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Stay on top of the #Bills’ roster cuts right here:
The Buffalo Bills have begans their quest to 53 players (and a practice squad). The team must be down to that to total number of players by 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
But as is often the case, the NFL is wasting little time skimming down their rosters. Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott included.
Here is Bills Wire’s 2023 roster tracker for Buffalo as the Bills work their way down to 53 players:
#Bills, Shane Ray reach injury settlement:
The Buffalo Bills and Shane Ray have reached an injury settlement. The pass rusher is now a free agent.
Ray, 30, was attempting a NFL comeback after signing with the Bills this offseason.
After a series of wrist surgeries, Ray sat out of football and then returned in the CFL. In 2022, Ray played in Toronto.
Originally entering the NFL as a first-round pick of the Denver Broncos, Ray won a Super Bowl as a rookie alongside Von Miller. He was productive for two seasons as he notched 12 sacks in that time. Then injury struck.
In Buffalo’s second preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ray sustained a hamstring injury and was placed on injured reserve.
Reaching a settlement with the Bills means once Ray is healthy, he’s able to sign with a new team. Had he remained on injured reserve, Ray’s entire 2023 season would be over.
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#Bills place Shane Ray on injured reserve as comeback bid stalls:
In a slew of roster moves early this week, Shane Ray’s attempt at a NFL comeback with the Buffalo Bills abruptly came to an end.
In Buffalo’s 27-15 preseason loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the pass rusher departed the contest with a hamstring injury. ESPN noted Ray was upset in the locker after the game, which was a bad sign. That confirmation came when the Bills placed him on injured reserve, ending his season.
Ray was a former first-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2015 but was out of the league for four years. He had impressed in the CFL last season after stepping away from the NFL due to an injury-filled career.
It was always going to be a tough, uphill climb to make the Bills’ final 53-man roster for Ray. But the practice squad was entirely possible for the 30-year-old. Now he’ll have to wait and see where his NFL future goes.
In addition to Ray, offensive lineman Tommy Doyle (knee) was also played on injured reserve. Doyle was carted off during the Steelers matchup.
Following those IR transactions, running back Ty Johnson, offensive lineman Garrett McGhin, and linebacker DaShaun White were signed by the Bills. Buffalo visits the Chicago Bears on Saturday to wrap their preseason schedule.
Bills Wire will continue to bring all roster and injury updates throughout the 2023 season.
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#Bills’ Matt Barkley among multiple injury updates post-#Steelers loss:
It was injury added to insult for Buffalo Bills quarterback Matt Barkley against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In the second week of the preseason, the Bills lost in oft-ugly fashion, 27-15.
Barkley’s day started well: He entered the game as the second-string quarterback after he was No. 3 the week prior. Unfortunately, it was the same script as the one against the Indianapolis Colts.
After Barkley outplayed Kyle Allen last week when Allen went in the game before him, Allen returned the favor.
Although, Barkley made it easy on him after Barkley had three interceptions and four total turnovers.
That final giveaway, a fumble, is where Barkley was injured. The team announced that Barkley has sustained a right elbow injury.
Updates this soon are few and far between, but one came via the Buffalo News. Barkley said “we’ll see” when asked about an update:
QB Matt Barkley injured his elbow on the fumble in the third quarter, he told me. He gave a "we'll see" later when asked about the outlook of the injury. https://t.co/TXDPiWBJc9
— katherine fitzgerald (@kfitz134) August 20, 2023
Barkley was not alone on the injury report vs. the Steelers. A new addition was defensive end Shane Ray who is vying for a depth spot on the roster. A hamstring injury will not help his chances.
The final addition was DJ Dale. He sustained a back injury. It’s unclear if it’s related to the one he sustained last week against the Colts.
Two other notable names that did not play at all include running back Damien Harris (knee) and linebacker Terrel Bernard (hamstring). Both have been dealing with their respective injuries since last week.
After taking part in pregame warmups, tight end Dawson Knox (hand) and linebacker Tyler Matakevich (calf) did not suit up but are considered only day-to-day.
Bills Wire will continue to provide injury updates throughout the 2023 season.
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4 make-or-break players for the #Bills to watch this season (via @TejasVemparala):
There are several players around the NFL facing pressure as they head into 2023 training camp in a couple weeks.
Veterans, new additions, and recently drafted players will feel the competition during camp for their roster spot.
The NFL Wire network put together a comprehensive list of a players from each team facing a ‘make-or-break’ season. In a similar light, we started thinking about all the players that are on the Bills
Here are four players we plan to track closely in 2023 that are gearing up for make-or-break seasons:
5 depth players we are rooting for to make the #Bills roster:
The Buffalo Bills have a talented and deep roster. That doesn’t mean there aren’t underdogs to root for at this time of the year.
Here are five players to root for to make the Bills final roster in 2023:
List of #Bills players heading into final year of their contract in 2023 (via @TejasVemparala):
The 2023 NFL season has a sense of continued hope and optimism attached to the Buffalo Bills, much like the last couple of years. Could they go all the way? What happens if they don’t?
The desire will continue in Buffalo, but some players could be playing their final year at Highmark Stadium once the season gets rolling.
This leads to a list of players that the team needs to consider signing extensions with based on how the season ends.
Here’s all Bills players heading into the final year of their contract in 2023 (figures via Over The Cap):
A guy to root for at #Bills camp this summer:
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Shane Ray inked a contract with the Buffalo Bills after undertaking a tryout with the team.
It’s not just as simple as that for Ray.
Just getting a opportunity to tryout for a team was huge for the 29-year-old.
Originally entering the NFL as a first-round pick of the Denver Broncos, Ray won a Super Bowl as a rookie alongside Von Miller. He was productive for two seasons as he notched 12 sacks in that time. Then injury struck.
After a series of wrist surgeries, Ray sat out of football and then returned in the CFL. After playing in Toronto in 2022, Ray hoped to be signed as a free agent but was not, which led to him having to tryout for the Bills.
But he proved himself in Buffalo enough to get a shot at making the team during training camp. Ray signed a contract with the Bills.
After such a journey, Ray was understandably emotional. He took to his social media account via Instagram detailing his feelings which can be found below:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CsM5Ljwv9mx/
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Shane Ray last played a regular-season game in the NFL on Dec. 9, 2018. He will now reunite with Von Miller in Buffalo.
A former Denver Broncos first-round draft pick is getting another chance in the NFL after three years out of the league.
Shane Ray, who was picked by the Broncos 23rd overall out of Missouri in the 2015 NFL draft, has signed with the Buffalo Bills after trying out for the team at their rookie minicamp over the weekend.
Ray served as a rotational pass rusher to begin his career behind Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware. Ray later struggled to win a spot over Shaq Barrett following Ware’s retirement, and he also struggled with injuries. The Broncos ultimately decided to let Ray’s contract expire following the 2018 season.
It seems safe to assume that Miller put in a good word for Ray given that they share an agent and work out together during the offseason. They will now reunite in Buffalo.
Ray totaled 94 tackles, 33 quarterback hits and 14 sacks in 49 games (15 starts) in Denver. He then joined the Baltimore Ravens in 2019 but failed to make their 53-man roster. After two seasons out of football, Ray signed with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts in 2021.
Ray won Super Bowl 50 with the Broncos in 2015 and the Grey Cup with the Argonauts in 2022.
Ray, who is about to turn 30, spent the last two years in the CFL, totaling six sacks in 13 games last year. He’ll now get another chance in the NFL. Ray’s last regular-season appearance in the NFL was on Dec. 9, 2018.
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After playing in the CFL last season, Shane Ray is attempting to return to the NFL.
Former Denver Broncos outside linebacker Shane Ray worked out for the Kansas City Chiefs last Friday, according to Charles Goldman of Chiefs Wire.
Ray (6-3, 255 pounds) was born and raised in Kansas City before going on to play college football at Missouri. He was drafted by the Broncos with the 23rd overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft.
Ray began his professional career as a rotational pass rusher behind Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware. He started in eight games in 2016, recording 48 tackles and eight sacks. Besides that 2016 season, Ray’s time in Denver was underwhelming.
Injuries played a part in Ray failing to live up to his first-round draft status, as he missed 15 games in four years with the Broncos and he only started 15 of the 49 games he did play in. Denver opted not to re-sign Ray when he became a free agent in 2019.
Ray then signed with the Baltimore Ravens but failed to make their 53-man roster. After two years out of football, Ray played one season in Canada with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts. He’s now attempting to return to the NFL and got a tryout with hometown team.
At the time of this writing, the Chiefs have not signed him.
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