Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane spoke to the local media Tuesday, providing his observations on the state of the team's roster going into the 2026 regular season. Among the topics discussed were injury updates on a number of players.

Here's what we learned:

The Bills placed emerging rookie defensive lineman Zane Durant on injured reserve this week, meaning he will miss at least the first four games of the season. Beane described the injury as a "neck stinger" and the team wants to give Durant time to let the injury "resolve itself".

"I don't think it's out of the question that he could be back when the rules allow, which the earliest would be game five. I don't think that's off the table. I think we're going to need a little more time to kind of see how he progresses," Beane said.

Durant's injury allowed the Bills to keep third-year defensive lineman DeWayne Carter on the 53-man roster. Carter missed the entire 2025 season with an Achilles injury and was one of the players fighting for a roster spot this spring and summer.

"He's a guy I saw get better, was a lot better in week two in the Cleveland game than week one," Beane said. "Knowing the history of that injury, talking to our doctors, you'd like to think he's going to continue to kind of trend up as we work through each week of the season."

Outside linebacker Michael Hoecht got a taste of game action for the first time since his Achilles injury last season. Hoecht played for part of the first half against the Steelers in the final preseason game and now appears on track for the regular season. Beane said he's "hopeful and optimistic" that Hoecht can suit up Week 1 in Houston.

"I think he passed one of those final tests of playing in that Pittsburgh game," Beane said. "We'll see how he gets through this week and next week. But I'm hopeful."

Inside linebacker Terrel Bernard didn't practice Tuesday, with Beane describing Bernard as being "nicked up a little bit".

"Hoping to get him back to full health, hopefully before game one, we'll see," Beane added.

Safety CJ Gardner-Johnson is "getting better" with a lower body injury and was at practice during the media viewing portion on Tuesday.

"I think we'll know more next week, a guy like him, what exactly his status will be for game one," Beane said of Gardner Johnson.

Newly-signed practice squad offensive lineman Jedrick Wills Jr. won't practice with the team for now as he rehabs a back injury. Beane shared that Wills Jr. reached an injury settlement with the Bears, allowing him to be released and join Buffalo's practice squad.

"He had a little tweak of his back there at the end. So we'll ramp him up probably -- this week. I don't know, he's not quite at 100%. But hopefully get him back there soon," Beane said of Wills Jr.