Sean McDermott emerged from the podium under the burden of cutdown week. His voice was a testimony to the stress of decisions any coach would rather not have to make. The Buffalo Bills, a championship-seeking team, are also a locker room of men battling for an opportunity to preserve their dream, some of which will be snuffed out this week. “It’s pure joy to be with this team,” he said. Drawing a contrast between the privilege of coaching and the pain of telling players their time in Buffalo has come to an end. With cutdown day looming, McDermott acknowledged the painful reality of roster decisions.

“We’ve got tough decisions to make,” he said. “I want every one of these guys to be able to play in the league… It tears at my heart. If they were my son, I look at them through that prism.” It was a glimpse into a coach’s heart at the core. A reminder that the business of the NFL has a personal price. Not every cut is merely a business decision; it’s a life-changing moment for some. For McDermott, it’s a matter of reconciling the cruel face of competition with compassion. The remarks resonated outside of football logistics.

Sean McDermott made it clear that his words weren’t simply platitudes. He referenced rookie defensive tackle Deone Walker, who registered his first sack of the preseason on Saturday night. The fourth-rounder showed both hunger and humility, demanding more of himself after what McDermott called a subpar showing a week earlier. “We’re gonna have to count on these young players,” the coach admitted. “There are going to be some moments where it’s two steps forward, one step back. When they take that step back, we have to get them back as quickly as we can.” The coach’s words were rooted in the very reality of what cutdown week is: real names, real players, real lives. The Bills start the 2025 regular season at home on September 7 against the Baltimore Ravens.

However, few positions are remaining to fill. Josh Allen will lead the offense, with veteran Mitchell Trubisky backing him up. Mike White, who saw a lot of action in the preseason, seems a natural candidate for the practice squad. At running back, James Cook anchors a group that includes rookies Ray Davis and Ty Johnson, whom Allen called the “best third-down back” in football. The receiving corps is where things get mysterious. Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Joshua Palmer are locked down, but after that, the mystery grows.

Curtis Samuel missed nearly the entire training camp with a strained hamstring, and then illness forced him to sit out on Saturday. Along the offensive line of scrimmage, Dion Dawkins, David Edwards, Connor McGovern, O’Cyrus Torrence, and Spencer Brown are in place. Injuries to younger players like Tylan Grable make it a more complicated decision. McDermott’s staff has danced with keeping 10 linemen on the roster. And versatility from backups like Chase Lundt will play a crucial role in making those decisions.

On defense, the suspensions of Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi open doors to young linemen. That’s when Walker’s arrival becomes necessary. With Greg Rousseau, Ed Oliver, and Joey Bosa, the rookie’s arrival could seal a rotation that McDermott describes as “moments of growth through mistakes.” However, Maxwell Hairston, the rookie cornerback, is “a ways away” with a knee injury.

Tre’Davious White’s future is in limbo due to injury, Sean McDermott announces

The worst news of the week arrived in Sean McDermott’s update on Tre’Davious White. The veteran cornerback had an MRI on a lower leg injury, with the team waiting to get the results. White has already endured a grueling journey, having torn his ACL on Thanksgiving evening in 2021, missing more than half of 2022, and then blowing out his Achilles in Week 4 of 2023. Each time he has taken patience, rehab, and grit. And now, just as the 2025 season is set to be his redemption tour, fate may have pulled a trick on him once again.

The sight of White limping to the sidelines, annoyance evident on his face as he probed the stadium wall, was unsettling for fans and teammates alike. Keeping him off the leg was ominous, and McDermott’s guarded tone on Saturday night didn’t do anything to conceal the apprehension that is prevalent in the building.

“We’ll know more once the MRI is evaluated,” McDermott said, careful not to speculate but aware of the weight of his words. Brandon Beane, the team’s general manager, added that no timeline can yet be established. However, for a roster already navigating Hairston’s absence and Samuel’s uncertainty, the possibility of losing White again would be devastating. His leadership and ability to shadow top receivers cannot easily be replaced.