The Bills initial 53-man roster is set.

Most of it went exactly how you would have expected.

Then there was the release of O.J. Howard.

Here is a look at the roster and my thoughts on how each position group ultimately shook out.

 

QUARTERBACK (2)

Josh Allen

Case Keenum

 

CUT: Matt Barkley

 

This was always how it was going to play out. Barkley will all but certainly come back on the practice squad.

 

RUNNING BACK (5)

Devin Singletary

Zack Moss

James Cook

Taiwan Jones

Reggie Gilliam (FB)

 

CUT: Duke Johnson, Raheem Blackshear

 

No surprises here. Even though Johnson and Blackshear played quite well in preseason action, the numbers were always stacked against them. With Moss playing solid out the gate of training camp, there was no room for either. Look for one, if not both, to find their way back on the practice squad.

 

WIDE RECEIVER (7)

Stefon Diggs

Gabe Davis

Isaiah McKenzie

Jamison Crowder

Khalil Shakir

Jake Kumerow

Marquez Stevenson

 

CUT: Isaiah Hodgins, Tanner Gentry, Neil Pau'u

 

Hodgins loses out to Kumerow for the final WR spot. As we've been discussing for a while, special teams all but certainly was the deciding factor. Hodgins will be someone I'd imagine the Bills hope to get onto the PS. Stevenson once again makes the initial 53 while dealing with an injury. Expect him to be placed on injured reserve Wednesday with his foot injury, meaning he'll be out at least four weeks.

 

TIGHT END (3)

Dawson Knox

Tommy Sweeney

Quintin Morris

 

CUT: O.J. Howard

 

The biggest surprise move of them all is releasing Howard. Not because of what he did on the field, but rather the $2.6M in dead cap the Bills now take on this year as well as another $625K they'll absorb next year (courtesy Spotrac). I have been very consistent in my evaluation of Howard's play dating all the way back to OTAs and minicamp. He just doesn't move like he used to and Sweeney and Morris clearly outperformed him. It really shows how big of a gap the Bills saw between Howard and those two for them to be willing to take on that type of money for him *not* to be on the roster.

 

OFFENSIVE LINE (9)

Dion Dawkins

Rodger Saffold

Mitch Morse

Ryan Bates

Spencer Brown

David Quessenberry

Tommy Doyle

Greg Van Roten

Bobby Hart

 

RESERVE/PUP: Ike Boettger​

 

CUT: Greg Mancz, Jacob Capra, Luke Tenuta, Alec Anderson, Tanner Owen

 

Van Roten over Mancz is the surprise here. While Van Roten was not really on the radar throughout camp and the preseason, Mancz just could not stay healthy. He was out early while things were at St. John Fisher and then wound up on the shelf again about a week ago. Van Roten now will serve as the back-up center with other interior flexibility. Going with nine OL also should be a good indicator for where Doyle is with his rehab from a foot injury. He's been working with the training staff off to the side for about a week. Tenuta is a PS lock unless claimed by another team.

 

DEFENSIVE LINE (9)

Von Miller

Greg Rousseau

Ed Oliver

Daquan Jones

Tim Settle

Jordan Phillips

Boogie Basham

A.J. Epenesa

Shaq Lawson

 

INJURY SETTLEMENT: Eli Ankou​

 

CUT: Brandin Bryant, Mike Love, Kingsley Jonathan, Prince Emili, Daniel Joseph, C.J. Brewer

 

The only real questions here was whether or not the Bills would roll with five DTs, putting Bryant on the team. In the end, it seems they're comfortable with rolling with four that will all see a good chunk of playing time each and every game. Bryant will be a priority PS guy along with at least one other from this group.

 

LINEBACKER (6)

Tremaine Edmunds

Matt Milano

Tyrel Dodson

Terrel Bernard

Tyler Matakevich

Baylon Spector

 

SUSPENDED: Andre Smith

 

CUT: Joe Giles-Harris

 

The Bills once again role with six LBs, with special teams always at the heart of that decision. Matakevich was always a lock in my mind because of that and was reinforced when he didn't play in the preseason finale. Spector was the guy if they went with six, with Smith suspended. The 7th round pick looked very good in the preseason games and maybe was someone Beane was worried would get scooped up before the Bills could land him back on their PS.

 

CORNERBACK (6)

Dane Jackson

Kaiir Elam

Christian Benford

Taron Johnson

Siran Neal

Cam Lewis

 

RESERVE/PUP: Tre'Davious White

 

CUT: Nick McCloud, Jordan Miller, Ja'Marcus Ingram

 

White staying on PUP always seemed like the most likely scenario. While what we saw of him the first few days of training camp was encouraging, this timeline remains consistent with the traditional rehab from a torn ACL suffered Thanksgiving night. Now he cannot even practice with the team until after week four. From there, expect at least two weeks back on the field before returning to game action. That means week six against the Chiefs as a likely best case scenario, with week eight (following the bye week) against the Packers a reasonable expectation. 

It was always between Lewis and McCloud to fill the spot of White and Lewis wins out. He has the versatility to play inside and outside cornerback as well as being put back at safety the last week or so to try and enhance his value. What's surprising about McCloud is that he practiced with the team Tuesday morning and when some of us media members spoke with him in the locker room after, he sounded as if he'd made the team. I'd expect him back on the PS.

 

SAFETY (4)

Micah Hyde

Jordan Poyer

Jaquan Johnson

Damar Hamlin

 

CUT: Josh Thomas

 

Another position group with zero drama. All chalk.

 

SPECIALISTS (2)

Tyler Bass

Reid Ferguson

 

The Bills still don't have a punter after releasing Matt Araiza on Saturday. Don't worry, they'll get one soon, but leaving that spot vacant helps with some other roster gymnastics Beane will be doing over the next 24 hours. Stevenson heading to IR will open up a spot, which could be used to fill the void.