Buffalo Bills

Who Will Bills Release To Make Room For Dareus and Henderson

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:07 p.m. ET

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Aug 26, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Walt Powell (19) makes a reception against the Washington Redskins during the second half at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo has upcoming roster decisions to make after Week 4. Who will Bills release?

Marcell Dareus and Seantrel Henderson are both coming off suspensions after the Bills game against the Patriots. The team will have to cut two players to get the roster down to 53 men. There are several players who come to mind as possible cuts and here are some of them.

Walt Powell

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Walt Powell was the darling of the preseason for the Bills. Considered a long shot to make the roster he found ways to contribute on both offense and special teams. Powell led all Bills receivers in the preseason with 12 receptions for 189 yards. Every time the Bills threw the ball, he seemed to be the target and would make play after play.

Despite his preseason production, Rex Ryan was critical of Powell’s knowledge of the “finer details” of the offense. According to the Democrat and Chronicle, Ryan said, “So, now it’s just putting him out there, being more consistent and really focusing on the finer details of his job, I think that’s the big thing right now. If there’s one thing that’s disappointing about Walt it’s that.”

The Bills were in search of a punt and kick returner this offseason and Powell and Reggie Bush were the favorites to land that role. Once the Bills signed Brandon Tate in early September, he took over as the primary returner and Powell became less important on special teams.

Powell has not been getting a lot of opportunities to contribute on either special teams or offense during the regular season which is the first sign he could be on the chopping block. Who else might the Bills cut? The running back on the next slide might surprise you.

Aug 26, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Buffalo Bills running back Reggie Bush (22) carries the ball as Washington Redskins defensive end Preston Smith (94) chases in the first quarter at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Reggie Bush

When the Bills signed Reggie Bush in the offseason fans were left to wonder how he would fit in considering the team at the time had a backfield of LeSean McCoy, Karlos Williams, Mike Gillislee and Jonathan Williams. Nineteen days after they signed Bush that changed when they cut Karlos Williams, their No. 2 back from last year .

Some assumed Bush would automatically be number two on the depth chart but the team’s intentions with Bush were made clear shortly thereafter. “I think Reggie Bush is somebody that we know that we want to keep fresh, but he’s still got a lot of juice left,” Rex Ryan said. “Gillislee, I think, is probably the No. 2 back right now. And then the young kid [Jonathan] Williams…We don’t want to just run his legs off as the No. 2 back. But make no mistake: He’s going to play for us, and contribute not just as a returner but on offense as well.”

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Well that statement hasn’t been true thus far. Bush has negative four yards this season on three rushing attempts in the three games. He hasn’t been given a chance to prove he can contribute on offense.

Complicating matters for Bush was when the Bills signed Brandon Tate. Tate has assumed the Bills return duties and done a nice job. The team is ranked 5th in the league in both average punt return yards and kick return yards with an average of 17.0 on punts and 24.2 on kickoffs. With Bush not finding much of a role for himself on offense or special teams, Buffalo may look to release the back and roll with a three-man rotation of McCoy, Gillislee and Jonathan Williams.

Who else could be cut? The Bills only fullback or these two safeties could also be released. Find out who they are on the next slide.

Jul 30, 2016; Pittsford, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills fullback Jerome Felton (42) works the sled during training camp at St. John Fisher College. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Jerome Felton

I doubt he will be the one but never say never. With Greg Roman gone, Anthony Lynn might decide that there isn’t a huge reason to have a fullback like Jerome Felton on the roster. Bills blocking tight end Jim Dray can be used in certain “fullback” situations if they were to let Felton go.

On the other hand, when Lynn and Rex Ryan were with the Jets, they carried a fullback on the roster each year whether it was John Conner, Lex Hillard or Tony Richardson. I don’t think Felton will be cut because I think both men have a preference for having a fullback on the roster.

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The reason why the Bills cut Jerome Felton earlier this year was to get his four-year, $9.2 million contract off the books. Since the team waited until after Week 1 to re-sign him, his current salary of $832,941 is not guaranteed which makes it easier to push him out the door if they choose.

Jonathan Meeks/Colt Anderson

The Bills have six safeties which is extraordinarily high. Someone from this position might have to go. Jonathan Meeks and Colt Anderson have seen the least playing time on defense. Colt Anderson was signed this offseason because of his ability to contribute on special teams. He injured his foot in the Bills final preseason game and has not been active for a game yet this year.

Sometimes the NFL is unfair, and not being able to play could end up costing him his job. Meeks, on the other hand, has been getting plenty of special teams snaps for the Bills this year. Both players will probably be safe because of their ability to contribute on more than one unit.

Having six safeties on a team is more than most NFL teams so from a pure numbers standpoint both these players are still at risk of being cut despite their special teams contributions. The Bills also have another player who could be cut at offensive tackle. Who could it be? Find out on the next slide.

Dec 21, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears guard Michael Ola (70) against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. The Lions defeated the Bears 20-14. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Ola

There’s an old accounting concept for inventory called “LIFO” which stands for “last in, first out”. That could be the case with recently signed Michael Ola. He was signed off the New York Giants practice squad when the Bills released kickoff specialist Jordan Gay. Ola was added to provide depth at tackle considering Seantrel Henderson’s suspension and Cordy Glenn’s injury.

Henderson is due back from his suspension next week and there is no timetable as to when Glenn will be back as of now he is expected to return this season at some point. Henderson’s return next week will likely push Ola off of the Bills roster once they need to make their decision. If the Bills like what they see in Ola this week they could instead choose to push interior linemen Gabe Ikard or Ryan Groy off of the roster.

If I had to pick the two most likely players out of this bunch I would pick Reggie Bush and Michael Ola as the primary candidates to be released. The Bills need for Ola will diminish with Henderson returning and Reggie Bush doesn’t seem to have a role on the offense or on special teams right now making him expendable.

The Bills made some surprising moves the first time they whittled the roster down to 53 men so anything can happen this time around when they have to release two more players.

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