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'They put it all out there' | Bills end their preseason on a high note

Aug 24, 2025 at 01:05 PM

Kay Racine

Seasonal Associate

The Bills' 23-19 win in Tampa ended the preseason on a high note, and perhaps no one was in a better mood than quarterback Shane Buechele after starting and playing an entire NFL game for the first time.

Buechele spent last season on injured reserve with a neck injury and has worked hard to get back on the field.

"Last season was tough, from not being able to put on pads and working my way to get back. God is good. Even tonight, I kept telling myself that every time I went on the field," shared Buechele.

From the start, Buechele was electric, finding open receivers and finishing 25-for-30 with 278 passing yards. One of his biggest connections was with WR Tyrell Shavers, who hauled in a jaw-dropping one-handed touchdown catch in the second quarter. Shavers has been battling for a spot on the 53-man roster and was glad he could put another positive performance on tape.

"It's been a roller coaster, but a blessing. It's been fun. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. I'm happy that I came here. I'm happy I started my career here and that I've been here. I wouldn't want it any other way, honestly," shared Shavers.

As the game unfolded, we learned that Bills punter Brad Robbins was dealing with an illness and was not handling punting duties. That led the Bills to bring out TE Zach Davidson — who started as a kicker in college — for a punt at the end of the first quarter. Davidson sent the ball soaring for a 62-yard punt, and the tight end room couldn't have been happier for him.

"You would have thought I was Josh Allen running fourth-and-two for a touchdown to win the game," Davidson said of his teammates' reactions. "It's a pretty cool experience. Knowing that my teammates have my back doing something like that."

Never trailing in the game, the Bills had standout plays from several younger players, including a sack from rookie DT Deone Walker that DE Javon Solomon had to praise.

"That was dope. I like to see it all come to life. What you see in practice, for them to get their flowers on the big stage while the lights are on, it's pretty huge. They're all so talented in their own unique way," Solomon said.

Ending the preseason on a high note meant a lot to players like LB Jimmy Ciarlo, who is hoping to make the roster ahead of cuts Tuesday, Aug. 26. Ciarlo was a late summer addition to the team, joining the roster right before the preseason schedule started. Ciarlo racked up five tackles Saturday night and helped deny a two-point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter.

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"It's just been what can I do from sunup to sundown that's going to put me in a better position to help the Buffalo Bills. And I know it's preseason, so that might sound kind of goofy, but if you take me in as part of the organization, that's where my mindset is at. I want to help the Buffalo Bills," Ciarlo said.

Seeing his team rally together and fight the way they did in the final preseason game after a scoreless outing last week couldn't have made head coach Sean McDermott happier.

"A lot of guys showed up. Can't thank these guys enough. They put it all out there. It's been a journey for them all, and that's all you can ask for as a coach. For these guys to go for it and give it all they've got in the last game, and they did that, so I'm super proud of those guys," shared McDermott.