Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

‘Practice squad players are not allowed to participate in games but can be called up to the 53-man roster during the season. Teams usually use the squad to develop young players they believe have high upside.’

‘Cutting McCoy really shouldn’t have come as a huge surprise. At least it didn’t to me. I’ve said ever since the offseason began that it didn’t make much sense to bring back McCoy at a cost of $9 million this season, when the Bills could have saved $6.4 million on the salary cap.’

‘It sure didn’t look good for Kroft avoiding the physically unable to perform list as he missed the entire offseason, training camp and preseason. But it would seem he’s either ready to play now or well inside the six-week PUP window he’d have to sit out. Jason Croom did nothing all summer, but he carries on with the team thanks to a hand injury that will land him on injured reserve probably Sunday.’

‘Patriots four-year starting center David Andrews was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs and is likely headed to season-ending injured reserve. New England’s backups are Ted Karras and James Ferentz but coach Bill Belichick was seeking more experienced help.’

‘Jackson has great size, a cannon arm and can run so as a scout team QB, he offers a lot of looks for a defense. He’s a local product. Find a way to keep him.’

‘When the Bills make their cuts down to the mandated 53 by 4 p.m. Saturday, it looks like free agent signees Jon Feliciano and Spencer Long will survive, meaning Teller would have been superfluous. Where the Bills are thin is at tackle, and Teller is not capable of playing on the outside which made him expendable.’

‘Cuts: Cam Lewis, Dean Marlowe, Denzel Rice, Abraham Wallace, and Ryan Lewis.’

‘He was 1 of 3 on his field goal attempts through two games before nailing his lone attempt from 43 yards in Friday’s game against Detroit. He’s also coming off a season in which he missed six field goal tries and scored 91 points, his lowest total since becoming a full-time kicker with Seattle in 2011.’

‘“I had one crucial mental error on a run,” Jones said. “Communication error. I thought we were double-teaming a guy. I was supposed to base block him and I just hit him and then he went scot-free. I thought I was climbing to the linebacker, just a simple communication error, a simple thing that I should know. It happens, you can’t dwell on it, just next-play mentality, and I tried my best not to let it bother me.”’

‘Speaking of Croom, I don’t think he’s making the team. He has missed too much time with a hamstring injury and even if he hadn’t, I think both Knox and Sweeney are better players. Perhaps Croom can do something big Thursday to save his roster spot, but I’m not holding out hope for him unless the Bills keep a fourth active tight end until Kroft can get back.’

‘So, for one year of service, the Bills would be giving up at the very least a starting-caliber player and an upper-round draft pick. Perhaps the Texans would ask for even more given Clowney’s stature, production and youth (he’s only 26 years old).’

‘“Everybody has to determine their own time, when they’re ready, and if he’s played his last play, he had a heck of a career,” said Beane. “Any time somebody with his talent retires like this, you hate to see it for the league, such a great player and representative of what the NFL is all about.”’

‘Still, it makes you wonder whether the Bills were perhaps showcasing McCoy for a possible trade. Probably not, but it’s fun to speculate. I’ve said since the end of 2018 that I won’t believe McCoy and his $9 million salary will be on the roster until I actually see him warming up at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 8.’

‘That’s why it was baffling to me why the Bills’ offense played the first half the way it did. If you’re going to play Allen for an entire half, what was the point in having him hand off 16 times and throw only six passes (he had two other dropbacks where he ran)?’

‘Allen and the starters will see their most extensive playing time of the preseason against a Detroit starting defense that ranked 10th overall last season, including eighth against the pass.’