One day after cutting their active roster down to the maximum of 53 active players, the Buffalo Bills hit the practice field at Highmark Stadium on Wednesday in front of several thousands of fans, and plenty of kids.
Several players who have been dealing with injuries were back on the field in some capacity, including defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, cornerbacks Levi Wallace, Taron Johnson and Dane Jackson, as well as wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie.
Prior to practice, general manager Brandon Beane spoke to the media and said he won’t rule any of those players out of possibly playing in the team’s Week 1 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Orchard Park.
Jackson, Johnson, and McKenzie all wore red non-contact jerseys. Phillips and Wallace did not and were suited up in their usual blue for the defense.
Safety Jaquan Johnson was on the field, but he was not in uniform. He’s been dealing with a knee injury. Beane said he also won’t be ruled out for the season opener.
Defensive end Jerry Hughes was also there for the Bills, but not suited up.
Defensive tackle Star Lotulelei and safety Micah Hyde were both absent, but no reason was given at the time of writing this.
Also showing up after practice started and not as participants, standing off to the side as bystanders, were quarterbacks Jake Fromm and Davis Webb, as well as running back Antonio Williams and tight end Quentin Morris. All were released by the team on Tuesday, but none were claimed by another club. The team announced later in the day that all three were re-signed to the Bills' 15-man practice squad.
The only player who the Bills released on Tuesday that was claimed on waivers was rookie cornerback Nick McCloud, who was claimed by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Rookie wide receiver Marquez Stevenson was not at practice and will be placed on Injured Reserve, according to Beane. That will open an active roster spot for the team to re-sign long snapper Reid Ferguson, who was released Tuesday as a procedural move to allow the team to get Stevenson onto the active roster before placing him on I.R.
Now that that’s happened, the wide receiver is only required to miss three games and will then be eligible to return to the active roster at any time. Had he been placed on Injured Reserve prior to final cuts, he would be out for the entire season.
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