The Buffalo Bills have officially entered game-prep ahead of their season-opening trip south to face the Houston Texans. Longtime members of Bills Mafia need few reminders about the house of horrors that is NRG Stadium for Buffalo.
Time and again, in spite of those surrounding quarterback Josh Allen and company, the Bills just can’t escape Houston with a win. For a team that hasn’t claimed victory in H-Town since 2006, it’s natural to spend a little extra time glancing over the depth chart. Though it’s the first week and we have yet to receive an official injury report, there are a few things to glean from the Bills’ first unofficial depth chart of the 2026 NFL season.
Let’s dive in for a quick look beyond the obvious names and assignments, while remembering that aspects of this list could change before Sunday’s game.
Many have wondered how the pecking order would shake out at wide receiver, but there are perhaps few surprises if you’ve been monitoring the situation. Behind obvious starters in DJ Moore and Khalil Shakir, we find that Keon Coleman sitting in the first chair as WR3. Backing up Coleman will be Joshua Palmer, while backing up Moore is rookie wide receiver Skyler Bell. The team doesn’t list anyone behind Shakir, but you can expect Bell and/or Palmer to fill in on an as-needed basis.
At running back, it’s Ray Davis in the RB2 spot and ahead of Ty Johnson. Davis is in line for a healthy dose of work this season, given his work on special teams. He’ll of course reprise his role as the team’s primary kick returner (with Ty Johnson listed behind him there, too), and he’s listed as the second punt returner in the teams equation. We still don’t know the status of Johnson following an injury he sustained during the Return of the Blue & Red game. How and if he’s able to contribute could further shape any immediate roster gymnastics.
It’s that punt return situation that’s has a lot of people curious. Presently, nickel cornerback Dee Alford is listed as the team’s top punt returner. Keep in mind that Buffalo signed wide receiver Greg Dortch at roster cutdowns, and that once acclimated, he could be elevated to the active roster to carry the load at punt returner. Alford’s main assignment is on defense as the starting nickel cornerback (and immediate backup to Christian Benford), so the situation at punt returner bears watching.
Of note to those with a Bills jersey: Cornerback Maxwell Hairston has apparently changed his number, now going with “1” instead of “31” this season. Also, Hairston is listed at starting CB2 over rookie Davison Igbinosun.
Elsewhere on defense, we find DeWayne Carter, Greg Gaines, and Landon Jackson as the backups to Ed Oliver, Deone Walker, and T.J. Sanders, respectively. That’s not a huge bit of news, perhaps beyond who was going to claim that third starting defensive line role after Oliver and Walker.
At inside linebacker, it’s Dorian Williams over rookie Kaleb Elarms-Orr (his direct backup). Joe Andreessen will begin the season as Terrel Bernard’s main backup at linebacker.
