The Buffalo Bills have settled their backup quarterback situation for the start of the 2026 season, releasing veteran Shane Buechele on Sunday as teams across the league trimmed their rosters to the required 53 players.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the move, writing, “Buffalo is releasing veteran QB Shane Buechele, per source.”
The deadline for all 32 NFL teams to reach the 53-man limit stood at 6 p.m. EST on Sunday. Buffalo’s decision effectively named Kyle Allen as the primary backup behind starter Josh Allen.
Bills reporter Alex Brasky noted the outcome on social media, stating, “The Bills backup QB job has officially been decided. Shane Buechele is being released … Kyle Allen will be QB2 behind Josh Allen after a phenomenal preseason.”
Buechele, 28, had shown solid form during the preseason. In the finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a 28-27 Bills victory, he played the entire game and completed 26 of 38 passes for 196 yards. The performance gave him a chance to showcase his skills for potential suitors elsewhere.
Local observer Smitty Talks Bills called the result expected, writing, “To no surprise, Kyle Allen has won the backup quarterback competition. Hoping Shane Buechele can come back on the practice squad!”
Buechele entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2021 after a college career that included two seasons at Texas followed by a transfer to SMU. At SMU he threw for 7,024 yards with 57 touchdowns and 16 interceptions over two years as the starter.
He landed with the Kansas City Chiefs and was part of the roster that won Super Bowl LVII after the 2022 season. Buechele later spent time as a backup with the Bills in 2023 and 2024, then moved between the Chiefs and Bills during the 2025 campaign before re-signing with Buffalo in February on a one-year deal.
His only regular-season NFL action came late in 2025 with Kansas City, when he completed 7 of 14 passes for 88 yards in a relief appearance against the Las Vegas Raiders. He also added four rushing yards on one carry that day.
NFL DFS Blueprint’s Todd Neeper summarized the implications, writing, “Buffalo is releasing veteran QB Shane Buechele, effectively settling the backup battle behind Josh Allen. Kyle Allen is now positioned to open the season as Buffalo’s QB2. Another roster decision locked in as the Bills work toward the final 53.”
While Kyle Allen appears locked in as the No. 2 option for now, the Bills retain flexibility. Teams often continue evaluating the position if better options become available through free agency or the waiver wire after final cuts.
Buechele stands 6-foot and weighs 210 pounds. Born Jan. 8, 1998, in Arlington, Texas, he has spent most of his professional career on practice squads or as a third-stringer, collecting a championship ring along the way.
Buffalo’s coaching staff gave Buechele extensive playing time in the preseason closer, a common practice when a player is unlikely to make the active roster. That exposure can help a quarterback land elsewhere or return on the practice squad.
The Bills have prioritized depth at the position behind Josh Allen, who remains the clear franchise cornerstone. Kyle Allen’s strong summer work edged out Buechele for the primary reserve role.
Roster cuts are never easy, especially for a player with Super Bowl experience and familiarity in the building. Buechele’s journey from undrafted status through multiple organizations highlights the persistence required at the quarterback position.
If Buechele clears waivers, a return to Buffalo’s practice squad remains a realistic possibility, according to multiple observers close to the team. That arrangement would keep him available in case of injury while allowing the Bills to maintain three quarterbacks in the broader mix.
For now, the decision is final for the 53-man roster. The Bills move forward with Josh Allen and Kyle Allen as their top two signal-callers heading into the regular season.
