Buffalo’s 38-0 preseason loss to Chicago exposed a night of rough execution and unsettled depth for the Bills. They couldn’t win the line of scrimmage, drew penalties, and failed to compete against Chicago’s starters and reserves. Sean McDermott stressed fundamentals and the need to evaluate the roster, particularly the young players getting extended looks as starters rested.

Cole Bishop worked on a rep-count while Joshua Palmer returned to build endurance, but the offense still looked out of sync. Jordan Hancock left with a shoulder issue as Buffalo rolled through its depth, with Deone Walker, Landon Jackson, and TJ Sanders logging meaningful snaps. Chicago capitalized on the moment, underscoring that preseason threads often reveal where teams must improve most before Week 1.

Moving forward, the Bills must translate joint-practice momentum into cleaner execution, less penalties, and sharper trenches. Depth evaluation becomes real when starters sit, and Buffalo will use practice reps this week to sharpen the run game, pass protection, and overall tackling while monitoring injuries and the growth of its youth core.

Ray Davis delivered a notable moment for Buffalo in the 2025 preseason opener, drilling the Bills’ first kick of the night for an extra point while Tyler Bass sat out with a pelvis issue. Buffalo promoted Caden Davis to take the place-kick duties after he signed with the team midweek. Davis’s postgame reaction — “Holy s--- it did go in” — reflected genuine surprise at succeeding in a real game setting. coach Sean McDermott treated the moment with extra seriousness, highlighting the value of improvisation should the situation arise again.

This event centers on Buffalo’s kicking contingency and how the Bills navigate Bass’s injury with Davis’s unexpected turn and Davis’s signing. The episode adds intrigue to Buffalo’s roster depth: will Caden Davis contend for kicks if Bass remains sidelined, or is this a one-off spark? For fantasy and betting, it’s a small but meaningful data point on Buffalo’s willingness to experiment and the potential ripple effects on special-teams roles as camp continues.

Taron Johnson exited the Bills’ preseason opener with a head injury but walked off on his own. He underwent a concussion evaluation in the blue medical tent and was cleared to return, a relief for Buffalo’s secondary amid other injury concerns. The Bills listed Maxwell Hairston and Taylor Rapp as out for the Giants game with knee injuries, while Cole Bishop sat with a quadriceps issue. Johnson’s preseason involvement showcased his typical playmaking on the edge of Buffalo’s scheme, but the backfield of Bills cornerbacks and safeties remains a focal point for fantasy managers as the roster shakes out.

Daniel Bellinger was a focal point on the Giants’ opening drive, where Buffalo’s celebration of the stop masked the underlying depth chart questions in New York’s pass-catching corps. Jaxson Dart, the rookie, delivered a concise connection to Greg Gulcich on a second-quarter sequence, underscoring the Giants’ evolving offense. Buffalo’s defense took measured notes, while Denver’s Dulcich wasn’t part of this matchup, leaving questions about how all the tight end rotations shake out in the early stages of the season. In short, Johnson’s health headline, plus the listed injuries to Hairston, Rapp and Bishop, is the fantasy story of the night—spot players could emerge as immediate beneficiaries in Week 1 action.

Offensive tackle Tommy Doyle's NFL career ended prematurely when he announced his retirement due to recurring injuries. Doyle, drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2021, faced serious setbacks, including a torn ACL during a game against the Miami Dolphins and subsequent leg injuries that hindered his recovery efforts. Despite showing promise, including a touchdown reception in the 2021 postseason against the New England Patriots, the 26-year-old ultimately decided he could no longer compete at a high level, marking a bittersweet conclusion to his time in the league.