The Buffalo Bills made waves on Monday with a pair of roster moves, swapping out a rookie cornerback for a familiar face at wide receiver. The team announced the signing of veteran wide receiver Deon Cain to their 90-man roster, while parting ways with undrafted free-agent cornerback Daryl Porter Jr. to make room.
Porter, who signed with the Bills as an undrafted free agent in April, had been vying for a spot on the roster after a college career that saw him play at West Virginia and Miami. His release marks a tough break for the young cornerback, who was looking to make an impression during training camp.
On the flip side, the addition of Cain comes at a critical time for Buffalo, as their wide receiver room has been hit hard by injuries. Tyrell Shavers suffered an ankle sprain during Sunday’s practice, while Curtis Samuel (hamstring), Elijah More (general leg soreness), Kaden Prather, and Laviska Shenault (leg) have all been dealing with various ailments. The mounting injuries likely prompted the Bills to bring back a known commodity in Cain.
This isn’t Cain’s first rodeo with Buffalo. The veteran wideout had two stints with the team in 2024, first as part of their preseason roster and later on the practice squad in October before being released in December. During his time with the Bills last year, Cain caught three passes for 28 yards in preseason action. Across his NFL career, which includes 15 games (six starts) with the Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers, Cain has recorded nine receptions for 124 yards without a touchdown.
While Cain’s familiarity with the Bills’ system makes him a logical addition, his path to securing a spot on the final 53-man roster is steep. Buffalo already has five wide receivers considered roster locks: Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer, Moore, and Samuel. For now, Cain appears to be a camp body, providing depth and experience as the team navigates its injury challenges.
The Bills returned to the practice field on Monday for their fifth training camp session, with updates expected as the team continues to fine-tune its roster ahead of the regular season. Stay tuned for more developments as Buffalo shapes its squad for 2025!