Bills roster update today: Mecole Hardman Jr. elevated, Curtis Samuel and Ed Oliver active; Jordan Poyer headlines Bills inactives vs. Broncos

The Buffalo Bills finalized their game-day roster for the Divisional Round in Denver with a mix of welcome returns and tough scratches. Two veterans returned to action, a speed threat came up from the practice squad, and a starting safety landed on the inactive list—moves that reshape both the receiver rotation and the back-end of the defense heading into a playoff test at altitude.

Bills inactives: Jordan Poyer out; seven players scratched

Buffalo declared seven inactives for today’s matchup. The headline is veteran safety Jordan Poyer, who will not suit up, tightening the safety rotation and elevating the importance of dime and nickel communication against Denver’s play-action game. Also sidelined: starting linebacker Terrel Bernard, leaving the second level in the hands of next-man-up combinations.

Bills inactives today

• LB Terrel Bernard

• S Jordan Poyer

• RB Ty Johnson

• CB Maxwell Hairston

• OL Tylan Grable

• DT Phidarian Mathis

• TE Keleki Latu

Bills roster boosts: Curtis Samuel and Ed Oliver are active

Two key reinforcements cleared the final hurdle and are active:

• WR Curtis Samuel returns to add veteran route versatility and motion threats that stress leverage in short and intermediate zones.

• DT Ed Oliver bolsters the interior with pass-rush juice and disruption on early downs, critical against Denver’s boot-and-screen sequencing.

Mecole Hardman Jr. elevated; how the WR room shakes out

With injuries thinning the depth chart in recent weeks, Buffalo elevated Mecole Hardman Jr. to bring top-end speed and jet motion back into the mix. Expect Hardman to factor on vertical clear-outs, orbit action and quick touches that manufacture YAC, complementing Samuel’s inside/outside usage and the established roles for the young wideouts. RB Frank Gore Jr. was also elevated to stabilize backfield depth.

Projected WR usage snapshot

• Khalil Shakir: chain-moving option routes and deep overs

• Keon Coleman: boundary isolation and red-zone frames

• Curtis Samuel: slot, Z, and backfield motion packages

• Mecole Hardman Jr.: speed packages, jet/orbit, vertical threats

Defensive ripple effects without Poyer

Poyer’s absence shifts responsibility onto the rotation behind him. Look for Buffalo to toggle between big-nickel and standard nickel, using versatile DBs to disguise rotations and keep Denver’s young quarterback from clean pre-snap pictures. Ed Oliver’s interior penetration can help the back end by forcing quicker decisions and compressing throwing lanes—a tangible linkage between the trenches and coverage shell

Opponent note: JK Dobbins still out for Denver

Across the sideline, J.K. Dobbins remains unavailable while working back from a midseason foot injury. Denver’s ground game shifts toward its remaining backs and quarterback keepers off boot action, altering Buffalo’s run-fit priorities and edge-contain rules. 

What it means for the Bills today

• Explosiveness on demand: With Samuel active and Hardman up, Buffalo regains formation speed and motion stress—useful against pattern-match coverage.

• Middle-of-field math: No Poyer increases the margin for error on crossers and seams; disguises and pass rush must work in tandem.

• Rotation management: Oliver’s snap count will be worth monitoring; if he holds up, Buffalo can keep fresh bodies for high-leverage third downs.

Bottom line: The Bills roster for today’s Divisional Round tilts back toward balance on offense with Curtis Samuel and Mecole Hardman Jr. available, while the defense gains a disruptive anchor in Ed Oliver but must navigate the secondary without Jordan Poyer. How Buffalo leverages motion and speed on one side—and covers for a missing captain on the other—will go a long way in deciding whether this Buffalo Bills roster advances.