By Tim Graham
Aug. 27, 2025
So much for suspense.
Tuesday night’s penultimate episode of “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Buffalo Bills” featured a series of segments that wondered if so-and-so had done enough to make the roster.
Problem was, each “Hard Knocks” episode must be finished by Monday, and the NFL deadline for clubs to reduce their rosters to 53 players tolled only five hours before HBO aired an awkward show.
A clip showed Bills coach Sean McDermott making fun of running back James Cook for having “no rhythm, bro,” but Tuesday night delivered a steady beat.
Shane Buechele “is making quite the case for himself,” narrator Liev Scheiber said.
Cut.
“Running back Frank Gore Jr. is making a beeline for the roster,” Schreiber said.
Cut.
“This summer, (Zach Davidson) is determined to get his game in gear,” Schreiber said.
Cut.
Jimmy Ciarlo “is a football player,” Bills general manager Brandon Beane said. “Football players, sometimes you can just put them out there and they’ll put it together.”
Cut.
Other Bills who received significant screen time included quarterback Mike White, receiver K.J. Hamler and defensive tackle Casey Rogers.
Cut, cut and cut.
I guess for those watching only “Hard Knocks,” all of those players remain on the Bills today because by the time the episode ended Tuesday night, no roster updates were given.
Of all Buffalo’s on-the-bubble players, fans would most love to have learned about receiver Tyrell Shavers. Undrafted two years ago, Shavers had a terrific summer. He had six receptions for a team-high 123 yards, including a 58-yard gain to set up a field goal in the preseason opener and culminating with Sunday’s sensational, one-handed, knee-sliding catch in the end zone.
“Hard Knocks” did not acknowledge Shavers’ situation during Tuesday night’s episode. It showed the TD grab in Tampa, at least.
Shavers made the initial 53-man roster Tuesday afternoon, one of the feel-good stories of the preseason.
Star of the show
Chris Hess was safe in the “Hard Knocks” spotlight. The Bills cannot cut him because he’s not on their roster.
A segment on Hess, the biomechanics analyst, showed the granular work he does with Josh Allen and the rest of Buffalo’s quarterbacks.
Hess, a former Kansas State long snapper, founded 3D motion sports science company Biometrek to refine athletic movements. Hess has been working with the Bills since 2020, when Allen’s completions soared from 58.8 percent to 69.2 percent; they have not fallen lower than 63.3 percent since. Allen threw a career-low six interceptions last year; his 1.2 percent interception rate was less than half his career rate entering 2024.
“We’re measuring the quarterback’s movement to help optimize their efficiency and help them avoid injury,” Hess explained. “For that, we’re using 3D motion capture. We’re using high-speed cameras to measure release dynamics, compare that to what they’ve done in the past and just help them to continue to improve their craft and their skill.”
Allen said Hess “honestly changed my life.”
Backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky appears to be benefiting from Hess’ tutelage.
“Did you work on some stuff during the offseason?” Hess asked Trubisky after a filming session. “You rotated better than I ever measured you rotating before.”
Compared to a June session, Hess marveled to Trubisky, “You are ripping that thing. Fantastic. Your rotation velocities are up in your pelvis and your trunk, and your arm velocity went down, but your ball velocity stayed the same. That is efficiency in a nutshell.”
The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue, a year ago, profiled Hess and his work with Allen, Brock Purdy, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson and Caleb Williams.
Most revealing scene
This season of “Hard Knocks” has been skimpy on internal meetings, but we finally heard some insight into Beane and his scouting department’s thoughts on a few players.
Beane sounded conflicted about the final backup QB decision because he likes them all, but he underscored that Trubisky’s summer has been much better compared to last year. Bills co-director of pro scouting, Curtis Rukavina, described Trubisky’s “confidence” and “presence” while “playing freer” in the competition with White.
Many fans wanted Buffalo to retain Gore, who led the team in rushing and receptions through the preseason. He ran 23 times for 104 yards and a touchdown and caught 11 passes for 109 yards.
Beane, however, noted Gore’s struggles with pass blocking and fumbles. Beane criticized Davidson’s in-line blocking and lamented that Ciarlo, an in-camp signee, hadn’t been with Buffalo long enough to learn the defense properly.
Best quote
“This is my main message to you guys tonight, the last time we’ll be together in this type of setting, right? This, to me, is the most important thing I can ever share with you guys. … Yes, you are football players, but I want you to remember more than that, that you are way more than just a football player. You bring so much more to the table than what you do just on that football field. Never, ever, ever forget that.
“I’m so proud of this group, so proud of you guys. Tomorrow night, you go for it, knowing that you got bright futures, that you’re winners.” – McDermott the night before the preseason finale, essentially telling his roster that not everybody deserves to play in the NFL
Funniest moment
A spelling bee broke out after practice, with left tackle Dion Dawkins presenting the words.
Punter Brad Robbins had liaison: “L-E-L-I-E … What the heck?” He still made the team.
Returner/receiver Laviska Shenault got hallucination: “H-O, no … H-U-L-L-A-Nation.” Cut.
Offensive lineman Tylan Grable had onomatopoeia: “O-M-N-O-P-O-E-I-A.” Injured reserve.
Wide receiver Curtis Samuel spelled appetite correctly. He made the team.
Gore nailed neighbor, but got cut anyway.
(Top photo of Jimmy Ciarlo: Tina MacIntyre-Yee / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)