The Bills practiced on Tuesday for the last time ahead of their final preseason game before the 2026 regular season. Here's what we learned:
The QB room has two capable candidates behind Josh Allen
Both Kyle Allen and Shane Buechele have impressed throughout training camp and the preseason in the quarterback room. The QB duo have been splitting reps for the most part throughout practices, each playing one half of the second preseason game of the season against the Cleveland Browns.
The duo have both spent time in Buffalo in the past, showing off their familiarity by not missing a beat to begin 2026. Ahead of the preseason finale, the pair will again duke it out at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"You are going to see both of them on Thursday," head coach Joe Brady said. "I think both of them played really good football, and I have such confidence calling the game, knowing them. I've been with them for a while, that makes my life a lot easier."
Allen got the start last Saturday, putting together a great day where he went 10-of-12 passing with 128 yards through the air and a touchdown. Buechele was impressive in relief, throwing for 111 yards of his own with a touchdown in the second half.
Efficiently running Brady's offense, both quarterbacks proved that they would be capable of filling in for Josh Allen in a pinch.
After spending the 2023 season in Buffalo, Kyle Allen made stops in Pittsburgh and Detroit before returning to Western New York. Coming back with a new mindset, the 30-year-old is excited to get his ninth NFL season underway.
"I just feel a lot more comfortable in the player I am, a lot more comfortable in this offense," Kyle Allen said. "I think I've grown a lot since I was here last time. I've been in two great places in Pittsburgh and Detroit, and learned a lot of ball, then came back here, and learned a lot more ball in these couple months I've been here. I think I've just continued to develop as a player and just continue to get better."
Buechele also is making his return to the Bills this season after spending the end of last season with the Kansas City Chiefs. Hitting free agency again in the offseason, the 28-year-old decided that coming back to Buffalo was a no-brainer.
"I love it here," Buechele said. "I think the guys here are great. I love the guys, I love the coaching staff, the people in the building are great; It's hard to beat this place. Whenever you are happy walking in every single day, and excited to go to work, I think that's rare. And so, whenever you find that, it's hard to leave."
Michael Hoecht hopes to make his Bills debut on Thursday
Outside linebacker Michael Hoecht suffered a torn Achilles in Week 9 of last season and has been sidelined ever since. The 28-year-old's rehab is finally coming to an end, aiming to hopefully make his return to the field for Week 3 of the preseason against the Steelers on Thursday.
Hoecht signed a three-year contract with the Bills ahead of the 2025 season, only seeing action in two games before the season-ending injury. Getting him back to full strength has been the goal for the coaching staff, not wanting to rush him back out there.
"We've been very intentional about what we've done with him," Brady said. "He's going to take a lot of reps [on Tuesday] and then we'll talk after practice. But I know he's a guy that would love to get out there and get on the field and be able to get some contact and hit on Thursday."
Despite missing the first two preseason games, Hoecht has been active at practices throughout training camp as he acclimates to the new scheme under defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard.
In a deep outside line
backer room, Hoecht has looked the part so far, not being held back by his injury.
"The whole intent, the ramp-up all along has been him continuing to get a lot of reps," Brady said. "... To see how fast his recovery has been and the way that he's attacked it and going out on the field and seeing some of the movements, he should be a very, very productive football player for us."
Waiting to get back on the field hasn't been easy for Hoecht, who is itching to show Bills fans what he's capable of. In his two games suited up in the blue and red in 2025, the 28-year-old was dominant, picking up two sacks, one forced fumble, two quarterback hits and one tackle for loss.
Whether or not he's able to play on Thursday, Hoecht seems to be on the right trajectory to be a force on the edge for Buffalo once the regular season gets under way.
"As far as I know, it's still a game time decision, but I would certainly like to [play]," Hoecht said. "My thing is, I want to go play tackle football before Week 1. And if they'll let me go do that, awesome. If not, then the first person I tackle will be somebody in Houston."
Hoecht recently recruited one of his former teammates to join him in Buffalo, pitching defensive lineman Greg Gaines on how the city has treated him to this point.
"It's a fun place to be, [with] the charm of the city and the fan base," Hoecht said. "And it helps being a winning football team, a good roster. We're competitive right to the end. That's a pretty hard thing to turn down."
Gaines joined the Bills right ahead of the second preseason game against the Browns, making a big play against the run despite only playing seven snaps.
As a former Super Bowl champion with the Los Angeles Rams back in 2022 where he was the team's starting nose tackle, Gaines is hoping to bring his big-game experience to Buffalo in the search for a championship of its own.
"I was just waiting for the right spot because I wanted to go somewhere I could get a good playing time, and be on a team that wins and does well, and so this was the perfect fit I think," Gaines said.
Swipe to see the best photos from Day 20 of the 2026 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at the Kaleida Health Performance Center in Orchard Park, NY. This gallery is presented by ADMAR.
Josh Allen (17), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ray Davis (7), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Mac Dalena (82), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Frank Gore Jr. (20), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Bradley Chubb (9), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Chase Lundt (77), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Cole Bishop (24), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Cole Bishop (24), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Keleki Latu (83), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Chase Lundt (77), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Da'Metrius Weatherspoon (76), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joe Danna, Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Bradley Chubb (9), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Bradley Chubb (9), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Wande Owens (30), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Jalon Kilgore (29), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Cole Bishop (24), Geno Stone (25), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
D.J. Miller, Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
James Cook (4), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Kyle Allen (11), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joshua Palmer (5), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joshua Palmer (5), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joshua Palmer (5), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Skyler Bell (13), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Tyler Bass (16), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Alec Anderson (70), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Spencer Brown (79), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ray Davis (7), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Bruno Fina (75), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
DeWayne Carter (90), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Tyler Bass (16), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ben VanSumeren (45), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joshua Palmer (5), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Jackson Hawes (85), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joshua Palmer (5), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
DJ Moore (2), Drew Terrell, Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dee Alford (23), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Christian Benford (47), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Te'Cory Couch (33), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Toriano Pride Jr. (32), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ja'Mori Maclin (84), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Skyler Bell (13), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Shane Zylstra (48), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Kyle Allen (11), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Shane Buechele (6), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dawson Knox (88), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Keleki Latu (83), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Da'Metrius Weatherspoon (76), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
O'Cyrus Torrence (64), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Bruno Fina (75), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ray Davis (7), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ian Wheeler (27), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Bradley Chubb (9), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ray Davis (7), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ray Davis (7), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ray Davis (7), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Trent Sherfield (81), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Trent Sherfield (81), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joshua Palmer (5), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joshua Palmer (5), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joshua Palmer (5), Ben VanSumeren (45), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joshua Palmer (5), Ray Davis (7), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Kyle Allen (11), Shane Buechele (6), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dawson Knox (88), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ray Davis (7), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Helmet, Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Tommy Doman Jr. (39), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Spencer Brown (79), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
James Cook (4), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Cole Bishop (24), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Cole Bishop (24), Davison Igbinosun (21), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dawson Knox (88), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Kyle Allen (11), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Shane Buechele (6), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dawson Knox (88), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
James Cook (4), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Greg Rousseau (15), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Tommy Doman Jr. (39), Reid Ferguson (69), Buffalo Bills Training Camp, on August 25th, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.
