ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The long-awaited debut of Highmark Stadium, the new state-of-the-art home of the Buffalo Bills, officially arrived Saturday night. The team returned to Orchard Park to continue training camp, kicking it off with their annual Return of the Blue & Red practice.
While the stadium was the headliner for fans, the practice didn’t go without some new injuries to key players. Starting center Connor McGovern suffered a lower body injury, as did third-down running back Ty Johnson. Neither player returned to practice, and coach Joe Brady said the team would know more next week.
Despite those injuries, Saturday’s practice was another puzzle piece for what the Bills are putting together in 2026. With the conclusion of the session, we’ve now seen nearly two full weeks of Bills practices.
Who has stepped up, and who has work to do? Here’s a stock report with the Bills preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers just six days away.
Stock up
TE Dalton Kincaid – Kincaid’s performance, health and how often Buffalo’s used him with the first unit may have some Bills fans anticipating a breakout season for the tight end. The athleticism, route running and ball skills come easily to Kincaid. The question is whether he can stay healthy, as it’s clear that whenever he’s on the field, Josh Allen trusts him and isn’t shy about looking his way. And to Kincaid’s credit, he hasn’t missed a practice yet. The big challenge for Brady will be turning Kincaid into more than just a situational receiving threat. If the Bills can find a way to use him more unpredictably — and he stays healthy — the potential is tantalizing. However, we’ve also been wondering this about Kincaid the last two seasons. So, at this point, you can’t believe it until you see it.
NCB Dee Alford – Alford made an interception Saturday night, but his camp has been so much more than that. I’ve been trying to fit him into my daily notes for days on end, but other news got in the way each time. Alford has been an outstanding fit for this defense, showing the man-cover skills the Bills desire and combining them with physicality and ball skills. The Bills targeted him first in free agency, and the early returns on that investment seem incredibly promising.
NT Phidarian Mathis – The Bills have shown they trust Mathis more and more as the summer has gone on. He replaced third-year player DeWayne Carter as the second-team nose tackle after just two days of camp. It’s reached the point they’ve been using Carter at 4i more often than not, further cementing Mathis’ current hold on the backup spot behind Deone Walker. Mathis may have been on the bubble before training camp, but he might be an indispensable piece of their depth if this keeps up.
DL Landon Jackson – Since the pads have come on, Jackson’s game has taken a step forward. He packed on a ton of weight, and he’s playing a new position compared with last year, but it has come together over the last week. He’s had impressive reps that combine his length and strength versus interior offensive linemen. What’s more, he has bumped up the depth chart. Most interestingly, when the Bills scaled back Ed Oliver’s reps near the end of Saturday’s practice, Jackson was the guy getting an increase in playing time, pairing with Walker and T.J. Sanders. He’s got a long way to go, but there have been promising signs about this transition to a new role.
OT Tylan Grable – The Bills have wanted to see how their reserve offensive line group would shake out, but Grable has been impressive and shows good potential. The team has used him at left and right tackle and at guard, and he’s had nice reps at all spots. Grable’s trajectory suffered a setback in 2025 after a concussion landed him on the injured reserve to begin the season. When they drafted Jude Bowry at the top of the fourth round, it was another blow to Grable’s chances to make the team. Buffalo had high hopes for Grable after his rookie season in 2024, however, and it seems he’s returned to that upward trajectory.
LB Keonta Jenkins – Very quietly, as all the attention has rightfully drifted toward rookie linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr, Jenkins has consistently run with the second unit alongside Elarms-Orr. He’s gotten bigger and proves to be a good fit into defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s scheme. Jenkins also has special teams upside. If there’s someone who makes the team whom no one is currently talking about, I think Jenkins has a case to be that player. I still think Terrel Bernard, Dorian Williams and Elarms-Orr are locks, and Joe Andreessen is in as of now for his special teams ability. But keeping Jenkins isn’t as far-fetched as you’d think. Five inside linebackers is justifiable if two to three carry special teams functionality.
TE Keleki Latu – I don’t know how the Bills can find a spot on their 53-man roster for a fourth tight end while keeping a fullback, but Latu has been extremely impressive in his second summer with Buffalo. He made two outstanding catches during the stadium practice Saturday, one of which was a fully extended, diving contested grab with a defender draped all over him. It’s been a continuation of his entire summer. There’s a stronger case for Jenkins to make the 53-man roster at this point due to roster functionality, but with all the 12 and 13 personnel the Bills use, perhaps there’s a path for Latu in 2026.
P Tommy Doman Jr. – You didn’t think I could do this list without getting some #Puntapalooza talk in there, did you? I think Doman is leading this competition for a few reasons. He has been impressive on most of his reps, even shaking off a dropped catch in the heavy rain on one play Saturday night by booming a 55-yard punt that hung in the air for 5.2 seconds on his next chance. He also showed he has good holding ability, as kicker Tyler Bass went 8-for-8 on Saturday with Doman as his holder. Plus, Doman’s competition — veteran Mitch Wishnowsky — has sat out the last two practices with an undisclosed injury. It’s not over just yet, but all signs continue to point toward Doman.
Rookie fourth-round pick and Buffalo Bills wide receiver Skyler Bell has left much to be desired at training camp. (Tina MacIntyre-Yee / USA Today via Imagn Images)
Stock down
LG Austin Corbett – Corbett’s spot on the roster isn’t in question, but when it comes to the starting competition at left guard, there have been more negative reps than what we’ve seen from Alec Anderson. Corbett has experience on his side, but some of the speedier defensive linemen he’s gone up against have given him trouble. Anderson isn’t nearly as polished as Corbett, but Anderson has a higher ceiling to this point in camp. If the Bills started the season next week, I think Anderson would be the starting left guard.
WR Skyler Bell – An extremely popular sleeper heading into camp, he has faded into the background a bit as the pads have come on. His separation skills and his releases at the line of scrimmage are good, but his ball skills have held him back. At this point, the top four of the Bills’ receiver room clearly are DJ Moore, Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman and Joshua Palmer. Bell is a roster lock, but his game-day role will be determined by how he finishes through the three preseason games. Especially if the Bills keep Mecole Hardman as a sixth receiver and their primary punt returner, it wouldn’t be stunning if Bell begins the regular season as a healthy scratch.
T/G Chase Lundt – It’s been a rough go for Lundt the last few practices. The team has attempted to cross-train him at tackle and guard, and he’s struggled in one-on-one opportunities. Lundt was a sixth-round pick in 2025, but with Grable playing well and offering similar versatility, along with the fourth-round investment in offensive tackle Bowry this year, Lundt looks as if he’s currently on the wrong side of the bubble.
IOL Lloyd Cushenberry III – Similarly to Lundt, there is going to be a numbers crunch along the offensive line. Should the Bills choose to go with nine rather than 10 on the final 53-man roster, after Lundt, my next best current guess at where they’d trim would be Cushenberry. Although he has a lot of starting experience, he has struggled at times against speed and physicality. Given his relatively low-cost deal and the fact he signed near the end of March, well after the start of free agency, it makes you wonder whether the Bills could bring him back on the practice squad. If released, Cushenberry would not be subject to waivers, and the Bills have generally liked to keep a veteran offensive lineman on the practice squad each year.
