1 – Von Miller to Reserve/PUP
It was trending this way through the course of the preseason, but the Bills, along with Miller's input and the counsel of the team's medical and athletic training staff, determined it best for the pass rusher to begin the season on Reserve/PUP.
That means Miller will miss the first four games of the regular season against the Jets, Raiders, Commanders and Dolphins. Miller cannot practice with his teammates during that time but can rehabilitate and train as much as possible with the team's strength and conditioning staff.
The earliest Miller would be eligible to return to the Bills lineup on defense would be Buffalo's Week 5 game against Jacksonville in London on Oct. 8th.
2 – Boogie Basham traded
The Bills had a surplus of quality players on their roster at the defensive end position and knew they would not be able to keep them all to get down to the required 53 players Tuesday. So Bills GM Brandon Beane traded third-year DE Boogie Basham to the New York Giants along with a seventh-round pick in 2025 in exchange for a sixth-round pick in 2025.
This enabled the Bills to get some form of currency back in return for moving Basham off the roster.
Evidence of that pass rusher surplus was revealed in the five defensive ends that Buffalo kept on their 53-man roster, and they have a sixth on Reserve/PUP in Von Miller.
3 – Defensive back tops the list
The Bills secondary topped the position count list for the club with 11 total players landing a spot on the regular season roster. Buffalo kept six cornerbacks, Christian Benford, Kaiir Elam, Taron Johnson, Dane Jackson, Siran Neal and Tre'Davious White and five safeties, Damar Hamlin, Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, Taylor Rapp and Cam Lewis.
Lewis also served a dual role this preseason as a nickel corner, his primary position in college at the University at Buffalo. And Rapp is expected to be a versatile chess piece for head coach Sean McDermott as well.
Not even the total number of defensive linemen (10) outnumbered the defensive back contingent.
4 – The roster will be fluid
The Bills cut veteran long snapper Reid Ferguson. Much like last year, this is expected to be a roster juggling exercise. Roster rule designations prior to the establishment of the 53-man roster differ from those after the roster is initially set. Ferguson's release is expected to only be temporary just as it was last season at this time.
Other roster moves could happen in the coming days as well to address any perceived position shortages from a depth perspective via a free agent signing, trade, or waiver claim.
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.
5 – Practice squad graduates
One big strength that the Bills coaching staff possesses over several others in the league is their ability to develop players. Evidence of that comes in three players who made this year's 53-man roster.
OL Alec Anderson, DE Kingsley Jonathan and OL Ryan Van Demark were all on Buffalo's practice squad in 2022 and were undrafted players coming out of college. Anderson and Jonathan were undrafted rookies signed by the Bills last year and Van Demark joined Buffalo's practice squad after he was released by Indianapolis last summer.
Offensive line coach Aaron Kromer and Defensive line coach Eric Washington were instrumental in helping these three players develop their individual games to earn a spot on the roster beating out veteran players for roles on the 2023 squad.
