Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills have announced their first 53-man roster of the 2025 NFL season. To get to that league-mandated number, One Bills Drive parted ways with a total of 31 players, placed five others on Injured Reserve (IR), and will have to wait six weeks before a pair of newcomers are off the suspended list.
Among those on IR, the team’s top draft pick this past April, first-round cornerback Maxwell Hairston, and also offensive tackle Tylan Grable are designated as return-to-play candidates. They can resume practicing after four weeks with a 21-day window to be moved to the active roster once they do return to practice. Neither counts as part of the active roster while on IR.
Elsewhere, undrafted free-agent rookies in wide receiver Kaden Prather and defensive end Justin Hollins saw their seasons come to an end. Both Prather and Hollins were waived/injured only to clear waivers and revert to the Bills’ IR, barring a settlement that would allow them to sign elsewhere. The same is true of running back Darrynton Evans, who sees his season come to an end in the preseason a second-consecutive summer. These three players also don’t count toward the team’s active roster.
As mentioned above, Buffalo is also navigating a pair of suspensions to start the season. Defensive end Michael Hoecht and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi are both unable to take part in any team activities for for six weeks. Both can return to full action in Week 7, at which point they will then count as part of the 53-man roster.
Take a look at the team’s first official 53-man roster. What surprises you most, and who, if anyone, did you expect to make the roster yet didn’t, or be cut only to survive?
