5 Bills players to watch vs Steelers in preseason finale
The Buffalo Bills host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night at Highmark Stadium in their preseason finale, with NFL cutdown day looming Sunday. In this Steelers-Bills matchup, five bubble players matter most: OLB Mike Danna, DL Zane Durant, S Jalon Kilgore, ILB Keonta Jenkins, and WR Dante Pettis — each fighting for a spot on the 53-man roster.
When you tune in for the final exhibition game, the scoreboard is secondary. Head coach Joe Brady has said some starters will play, though quarterback Josh Allen will not, according to Yahoo Sports. Extended reps await roster hopefuls whose futures will be decided before Sunday's cutdown day.
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Key Takeaways
- Five Bills bubble players — Danna, Durant, Kilgore, Jenkins, and Pettis — face a final audition Thursday against Pittsburgh.
- Josh Allen will sit out; Kyle Allen and Shane Buechele are expected to handle quarterback duties.
- Position battles at outside linebacker, inside linebacker, wide receiver, and safety remain unsettled ahead of Sunday's cutdown.
- Thursday at Highmark Stadium is Buffalo's last chance to evaluate depth before trimming to a 53-man roster.
Who are the five Bills players to watch against the Steelers?
The Buffalo Bills highlighted five names entering Thursday's home game. Veteran outside linebacker Mike Danna has been productive in every preseason outing and throughout training camp, but faces a crowded position group and must carry that form through one more game.
Rookie defensive tackle Zane Durant has made steady progress and is beginning to flash. With Buffalo likely keeping just six defensive linemen, he needs momentum against Pittsburgh. Safety Jalon Kilgore missed last week's game at Cleveland but returned to practice; game reps will help Jim Leonhard's staff find the right role for the physically gifted defensive back.
Inside linebacker Keonta Jenkins spent last year on the practice squad, earned call-ups, and proved himself on special teams while learning Leonhard's new scheme. Veteran receiver Dante Pettis was pushing for a final receiver spot before an injury sidelined him in Cleveland; he must make up ground on offense and in the punt-returner race.
Why does this Steelers-Bills preseason game matter for roster cuts?
The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports Buffalo faces cutdown day this Sunday with several decisions still open. Who plays — and for how long — often signals where a player stands on the depth chart.
At wide receiver, Pettis competes with Trent Sherfield, Mecole Hardman, Stephen Gosnell, and Ja'Mori Maclin for a potential sixth spot. At outside linebacker, Danna's bid for the fifth roster spot likely comes down to him versus special-teamer Javon Solomon. Jenkins is neck and neck with Joe Andreessen for the backup role behind Terrel Bernard.
Will Josh Allen play in the Bills vs. Steelers preseason finale?
No. Yahoo Sports reports that while Joe Brady plans to play some starters, Josh Allen will not — keeping Buffalo's franchise quarterback out of harm's way. Both Kyle Allen and Shane Buechele are expected to play Thursday, according to the Democrat and Chronicle.
Kyle Allen has completed 24 of 28 passes for 236 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions across two preseason games, strengthening his case as Josh Allen's backup. Brady said both quarterbacks have "played really good football" and that he has confidence calling the game with either one.
Which position battles could the preseason finale settle?
Beyond the five spotlight names, Yahoo Sports flags cornerback Maxwell Hairston's future in a revamped defense, with rookie Davison Igbinosun pushing for CB2 snaps. Running backs Frank Gore Jr. and Ian Wheeler are battling for depth roles behind James Cook III, Ty Johnson, and Ray Davis.
Veteran nose tackle Greg Gaines's signing has put pressure on interior linemen like DeWayne Carter, while Kilgore's return adds another variable in an injury-hit safety room. Leonhard noted the secondary remains a concern because limited reps have made it harder to settle a starting group. Thursday's Steelers-Bills game is the last laboratory before roster math begins.