 2023 at Soldier Field.
A.J. Epenesa (57). Chicago Bears vs Buffalo Bills, Preseason, August 26, 2023 at Soldier Field.
Deonte Harty (11). Buffalo Bills vs Indianapolis Colts, preseason, August 12, 2023 at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen (17) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Latavius Murray (28). Buffalo Bills vs Indianapolis Colts, preseason, August 12, 2023 at Highmark Stadium.
Matt Milano (58) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Kyle Allen (9) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Spencer Brown (79). Buffalo Bills Return of the Blue & Red at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, August 04, 2023.
Chicago Bears vs Buffalo Bills, Preseason, August 26, 2023 at Soldier Field.
Buffalo Bills Training Camp at One Bills Drive, August 16, 2023.
Tim Settle (99). Buffalo Bills vs Indianapolis Colts, preseason, August 12, 2023 at Highmark Stadium.
James Cook (4) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Dane Jackson (30) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Reggie Gilliam (41) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Jordan Poyer (21) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
Micah Hyde (23) at Buffalo Bills Media Day, June 12, 2023 in Orchard Park, NY.
