Bills Pare Roster To 53; LB Matt Milano Receives IR-Return Designation

Here is how the Bills dropped their roster to the 53-man limit:

Released:

• DT Eli Ankou
• WR Deon Cain
• OL Will Clapp
• OL La’el Collins
• WR KJ Hamler
• S Kareem Jackson
• WR Andy Isabella
• DT DeShawn Williams

Waived:

• OL Keaton Bills
• OL Gunner Britton
• DE Kameron Cline
• CB Te’Cory Couch
• TE Zach Davidson
• DT Branson Deen
• QB Ben DiNucci
• OL Mike Edwards
• RB Frank Gore Jr.
• OL Richard Gouraige
• CB Daequan Hardy
• WR Xavier Johnson
• DE Kingsley Jonathan
• CB Keni-H Lovely
• TE Tre’ McKitty
• WR Tyrell Shavers
• WR Justin Shorter
• DT Gable Steveson
• S Kendall Williamson

Placed on IR:

• T Travis Clayton

Placed on IR (return designation)

• RB Darrynton Evans
• LB Matt Milano

Milano suffered a biceps tear and will aim to return late in the season, though the All-Pro linebacker’s injury trouble is obviously a big-picture concern at this point. The Bills are also using one of their eight IR activations, mandated for teams who take advantage of the new rule to designate IR-return players today, on a backup running back. That is a rather interesting decision, as Evans has totaled just 62 carries since being drafted in the 2020 third round.

Residing on the Bills’ roster bubble going into camp, Damar Hamlin made the team. Ditto Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who joined Hamlin on the bubble. The bubble burst — for the time being, at least — on Collins and Clapp, who were vying for swing spots. Collins had been shuttled to guard — where he had not played since 2016 — in recent practices. Jackson joined the Bills after they ran into some injury trouble at safety early in camp.

Steveson, who has an Olympic wrestling gold medal, could be a practice squad candidate. The Eagles carried Olympian hurdler Devon Allen on their P-squad for two years, though the latter has far more football seasoning compared to Steveson. Attempting to follow in his father’s footsteps by securing a Bills gig, Gore is a P-squad candidate, per the Buffalo News’ Ryan O’Halloran. He will need to clear waivers first.