By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
While the Bills’ starters won’t play on Thursday, there’s still a lot on the line.
Plenty of players on the dreaded “roster bubble” could have their fate on the line when Buffalo hosts the Minnesota Vikings. While Josh Allen and Tremaine Edmunds won’t be on the field for their respective units, there are still plenty of these players that will be interesting to watch.
With that, here are 10 players on the roster bubble that need a big game on Thursday to earn a roster spot:
TE Jason Croom
The injury bug really hit tight end Jason Croom at the wrong time. He’s been hampered by a hamstring injury throughout the summer, but one of Buffalo’s top tight ends from last season, he’s is going to be out there on Thursday. Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott confirmed on Tuesday that Croom will play. But it’s not looking good for him.
Tyler Kroft and rookie Dawson Knox have spots locked up. Seventh-round rookie Tommy Sweeney has flashed while veteran Lee Smith could have a blocking tight end spot locked up. There’s little chance the Bills keep five tight ends, so is there someone Croom can upset for a spot?
WR Duke Williams
Buffalo’s 6-foot-4 target in Duke Williams had a slow start to this summer. But in back-to-back preseason games, he’s caught a touchdown. Could he have turned enough heads to take one of the team’s final roster spots? There’s a chance.
Williams’ size makes him a matchup nightmare for opponents. Think what former Bill Kelvin Benjamin was supposed to be. Someone who can make catches even if they’re not open.
The one bad thing for Williams might be that quarterback Matt Barkley might not play in this one. Third stringer Tyree Jackson might go wire-to-wire and he’s been awfully inaccurate this preseason. But if Williams grabs another big-man TD? It’ll be hard for Sean McDermott to keep him off his roster.
WR Ray-Ray McCloud
Ray-Ray McCloud is certainly a fringe wide receiver at this point. He’s had problems holding onto the ball in his brief NFL career, but he’s gotten some run this offseason with the first and second team offense. But with Williams, he’s different because of his size.
McCloud doesn’t have that. He’s very similar to many of the Bills’ other targets, including Isaiah McKenzie, who’s been Buffalo’s No. 1 receiver this preseason since many of the first-team players, like Cole Beasley and John Brown, don’t get a lot of run in exhibitions.
However, McCloud certainly wants it. He made one hell of a juggling catch last week against the Lions.
OL Ryan Bates
So Ryan Bates is a thing, evidently.
The Bills sent Eli Harold to the Eagles in a trade that seemed like not much at the time. Defensive end Darryl Johnson has looked great, making Harold expendable, and the Bills have been beat up along the offensive line. Bates is just depth, right?
Maybe not.
The Bills have asked Bates to play all over the offensive line, center and tackle included. He’s done pretty well so far. Pro Football Focus even noted he was one of Buffalo’s best pass blockers last week against the Lions and has seen time with the second team. The undrafted free agent signee of the Eagles could turn out to be a versatile backup for the Bills and a healthier Jeremiah Sirles, of sorts, who also played every position on the line before suffering a foot injury during spring practices and eventually was released via an injury settlement.
OL Wyatt Teller
Like Bates, Teller has thrived at pass blocking. But Teller, who saw run with Buffalo’s starting line last season, struggles as a run blocker. Plus, he’s really only played guard with the Bills. But it’s not like he’s buried on the depth chart. Teller’s played mostly with the second-team line and could be a strong backup option to Quinton Spain on the left side of the group.
Teller’s young and would find a place on the team’s practice squad if he doesn’t crack the final roster. But with his playing experience in mind, he could also be a prime candidate to be signed by another team after the preseason if the Bills waived him.
RB TJ Yeldon
TJ Yeldon’s tenure with the Bills has been nothing short of crazy.
Signed just prior to draft, many assume at 25 he’s the “younger” running back the Bills want to pair with LeSean McCoy and Frank Gore.
At draft, Bills use third rounder on Devin Singletary.
Few to no reps with starting offense.
Fumbles early in preseason, is benched.
Plays with second-team offense vs. Lions last week and thrives.
Yeldon has NFL experience which makes him valuable. Another team may consider grabbing him if the Bills don’t want him. But as mentioned, after a very slow start with the Bills, could he be turning a corner a forcing the Bills to keep five or six back, including Patrick DiMarco? He made a spectacular of a catch last week, too.
QB Tyree Jackson
It seems much more likely that the Bills’ third-string quarterback could be battling for a practice squad spot, but he’s still battling. Sean McDermott announced on Tuesday that Tyree Jackson could start Thursday’s game against the Vikings. If he does, he’ll play the whole thing. Regardless, that means he’s going to play for a while.
Jackson has struggled throughout the preseason. He’s 6-for-24 passing this exhibition season, with 140 passing yards and an interception. That is very bad.
But still, the quarterback will always be under a microscope and he’s a local Buffalo product, so let’s see what he has throughout a four quarter battle.
P Corey Bojorquez
The Bills have cut punter Cory Carter, but the punter battle is far from over. Sean McDermott said on Tuesday that Bojorquez knows he still has to earn his roster spot, meaning Thursday’s game actually does, in fact, mean something to him.
Against the Lions, the Bojorquez struggled early but had some better kicks later in the game.
Bojorquez has shown he has an NFL leg, but he hasn’t show he has a consistent one. The Bills have struggled to replace Colton Schmidt and have certainly tried hard to do so, even after bringing him back last season. Bojorquez needs a strong game, or else the Bills could peg another punter their guy when teams start cutting players.
LB Deon Lacey
According to NYUP.com, Bills linebackers coach Bob Babich claims the team will only keep three linebackers out of training camp. Tremaine Edmunds, Matt Milano and Lorenzo Alexander take up half of those. The rest will have to contribute on special teams and also show an ability to make plays.
The Bills have two intriguing options in Julian Stanford and Corey Thompson. Stanford plays special teams but also filled in well for Edmunds last season. Thompson has also flashed the skills to play all three linebacker spots. It’s going to be a battle, so Deon Lacey better bring his hard hat.
As an outside linebacker this summer, Lacey has shown an ability to get in the backfield. Lacey recorded with three tackles, one sack and two quarterback hits last week against the Lions. If he follows that up this week, consider him a good chance for the final roster.
DE Eddie Yarbrough
Over the past two years, Yarbrough’s held down that fourth and final spot. Now it appears Darryl Johnson has surpassed him. Yarbrough has been a stout run defender for the Bills but needs to improve his pass rushing skills to take a roster spot. Good news for him, he’s shown an ability to get into the backfield during the preseason.
But this comes down to numbers, too. Johnson is younger and has impressed so it makes sense the Bills might take him. But Yarbrough is also battling Mike Love for a roster spot, who’s also had a decent offseason thus far. Plus, the Bills will probably have to keep five defensive ends for Yarbrough to find the 53-man roster, which could happen, considering McDermott keeps a heavy rotation going on the line. Big fourth preseason game for Yarbrough, for sure.