Bills DT Ed Oliver Could Return During Postseason
At 11-4, the Bills have already clinched a playoff berth with two weeks remaining in the regular season. They’ve done so despite the long-term absence of one of their top defensive linemen, Ed Oliver, but a playoff return is a possibility. The Bills hope to get the 287-pound tackle back from injured reserve sometime during the postseason, according to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic.
Buffalo is still in play for the AFC’s No. 1 seed and a first-round bye, though that’s an extreme long shot. The likelihood is the Bills will finish second in the AFC East behind the Patriots, ending a five-year run atop the division. That would set the Bills up to go on the road on wild-card weekend, which looks like the earliest possible comeback for Oliver.
Now in his seventh NFL season, Oliver has appeared in just three of 15 games. He was the Bills’ best defender in a Week 1 win over the Ravens, but an ankle injury suffered in practice shelved the 28-year-old for the next four games. Oliver returned to play in two contests before going down with a biceps tear in Week 8. He has been on IR since then.
While Oliver has only amassed 108 defensive snaps this year, he has made a noticeable impact when healthy. The former first-round pick piled up 12 tackles, seven TFL, five QB hits, and three sacks during his brief regular season.
It’s a small sample, but Pro Football Focus assigned Oliver a career-best grade of 90.4 against the run before he landed on the shelf. With Oliver out for most of 2025, the Bills have yielded the third-most rushing yards in the league. They eked out a 23-20 win over the Browns last Sunday despite allowing 160 ground yards on 31 attempts.
Oliver’s absence has left DaQuan Jones as the Bills’ most reliable interior D-lineman. Fourth-round rookie Deone Walker, second-round rookie T.J. Sanders, and veterans Larry Ogunjobi, Jordan Phillips, and Phidarian Mathis round out the group. There’s a steep drop-off from a healthy Oliver to any of those five.
Ogunjobi, who inked a one-year, $8.3MM deal with the Bills in free agency, has been particularly disappointing. The former Brown, Bengal and Steeler served a six-game PED suspension to begin his Bills tenure, and he has made little impact in eight games since returning. Head coach Sean McDermott made Ogunjobi a healthy scratch in Week 16.
It’s unknown if Ogunjobi will remain on the bench Sunday as Buffalo attempts to stay alive in the AFC East race for another week. Regardless, the Bills’ Oliver-less defense is in for a stiff test against the Eagles and their Saquon Barkley-led rushing attack. The Bills will then close out the regular slate with the Jets in Week 18, which may be the last time they’ll go without Oliver this season.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/24/25
Here are today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: QB Logan Woodside
- Released: S Patrick McMorris
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: OL Richard Gouraige
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Thomas Gordon
- Placed on practice squad/injured list: TE Qadir Ismail
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LS Luke Elkin, T Joshua Miles
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: C Josh Kaltenberger
- Released: TE Tanner McLachlan
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Brandon Johnson
- Released: DT Kyler Baugh
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/23/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Eugene Asante
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB M.J. Devonshire
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Michael Reid
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Thomas Gordon
Denver Broncos
- Placed on practice squad/injured: S Delarrin Turner-Yell
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: RB Royce Freeman
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: S Jack Henderson
New England Patriots
- Signed: RB Elijah Mitchell, WR Brandon Smith
- Released: OT Sebastian Gutierrez
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Tyler Hall
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Nick Jackson
Keon Coleman A Healthy Scratch In Week 16; ‘Professionalism’ An Issue
Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman played a pivotal role in a 41-40 victory over the Ravens in Week 1. Coleman began his second NFL season with eight receptions, 112 yards, and a touchdown to help spark a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback. A 2025 breakout looked like a possibility at that point, but Coleman’s impact has been minimal since then.
Heading into Week 17, Coleman has underwhelmed with 36 catches, 355 yards, and four TDs in 12 games. Despite owning one of the league’s least effective receiving groups, and despite using a second-round pick on Coleman in 2024, the Bills have made him a healthy scratch multiple times.
Head coach Sean McDermott first benched Coleman ahead of a Week 11 win over the Buccaneers. He was inactive again the next week. McDermott punished Coleman after he was late to a team meeting, which wasn’t the first time Coleman had an issue with punctuality.
“It’s a professionalism thing — but he’s going to be OK. We need him,” a team source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN at the time.
The Bills didn’t consider releasing Coleman at that point, according to Fowler, but the 22-year-old hasn’t regained a guaranteed spot since then. After appearing in three straight games and combining for four grabs, 25 yards, and a TD, Coleman sat out a 23-20 win over the Browns last Sunday. McDermott confirmed he was a healthy scratch (via Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic).
With McDermott scratching both Coleman and Gabe Davis, the Bills rolled with Khalil Shakir, Josh Palmer, Brandin Cooks, Tyrell Shavers, and Mecole Hardman as their receivers in Cleveland. Shakir led the unit with a paltry 34 yards on four catches. Palmer, Cooks, Shavers, and Hardman combined for 23 yards on two receptions. Cooks and Hardman each went without a catch.
“Just a combination of receivers, offensively, that we wanted up,” McDermott said of his receiver choices in Week 16 (via Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN). “And then obviously, Mecole was moved into the 5 spot there for primarily special teams purposes, but also a little bit of receiver as well.”
The Bills are 11-4 and on the way to the playoffs for the seventh straight year, but their receiving corps’ lack of production has been a problem throughout 2025. Shakir, a solid slot target, has been the only consistent option. The dearth of quality receivers hasn’t helped reigning MVP quarterback Josh Allen‘s cause, though he and league-leading rusher James Cook have still lifted Buffalo’s offense to a No. 4 ranking this year.
Along with Coleman not developing as hoped, the free agent addition of Palmer has been a swing and a miss. The former Charger, now in the first season of a three-year, $36MM contract, has hauled in 20 passes for 290 yards and no TDs in 10 games. Cooks, Curtis Samuel (currently injured), and Elijah Moore (now on Denver’s practice squad) join Palmer as veteran receivers who have recently come up short after choosing Buffalo in free agency.
With Palmer injured at the time, general manager Brandon Beane was in the market for a receiver addition in advance of the Nov. 4 trade deadline. Beane reportedly made a significant offer to the division rival Dolphins for Jaylen Waddle, but he came up empty. While Beane reeled in Cooks in late November after the Saints released him, the 32-year-old hasn’t provided a boost to the offense. Despite an impressive resume that includes 730 receptions, Cooks has caught just one of five targets in four games with the Bills.
Regardless of how the rest of the campaign plays out, Beane will likely focus a good deal of offseason attention on the receiver position. It’s a “distinct possibility” that Shakir will be the only current Bills receiver who has a major role next year, Buscaglia contends. If Buffalo doesn’t trade or release Coleman in the offseason, he may wind up as a low-end option on the depth chart for the second straight year. That wasn’t what Buffalo had in mind when it used a high selection on Coleman just a few weeks after trading away former No. 1 wideout Stefon Diggs.
Coaching Notes: Johnson, Bengals, Lions, Vikings, Bills, Buccaneers
Both Zac Taylor and Ben Johnson were on the Dolphins’ staff when Dan Campbell served as Miami’s interim HC in 2015. That unremarkable season launched two HC careers, with Taylor seeing his first OC work (as the Dolphins’ interim play-caller) and Johnson being retained by Adam Gase in 2016. After the Dolphins fired Gase two years later, Johnson was out of work. The Bengals had just hired Taylor, who said he made an effort to hire the young assistant. Taylor indicated multiple runs at Johnson, who was tied to Matt Patricia‘s Lions staff from 2019-20.
“He was out [of coaching] and we didn’t have any openings on offense,” Taylor said, via SI.com’s James Rapien. “After the ’20 season probably because I made a lot of changes after the ’20 season. So at the end of the ’20 season we didn’t have our QCs on defense. We did not have an offensive opening, so I just wanted to get him on the staff and Lou (Anarumo) knew him.”
Anarumo, the Bengals’ six-year DC, also coached with Johnson in Miami. It is certainly interesting the Bengals viewed Johnson highly enough they offered him a defensive position, but the rising staffer settled in fine post-Miami. The Lions used him as an offensive quality control assistant in 2019 and shifted him to tight ends coach before Patricia’s ouster. Campbell’s familiarity with Johnson began the assistant’s surge in earnest by 2021, even though Johnson did not take over as OC for another year.
Shifting to more current coaching news, here is the latest ahead of the 2026 carousel:
- Campbell’s staff is losing a position coach early. Tight ends coach Tyler Roehl is leaving Detroit for Ames, Iowa. Iowa State has hired Roehl as its new offensive coordinator, the Big 12 school announced. The Detroit News’ Rich Silva reported this was likely to happen, and the university has confirmed Roehl is returning to Iowa. The Lions hired Roehl earlier this year; he had previously served as an Iowa State staffer under Matt Campbell. Despite Penn State hiring Campbell, Roehl will hold a key position under his replacement (Jimmy Rogers). Roehl, a Cyclones staffer from 2022-24, will stay on to finish the Lions’ season before heading back to the college ranks.
- A Bills assistant will make a similar move. Wyoming is hiring Christian Taylor as its next OC, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. The Bills hired Taylor as a quality control staffer in 2024. Taylor came to Buffalo after four seasons as William & Mary’s OC; prior to that, he was in charge of the offense at the University of San Diego.
- The Vikings are losing a defensive assistant to the college ranks, seeing safeties coach Michael Hutchings set to become Cal’s next DC, veteran insider Jordan Schultz notes. Brian Flores hired Hutchings upon arriving in Minnesota in 2023. Hutchings, 30, had coached only at the college level before joining the Vikings’ staff. This created the interesting dynamic of Hutchings coaching Harrison Smith, who is six years his senior. He also oversaw the development of Camryn Bynum, who commanded a $15MM-per-year Colts contract in free agency this offseason.
- Cal is looking to the NFC for both its coordinator gigs, hiring Buccaneers assistant QBs coach Jordan Somerville as its OC, per CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz. Like Hutchings, Somerville had only coached at the college level before landing in the NFL in 2023. Somerville has brought some continuity to a Bucs staff that has lost its OC to HC jobs in back-to-back years, having been in the assistant QBs coach role throughout his Tampa stay. But the former Oregon assistant will head to Cal, where Ron Rivera remains as the program’s GM.
Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order
Several dominoes have fallen so far in Week 16 with respect to the NFL’s playoff picture. The Cowboys have been eliminated while the Patriots, Seahawks, Bears, Eagles and 49ers have locked in a postseason berth.
The final two weeks of the campaign will determine the remaining playoff spots, but they will also sort out the top of the draft order. Six teams remain within striking distance of the No. 1 pick, although the Titans’ win on Sunday greatly weakened their chances of landing the top selection for the second year in a row. One contest in particular will be worth monitoring next week with respect to draft positioning.
The Giants and Raiders each sport a record of 2-13. They will play each other in Week 17, meaning the loser of that contest will have the inside track for the No. 1 pick. New York already has a head coaching vacancy while Pete Carroll is in danger of going one-and-done in Vegas. Plenty of incentive for winning will exist for Carroll in particular, but the outcome of that game will have major implications on the draft order.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2025 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. Playoff squads are slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular season record.
Here is an updated look at the first-round order:
- New York Giants (2-13)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-13)
- Cleveland Browns (3-12)
- New York Jets (3-12)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-12)
- Tennessee Titans (3-12)
- Washington Commanders (4-11)
- New Orleans Saints (5-10)
- Cincinnati Bengals (5-10)
- Miami Dolphins (6-9)
- Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-9)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1)
- Baltimore Ravens (7-8)
- Minnesota Vikings (7-8)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)
- Detroit Lions (8-7)
- New York Jets (via Colts)
- Carolina Panthers (8-7)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)
- Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)
- Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)
- Houston Texans (10-5)
- Buffalo Bills (11-4)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)
- San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
- Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)
- Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
- Chicago Bears (11-4)
- New England Patriots (12-3)
- Denver Broncos (12-3)
- Seattle Seahawks (12-3)
Chiefs Sign QB Shane Buechele Off Bills’ Practice Squad
In need of healthy options at the quarterback spot, the Chiefs have brought back a familiar face. Shane Buechele is back with the organization. 
Buechele signed to Kansas City’s active roster from the Bills’ practice squad, the Chiefs announced on Monday. In a corresponding move, Gardner Minshew has been placed on injured reserve. Minshew did not suffer an ACL tear as initially feared, but he will still miss the final two weeks of the season.
The Chiefs are out of the playoffs but they find themselves thin at the QB spot due to Minshew’s injury and the ACL tear Patrick Mahomes suffered in Week 15. Chris Oladokun finished the game yesterday, and he could be in line to start on Christmas Day against the Broncos. In any case, Buechele will provide Kansas City with depth under center.
The team sits at 6-9 on the year. As such, the result of this week’s matchup with the Broncos and the regular season finale against the Raiders will only impact where the Chiefs wind up in the draft order. Still, the next two weeks will provide Oladokun and/or Buechele with an opportunity to see playing time with the starting offense and thus audition for a deal this offseason.
A former UDFA, Buechele first joined the Chiefs when he signed to their practice squad in 2021. The 27-year-old did not see any regular season playing time before signing with the Bills in August 2023. Buechele remained in Buffalo from that point onward, but he could now receive a brief look on the field with Kansas City.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/20/25
Here are Saturday’s minor moves around the NFL, including gameday elevations for tomorrow’s Week 16 slate:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: CB Jaden Davis, WR Steven Sims
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed to active roster: CB C.J. Henderson
- Waived: WR/KR Jamal Agnew
- Elevated: WR Chris Blair, OLB Khalid Kareem
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: DT Josh Tupou, LB William Kwenkeu
- Placed on IR: LB Teddye Buchanan (story)
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from IR: WR Mecole Hardman
- Elevated: K Michael Badgley, DE Andre Jones Jr.
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: LB Isaiah Simmons, OL Saahdiq Charles
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DT Howard Cross, CB Bralyn Lux
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: CB Corey Ballentine
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: QB Sam Ehlinger, S Delarrin Turner-Yell
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: OL Kingsley Eguakun, TE Giovanni Ricci
Houston Texans
- Elevated: DT Marlon Davidson, CB Alijah Huzzie
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: S Marcus Williams, G Branson Taylor
Miami Dolphins
- Signed to active roster: CB Ethan Robinson
- Placed on IR: DB Elijah Campbell
- Elevated: OL Kion Smith, WR Theo Wease
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed to active roster: CB Dwight McGlothern
- Elevated: LB Sione Takitaki
New York Giants
- DT Elijah Chatman, K Ben Sauls
New York Jets
- Elevated: DB Tre Brown
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: T Easton Kilty, TE Moliki Matavao
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: CB Daryl Porter Jr., T Jack Driscoll
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: LB Nick Martin
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: DT Cam Horsley
- Waived: DT Shy Tuttle
- Elevated: CB Kemon Hall
Agnew’s time in Atlanta has come to an end after 11 appearances with his third career team. The veteran did not see any usage on offense, but he handled 45 total returns between kickoffs and punts this season. Agnew totaled 855 yards in that capacity, but he will now hit the waiver wire. Provided he clears, the 30-year-old will become a free agent.
The same is true of Tuttle. A veteran of 105 games, he has made just one start so far this season. Tuttle has only handled a 25% snap share on defense, so he is unlikely to generate much interest as a free agent. Nevertheless, a depth role could await him on a contender down the stretch.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/20/25
Saturday’s taxi squad moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Released: DL Morgan Fox
Denver Broncos
- Signed: G Calvin Throckmorton
Fox’s release is the corresponding move to the Bills signing Matt Judon. Throckmorton, meanwhile, became a free agent upon clearing waivers this week. He has elected to remain in Denver via a practice squad agreement.
Bills To Sign DE Matt Judon
Matt Judon will stay in the AFC East after being waived by the Dolphins on Wednesday. After a visit to Buffalo on Friday, the veteran defensive end has agreed to join the Bills’ practice squad, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The Bills are Judon’s fifth different NFL team and fourth since 2023. After spending 2023 with the Patriots and 2024 with the Falcons, Judon signed with the Dolphins in August and took on a secondary role in Miami’s edge rushing rotation. Even after seeing an uptick in playing time after the Jaelan Phillips trade, the 10-year veteran recorded just 19 tackles, one tackle for loss, and zero sacks in 13 games. Those numbers represent a significant and alarming drop for a 33-year-old edge rusher whose production had already waned in the last few years. Judon’s 10 pressures and 4.2% pass rush win rate are no more encouraging; he ranks among the league’s worst NFL edge rushers in both category, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Accordingly, no team claimed Judon off waivers, though the remaining money on his contract was also a disincentive. It did not take much time for him to find a new home, and Buffalo makes sense as a destination. The Bills are still within striking distance of the AFC East crown, the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, and a Super Bowl. They also have a history of picking up veteran edge rushers later in their career. First it was an over-aggressive contract for Von Miller in 2022 before a more sensible deal with Joey Bosa this past offseason. The latter pact has quickly borne fruit; Bosa leads the Bills with five sacks and eight tackles for loss on the year.
The Bills also needed some depth after multiple defensive line injuries this season. On the edge, rookie Landon Jackson and veteran Michael Hoecht are both on injured reserve, as are defensive tackles Ed Oliver and DeWayne Carter. Judon may not be pressed into action right away, but additional injuries could make him relevant in the postseason.