Will Skyler Bell be "Red-Shirted"?

[machine gun kelly]

My guess is it will be as follows:

 

Moore

Palmer

Shakir

 

Coleman only for depth or injuries, or possibly take the punt return role.

Bell will be practicing the first half of the season and once WRs get banged up, start slowly get woven into the rotation.

 

Dortch for punt returns

 

My hope is if we are stuck with Coleman, he at least can handle punt returns.  He has a lot of experience from college, so then Dortch gets knocked down to the PS.

 

It really doesn’t matter what I’m guessing as Brady and Beane are going to make their own decisions.  I do think injuries are inevitable, so we’ll see Bell at some point.  He may not start, but it’s a numbers game.

[Shaw66]

On 8/29/2026 at 9:25 PM, Buffalo716 said:

Who's playing your x and your z and your slot? 

 

Shakir can't win consistently out wide at The z versus outside corners in the NFL either... Moore at X , shakir at Z and bell In slot doesn't sound that great to me 

 

In fact that sounds like an offense that will struggle to get 20 yards downfield at most of the wide receiver position

 

Our most consistent wide receiver who's been on our roster is basically a pure slot guy.. Shakirs numbers out wide the last 3 years are pedestrian.. he doesn't win downfield consistently at the x or z... 

 

Bell doesn't have the strength right now to win outside consistently in the NFL... The bills passing game will have problems if the rookie becomes our number three wide receiver option 

 

He's a slot receiver right now

And if Shakir actually is the Z, then Coleman is the slot. In fact, if Shakir actually could play outside, Coleman would be great in the slot. 

 

Unless Bell turns into Nacua, which is extremely unlikely, he just isn't going to be getting a lot of snaps. 

[BillsShredder83]

On 8/28/2026 at 3:32 PM, Allen2Moulds said:

Sal seems to think so, and he's generally pretty accurate with these types of things, and that was before last night's game.  I think he's one of these players, that the coaching staff is secretly excited about.  I think they see and know things, that the average fan or media member, isn't necessarily picking up on. I think he just needs to work on ball tracking drills, and he could become a serious triple threat.  

Serious question. Is Sal gunna have the same type of access he's had previously? I know he'll still have sources, but it felt like the Bills were his source for a while.

 

I forget exactly what it was,  but didnt he get passed over for a role he had directly affiliated with the team?

[BillsShredder83]

21 hours ago, warrior9 said:

Skyler Bell was 65% outside at UConn.

Correct, and I think thats important with people assuming he will be career slot only. While thats certainly a possibility, he at least lined up out wide a bunch in college.

 

I dont think Shakir had anywhere near that,  was closer to 50/50.

 

That said, the chances of it happening this year seem low, despite it being his best path to regular playing time IF he can pull it off.

 

His athletic profile is really nice... but the combination of short arms 35th percentile is a major roadblock, along with weight in 27th percentile, which passes the eye test. He still looks small out there, which is also kinda rough considering the guys almost 25. 

 

If he had short arms and freak strength, or vice versa, they might offset enough to nullify that disadvantage.... but with both, hes not going to be able to walk into the NFL and beat press man on the outside versus NFL CBs (especially making the jump from MAAC)... which is exactly how youd attack a guy like this.

 

Hes got a nice release, but its going to have to become otherworldly for him to become a true outside WR. 

 

Until then hes gunna need to eat bolts, gravel, and bullets while living in an NFL S&C program inside that facility, to beef up.  Good news is that hes a natural athlete on the field. 

[SoCal Deek]

Interesting discussion for sure. Bell is very similar to Shakir in height/weight which seems like it would suggest he’s a slot receiver. It’s going to be interesting to see how this offense lines up especially when you add in that we have FOUR tight ends now, two of which (Knox and Kincaid) are primarily pass catching targets. 

[BuffaloBillyG]

5 hours ago, machine gun kelly said:

My guess is it will be as follows:

 

Moore

Palmer

Shakir

 

Coleman only for depth or injuries, or possibly take the punt return role.

Bell will be practicing the first half of the season and once WRs get banged up, start slowly get woven into the rotation.

 

Dortch for punt returns

 

My hope is if we are stuck with Coleman, he at least can handle punt returns.  He has a lot of experience from college, so then Dortch gets knocked down to the PS.

 

It really doesn’t matter what I’m guessing as Brady and Beane are going to make their own decisions.  I do think injuries are inevitable, so we’ll see Bell at some point.  He may not start, but it’s a numbers game.

My guess is you are going to be shocked and dismayed at the role Coleman will have to start the season. Because, especially to open the season he will be starting. And they will try and make a point to get him going. This outcome has been the worst kept secret in the Bills camp all off-season. 

[Einstein's Dog]

To the OP, obviously S Bell will not be Red Shirted.

 

It is my hope/believe that the FO realized their mistake in drafting the Coleman type - contested catch guy.  They are going for the 20 yard downfield seperation guy - which allows the offense to revolve around Josh's howitzer laser-laced 25 yard ropes - not floaters to WRs.  It's Moore over Evans and Bell over Coleman.

 

I believe S Bell will get playing time this year.  Odds are one of Palmer or Shakir will miss time.  

[Allen2Moulds]

2 hours ago, BillsShredder83 said:

Serious question. Is Sal gunna have the same type of access he's had previously? I know he'll still have sources, but it felt like the Bills were his source for a while.

 

I forget exactly what it was,  but didnt he get passed over for a role he had directly affiliated with the team?

If I'm not mistaken, Sal was previously the beat reporter for the team, that allowed him sideline access and to travel with the team.  

 

My understanding is that now, he'll be in the booth with the rest of the media members, and no longer on the sideline.  I'm assuming, he'll no longer be able to travel with the team like before, but I honestly don't know.

 

I live in Tampa, and I became friends with the beat reporter for the Bucs.  This was like 15 years ago.  He's still a beat reported now, but for a different team.  He had all kinds of great stories about Bucs players and coaches, the ones that never hit print.  All the personal dynamic stuff that you typically don't hear about between coaches and players. It was during the Gruden era, post Superbowl.  They really get a chance to know a lot of these coaches and players on a personal level, given the shear exposure that they get. That's why I always put a little more stock on anything Sal reports. I know he's not everyone's favorite and sometimes gets accused of being a bit of a mouthpiece for the team, or a homer of some sort, but I think he does a good job and appreciate his insight.  

[colin]

the big issue as i see it is that the bills have one true blue outside wr, moore who we paid up to get.  palmer on paper has solid route running and very good seperation, but has been a mash unit and has not proven much on the field.  coleman has the body for outside, but not the speed or separation ability, if he can get some of that going he can still be a good wr.

 

moore kinkaid and shakir in the slot might be enough, but if someone can emerge as a real #2 outside threat we are really cooking with gas.

 

i anticipate the backs and te's to lead the way (if not in total production, at least in how they rank in the nfl in terms of pass production and overall production like snap count, touches, run yards) but last year we were dead last in wr catches (like 180 something) and next to last in yards (2100 ish).  bottom 3 in tds.  if those numbers can get improved we can 50-80 yards a game to our passing offense.  it will likely come at the expense of our run yards some what, but the run effectiveness may actually go up (success rate, epa, maybe ypc)

[Marcus Aurelius]

On 8/28/2026 at 8:09 PM, Victory Formation said:

I love this guy, he glides when he has the football in his hands.. He will be WR#3 by the end of the year..

This board desperately needs a 

"I HOPE SO" Emoji

[BillsFanForever19]

9 hours ago, machine gun kelly said:

My guess is it will be as follows:

 

Moore

Palmer

Shakir

 

Coleman only for depth or injuries, or possibly take the punt return role.

 

My hope is if we are stuck with Coleman, he at least can handle punt returns.  He has a lot of experience from college, so then Dortch gets knocked down to the PS.

 

I think you're not being realistic about Coleman's usage here.

 

Yes, DJ Moore starting as the X and Khalil Shakir in the Slot is a given. But I don't think it's a given that Palmer is starting over Coleman. I think that's likely, but not confirmed.

 

Even if Palmer is starting over Coleman, it's not like those 3 guys will be taking 100% of the snaps even if they all stay healthy. Coleman is going to be the first guy in when either Moore or Palmer (possibly even Shakir out of the Slot) are rotated out. Which is going to be *plenty* of reps. 

 

Your 4th WR/3rd Boundary guy sees the field quite a bit. And if anyone thinks the team is going to give Bell the nod over Coleman to start the year, based on a single last Pre-Season game, where the Steelers sat anyone of remote importance - I've got a bridge to sell them. It's not just bc Bell needed reps that he was playing and Coleman was being protected by sitting out.

 

And as for Coleman as the Punt Returner, I don't see that either. If they had plans for Coleman to be the Punt Returner - a.) you'd have seen him back there this Pre-Season instead of Ray Davis and b.) They wouldn't have gotten Dortch.

 

Dortch will be the Punt Returner, in my opinion. He's only on the Practice Squad right now bc anyone on the 53 come Week 1 has their contract fully guaranteed for the year. So I see them activating him off the Squad for Week 1 and then promoted to the 53 for Week 2 onward.

Edited September 1 by BillsFanForever19

[Buffalo716]

10 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

And if Shakir actually is the Z, then Coleman is the slot. In fact, if Shakir actually could play outside, Coleman would be great in the slot. 

 

Unless Bell turns into Nacua, which is extremely unlikely, he just isn't going to be getting a lot of snaps. 

That's true, a lot of people believe Coleman would work better out of the slot with his size and athletic profile

 

Something we haven't really tried much but maybe we will see wrinkles 👍

 

 

 

[SoCal Deek]

6 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

That's true, a lot of people believe Coleman would work better out of the slot with his size and athletic profile

 

Something we haven't really tried much but maybe we will see wrinkles 👍

 

 

 

Coleman scares the crap out of me in the slot. He has a tendency to fumble trying to gain an extra yard after catch in traffic. 

[TheBrownBear]

7 hours ago, BillsShredder83 said:

Correct, and I think thats important with people assuming he will be career slot only. While thats certainly a possibility, he at least lined up out wide a bunch in college.

 

I dont think Shakir had anywhere near that,  was closer to 50/50.

 

That said, the chances of it happening this year seem low, despite it being his best path to regular playing time IF he can pull it off.

 

His athletic profile is really nice... but the combination of short arms 35th percentile is a major roadblock, along with weight in 27th percentile, which passes the eye test. He still looks small out there, which is also kinda rough considering the guys almost 25. 

 

If he had short arms and freak strength, or vice versa, they might offset enough to nullify that disadvantage.... but with both, hes not going to be able to walk into the NFL and beat press man on the outside versus NFL CBs (especially making the jump from MAAC)... which is exactly how youd attack a guy like this.

 

Hes got a nice release, but its going to have to become otherworldly for him to become a true outside WR. 

 

Until then hes gunna need to eat bolts, gravel, and bullets while living in an NFL S&C program inside that facility, to beef up.  Good news is that hes a natural athlete on the field. 

Physically, he's Diggs, but with better explosive attributes.

 

Edited September 1 by TheBrownBear

[machine gun kelly]

6 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

I think you're not being realistic about Coleman's usage here.

 

Yes, DJ Moore starting as the X and Khalil Shakir in the Slot is a given. But I don't think it's a given that Palmer is starting over Coleman. I think that's likely, but not confirmed.

 

Even if Palmer is starting over Coleman, it's not like those 3 guys will be taking 100% of the snaps even if they all stay healthy. Coleman is going to be the first guy in when either Moore or Palmer (possibly even Shakir out of the Slot) are rotated out. Which is going to be *plenty* of reps. 

 

Your 4th WR/3rd Boundary guy sees the field quite a bit. And if anyone thinks the team is going to give Bell the nod over Coleman to start the year, based on a single last Pre-Season game, where the Steelers sat anyone of remote importance - I've got a bridge to sell them. It's not just bc Bell needed reps that he was playing and Coleman was being protected by sitting out.

 

And as for Coleman as the Punt Returner, I don't see that either. If they had plans for Coleman to be the Punt Returner - a.) you'd have seen him back there this Pre-Season instead of Ray Davis and b.) They wouldn't have gotten Dortch.

 

Dortch will be the Punt Returner, in my opinion. He's only on the Practice Squad right now bc anyone on the 53 come Week 1 has their contract fully guaranteed for the year. So I see them activating him off the Squad for Week 1 and then promoted to the 53 for Week 2 onward.

Bills fan, I don’t think Bell will even be on the field for the first several weeks.  I never said anything to that point.  He will inevitably be called into play as WRs get hurt like many other positions.  Then it’s a matter of what he does with the opportunity.

[ColoradoBills]

Bell is a 4th round rookie WR.  Let's just wait and see how much his dresses in the first few weeks.

There is a chance a PS WR gets elevated early in the year.

[Victory Formation]

10 minutes ago, ColoradoBills said:

Bell is a 4th round rookie WR.  Let's just wait and see how much his dresses in the first few weeks.

There is a chance a PS WR gets elevated early in the year.

There is some hope that he produces for us this year, I mean, look at Deone Walker, most people thought that he wouldn't do much..

 

Some other former Bills WRs that were taken later in the Draft:

 

John Brown // Round 3 (91st overall)

Gabe Davis // Round 4 (128th overall)

Stefon Diggs // Round 5 (46th overall)

Khalil Shakir // Round 5 (148th overall)

Isaiah McKenzie // Round 5 (173nd overall)

Cole Beasley // Undrafted

 

 

 

[ColoradoBills]

Just now, Victory Formation said:

There is some hope that he produces for us this year, I mean, look at Deone Walker, most people thought that he wouldn't do much..

 

Some other former Bills WRs that were taken later in the Draft:

 

John Brown // Round 3 (91st overall)

Gabe Davis // Round 4 (128th overall)

Stefon Diggs // Round 5 (46th overall)

Khalil Shakir // Round 5 (148th overall)

Isaiah McKenzie // Round 5 (173nd overall)

Cole Beasley // Undrafted

 

 

 

 

I totally agree.  I'm just saying let's see how it shakes out.

With 5 WR, he might dress week one and get some snaps.  Then again, he may not dress.  Time will tell.

[warrior9]

On 8/31/2026 at 8:59 PM, NewEra said:

@ UConn…. Playing against…..

 

He needs to improve is downfield tracking if he’s going to be effective on the outside. As of now, it’s not good enough imo

That's fine but I'm not sure why you were putting him at same position as Shakir.. Shakir played in the slot at Boise.... plays in the slot in the NFL.. Where you play doesn't mean you will change positions. 

 

Weird argument.. our QB who is the best in the world played 

 

"@ Wyoming.... Playing against....."

On 9/1/2026 at 7:33 AM, BillsShredder83 said:

Correct, and I think thats important with people assuming he will be career slot only. While thats certainly a possibility, he at least lined up out wide a bunch in college.

 

I dont think Shakir had anywhere near that,  was closer to 50/50.

 

That said, the chances of it happening this year seem low, despite it being his best path to regular playing time IF he can pull it off.

 

His athletic profile is really nice... but the combination of short arms 35th percentile is a major roadblock, along with weight in 27th percentile, which passes the eye test. He still looks small out there, which is also kinda rough considering the guys almost 25. 

 

If he had short arms and freak strength, or vice versa, they might offset enough to nullify that disadvantage.... but with both, hes not going to be able to walk into the NFL and beat press man on the outside versus NFL CBs (especially making the jump from MAAC)... which is exactly how youd attack a guy like this.

 

Hes got a nice release, but its going to have to become otherworldly for him to become a true outside WR. 

 

Until then hes gunna need to eat bolts, gravel, and bullets while living in an NFL S&C program inside that facility, to beef up.  Good news is that hes a natural athlete on the field. 

Bingo

[NewEra]

40 minutes ago, warrior9 said:

That's fine but I'm not sure why you were putting him at same position as Shakir.. Shakir played in the slot at Boise.... plays in the slot in the NFL.. Where you play doesn't mean you will change positions. 

 

Weird argument.. our QB who is the best in the world played 

 

"@ Wyoming.... Playing against....."

Bingo

Weird argument?  lol.  What was I arguing?  
 

I stand on what I said.  He needs to improve his ball tracking to be an effective outside WR.  I don’t think there’s anything weird about that.  His contested catch opportunity vs the Steelers was another example of that.  
 

Sure, we can and probably will get him snaps on the outside and he’s capable of making plays from 1-15 yards or be schemed open.  He’s smooth.  I just think he’s currently limited in terms of what teams want out of a boundary WR.  Making plays downfield. 
 

In time, I think he will improve as he gets stronger, but I don’t think he’s a good outside option atm.  I never said he was slot only, his current skillset is better suited for the slot in the nfl.  
 

Feel free to disagree, but what I said is far from weird.