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.