Lead: The Buffalo Bills enter their road game in Denver shorthanded among wide receivers after two postseason ACL tears. In the wild-card win over Jacksonville the team lost Gabe Davis and Tyrell Shavers to torn ACLs, leaving just a small group of available pass-catchers. Since Friday morning the roster picture shifted modestly: Curtis Samuel was activated from injured reserve and Mecole Hardman Jr. was elevated from the practice squad. How those healthy receivers perform against a top-tier Denver secondary will shape Buffalo’s offensive outlook.
Key Takeaways
- The Bills lost Gabe Davis and Tyrell Shavers to torn ACLs in the wild-card victory over the Jaguars, removing two outside targets from the postseason roster.
- As of the latest roster moves, Buffalo had five receivers available: Khalil Shakir, Brandin Cooks, Keon Coleman, Curtis Samuel and Mecole Hardman Jr.
- Shakir led Bills receivers in the regular season with 719 receiving yards and 95 targets; tight ends Dalton Kincaid (571 yards) and Dawson Knox (417 yards) were the second- and third-leading pass-catchers.
- The five available wideouts combined for 175 targets in the regular season (Shakir 95, Coleman 59, Cooks 11, Samuel 6, Hardman 1), 36.5% of the team’s 479 passes in 2025.
- In the previous game the same five receivers accounted for 18 of Buffalo’s 35 targets, with Shakir catching all 12 passes thrown his way that week.
- Matchup planning matters: a heavy focus on Shakir by Denver’s defense could force Buffalo to find production from Cooks, Coleman, Samuel or Hardman.
Background
The Bills advanced through the AFC wild-card round but sustained notable injuries at wide receiver when Gabe Davis and Tyrell Shavers each suffered torn ACLs. Those losses compound a season in which Buffalo’s passing distribution relied heavily on certain personnel, particularly Khalil Shakir and two tight ends. The result is a receiving group with limited depth and experience under postseason pressure.
Buffalo’s offense in 2025 leaned on Josh Allen’s dual-threat QB play and on tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox as reliable chain-movers; both finished the regular season second and third in receiving yards for the team. That trend reduced targets to the wideout corps overall, so the remaining healthy receivers enter Denver without the same volume-based résumé as typical playoff receiver groups.
Main Event
Following the wild-card win over Jacksonville, the Bills’ active wide receiver list initially numbered three — Khalil Shakir, Brandin Cooks and Keon Coleman — before the team added Curtis Samuel from injured reserve and elevated Mecole Hardman Jr. from the practice squad. Those transactions expanded the available roster to five, but depth and recent game reps remain concerns for several of the additions.
During the regular season the five available receivers totaled 175 targets: Shakir 95, Coleman 59, Cooks 11, Samuel 6 and Hardman 1. That distribution represents 36.5% of Buffalo’s 479 pass attempts in 2025, underscoring how much the offense has leaned on non-wideout options. In the most recent game, those five absorbed 18 of 35 targets with Shakir finishing a perfect 12-for-12 on catches.
Denver’s secondary, led by top cornerbacks and defensive scheming that emphasizes coverage versatility, presents a difficult matchup. If the Broncos assign their best cover man to Shakir, Buffalo must find complementary production from Cooks, Coleman, Samuel or Hardman—players with uneven recent availability. The coaching staff faces roster and play-calling choices about how to spread looks and create space for Allen and the offense.
Analysis & Implications
Short-term roster moves have given Buffalo more options, but the quality and rhythm of those options vary. Curtis Samuel’s activation adds a veteran slot presence, yet he has only six regular-season targets recorded and hasn’t played since Week 10. Mecole Hardman Jr.’s elevation provides another perimeter threat but he appeared in just two games in the regular season, totaling one target.
Khalil Shakir’s 95 targets and 719 yards make him the clear leading receiver and likely focal point of Denver’s defensive game plan. If Denver emphasizes Shakir with top coverage, the Bills will need complementary routes and quick reads to free Cooks (11 targets) or Coleman (59 targets) for higher-percentage throws. Keon Coleman produced a notable 36-yard play when targeted late in the season, showing potential as a chunk-play option despite being a healthy scratch in four regular-season games.
Quarterback Josh Allen’s role is decisive: his ability to extend plays and find tight ends or create space for receivers reduces the pressure on the WR depth chart. Still, an effective pass rush or tightened coverage can force more contested throws and amplify the impact of missing high-end wideouts. Strategically, Buffalo can compensate with play-action, quick game concepts and schematic looks that leverage Allen’s mobility and the team’s tight ends.
Comparison & Data
| Player | Targets (2025) | Receiving Yards (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Khalil Shakir | 95 | 719 |
| Keon Coleman | 59 | — |
| Brandin Cooks | 11 | — |
| Curtis Samuel | 6 | — |
| Mecole Hardman Jr. | 1 | — |
Context: the table highlights how concentrated Buffalo’s receiver usage was around Shakir and, to a lesser degree, Coleman. Tight ends Dalton Kincaid (571 yards) and Dawson Knox (417 yards) were the team’s second- and third-leading receivers, reflecting a passing attack that has favored tight ends over a deep wideout rotation.
Reactions & Quotes
Observers outside Buffalo have noted the mismatch between receiver injuries and the team’s passing tendencies. Former Bills receiver Elijah Moore, now with the Broncos, commented on Buffalo’s situation ahead of the matchup.
“They got a lot of guys banged up, but they don’t really throw it to the receivers anyway.”
Elijah Moore / quoted in Denver Gazette
This remark was reported by Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette and underscores the perception that Buffalo’s receiving corps was not the primary target set even before the postseason injuries. Team transactions were straightforward and functional when Buffalo adjusted its roster.
“The Bills have activated Curtis Samuel from injured reserve and elevated Mecole Hardman Jr. from the practice squad.”
Buffalo Bills (official transaction)
The team’s public roster moves aim to bolster options, but officials did not offer guarantees on snap counts or specific plays for the upcoming game.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Denver will assign Patrick Surtain II or another primary corner to shadow Khalil Shakir in single coverage is not officially confirmed before game day.
- The expected snap counts and game-readiness of Curtis Samuel and Mecole Hardman Jr. remain uncertain until the Bills release final participation and gameday status.
- Any specific game-plan changes the Bills will implement to compensate for the loss of Davis and Shavers have not been publicly detailed by coaching staff.
Bottom Line
The Bills have patched their receiving roster through an activation and an elevation, but the group lacks the season-long volume and continuity that would ease the loss of Gabe Davis and Tyrell Shavers. Khalil Shakir’s role is central; if Denver’s defense limits him, Buffalo will need quick responses from Brandin Cooks, Keon Coleman, Curtis Samuel or Mecole Hardman Jr. to keep the passing game balanced.
Ultimately, Josh Allen’s performance and the Bills’ schematic choices will determine whether these receivers can compensate for depth losses. Fans and analysts should watch target distribution, early-game coverage assignments, and snap counts to assess how viable Buffalo’s passing attack will be in Denver.