Bills vs. Panthers: What to Watch in Week 3 of the NFL Preseason

The Buffalo Bills take on the Carolina Panthers today at 1:00 PM EDT in Orchard Park, NY for their final preseason matchup. With both teams taking the field, this is the final chance to check out players before the regular season.

With the preseason winding down, this game offers Buffalo coaches another chance to evaluate the depth of the team before the Bills officially begin their 2024 campaign. Here’s what to look for:

Children’s Day

The Buffalo Bills are bringing “Kids Day” back to Highmark Stadium. The “Junior Tailgate” begins at 9 a.m. EDT in the stadium’s bus and limo lot. There will be tons of activities for the youth including games, giveaways, a DJ, Billy the Buffalo, a fire truck, and a Power Wheels track. The special event runs from 9 a.m. to noon, so make sure to bring the kids along for some fun!

No starters for the Bills

Head coach Sean McDermott announced that while the original plan was for the starters to get some playing time, the recent string of injuries has changed that decision. As a result, the starters will sit out, giving the reserves plenty of opportunities to make a final impression on the coaching staff. For those still on the roster bubble, this game offers one last chance to plead their case for a spot on the final 53-man roster.

What are the Bills doing at the QB2 level?

Buffalo’s quarterback room hasn’t been spared from the Bills’ rash of preseason injuries. Third-string QB Shane Buechele suffered a neck injury in the first preseason game and was recently placed on Injured Reserve. Meanwhile, second-string QB Mitch Trubisky suffered a knee injury in Week 2 of the preseason and is currently week-to-week. In response, the Bills signed quarterbacks Ben DiNucci and Anthony Brown. DiNucci saw limited action in last week’s game, completing just three passes for 20 yards.

It’s hard to imagine the Bills feeling confident about using either of these two as backups to Josh Allen for the regular season. But the team brought them in for a reason, and they now have a chance to prove themselves in this final preseason game. While the Bills will likely lean on the run game, it will be interesting to see how DiNucci and Brown perform under center — perhaps one of them can earn a spot on the practice squad.

That said, the Bills will likely find their backup QB by targeting a player currently on another team’s roster. With the final draft days approaching, multiple quarterbacks could soon hit the market. Names to watch include Bailey Zappe (fourth string, New England Patriots), the loser of the Cleveland Browns’ third-string QB battle between Tyler Huntley and Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Kyle Allen (third string, Pittsburgh Steelers), Jake Fromm (fourth string, Detroit Lions) and potentially Taylor Heinicke if the Atlanta Falcons decide to part ways.

Joe Andreessen

Buffalo Joe is currently the Bills Mafia’s favorite story and he will likely start again in the final preseason game. For a full breakdown of his story and play in the Week 2 preseason game, check out my article here . I believe Andreessen earned himself a spot on the final roster with his play in Week 2, but I’m sure he’s not counting his money just yet. This final preseason game will allow him to solidify his case to make the roster. If he can repeat that performance or even just have a solid day, it will undoubtedly improve his chances.

Bills’ WR play

Marquez Valdes-Scantling suffered a neck injury in Buffalo’s preseason matchup against the Steelers, opening the door for other players to compete for his roster spot. This creates a crucial opportunity for those on the roster, including Tyrell Shavers, KJ Hamler, Andy Isabella, Justin Shorter, Deon Cain, Damiere Byrd and Xavier Johnson.

Two players that stand out as having a legitimate chance to make the 53-man roster are Shavers and Hamler. Shavers has spent the entire training camp on the roster bubble but has yet to make a significant impact, this could be his chance. Hamler, on the other hand, appears to have lost the returner battle to rookie cornerback Daequan Hardy, but he still has a chance to carve out a role as a backup slot receiver and returner. This matchup is crucial for Hamler, and it will be worth watching to see if he can make some key plays.

The others mentioned are likely vying for a spot on the practice squad, making everyone a contender at this point.