Aug 23, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Tyrell Shavers (80) catches the ball over Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Bryce Hall (34) for a touchdown during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Winners & Losers from entire Buffalo Bills' preseason

Originally posted on Buffalo Bills on SI
By Richie Whitt | Last updated Aug 24, 2025 12:41 PM ET

The Buffalo Bills capped a 1-2 preseason with a 23-19 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday night.

Next up is the major roster cutdown to 53 players, then the ramp-up to the Sept. 7 season opener against the Baltimore Ravens.

In other words, it's now officially football season.

After a busy six-month offseason and six weeks of training camp in which Josh Allen got married and the Bills starred on Hard Knocks, signed pass-rusher Joey Bosa and re-signed running back James Cook, our look at the winners and losers of preseason.

WINNERS

RB James Cook — Getting him signed to a contract extension lifted a cloud from camp and allowed Bills Mafia to continue realistic hopes that this may finally be the year.

WR Tyrell Shavers — After a sparkling camp climaxed by a one-hand touchdown catch in Tampa, there's no way Buffalo can hide him on the practice squad. He was the team's best receiver throughout the offseason.

DT Deone Walker — The fourth-round rookie from Kentucky has been a pleasant surprise, evidenced by his half-sack of Bucs' quarterback Kyle Trask. He's immediately proven worthy of being in Buffalo's defensive line rotation.

LOSERS

WR Elijah Moore — Signed in free agency to give Allen depth at receiver, he has flopped and could be a roster casualty because of the rise of Shavers. Two dropped passes in the second preseason game might prove his demise.

WR Curtis Samuel — See above. Another veteran who might have been leap-frogged on the depth chart by Shavers. He missed most of camp and all three preseason games with a hamstring injury and is rumored to be a strong trade candidate.

CB Max Hairston — The Bills play Lamar Jackson in two weeks and the Ravens' quarterback must be licking his chops. The rookie first-round pick suffered a knee injury early in camp and didn't play in the preseason. Along with an injury to veteran Tre'Davious White, the Bills' secondary is a mess.