The Buffalo Bills are rolling the dice in a big way, bringing back wide receiver Deon Cain for an unprecedented third stint with the team as their wide receiver corps battles a nightmare scenario of mounting injuries during training camp. With key players like Elijah Moore, Curtis Samuel, Tyrell Shavers, and Kaden Prather sidelined, the Bills are turning to a familiar face with a proven track record in spring football to bolster their depleted roster. This bold move underscores the team’s desperation to maintain depth and competitiveness as they gear up for the 2025 NFL season.
A Receiver Room in Crisis
The Bills’ training camp, held at St. John Fisher University, has been marred by a string of injuries that have decimated their wide receiver unit. On Monday, July 28, 2025, head coach Sean McDermott confirmed that at least four wide receivers—Elijah Moore (general leg soreness), Curtis Samuel (hamstring), Tyrell Shavers (ankle), and Kaden Prather (hamstring)—were unavailable for the team’s first padded practice. Additionally, tight ends Dalton Kincaid (knee soreness) and Dawson Knox were also absent, further straining Buffalo’s passing game options.
Tyrell Shavers, a second-year wideout and practice squad member in 2024, suffered a particularly concerning ankle injury during Sunday’s practice, requiring him to be carted off the field. While McDermott alleviated fears by stating Shavers is in “pretty good shape” and expected to return in a few days, the immediate loss of depth is a significant blow. Curtis Samuel, a high-profile free agent signing, and rookie Kaden Prather are both hampered by hamstring issues, while Elijah Moore’s absence due to “general soreness” adds uncertainty to the lineup.
“It’s not ideal, especially with the names that are on there,” McDermott admitted. “So, you’re trying to move the team forward and develop, but it also allows an opportunity for us to see somebody step in and do the job.”
Deon Cain: The UFL Star Returns
Enter Deon Cain, a 28-year-old veteran wide receiver who has become a recurring figure in Buffalo’s roster shuffle. Signed to a one-year deal on Monday, this marks Cain’s third engagement with the Bills in just over a year, a record for the franchise. Each of his signings has coincided with injuries to other wide receivers, highlighting his role as a reliable stopgap with untapped potential.
Cain’s journey to this point has been anything but conventional. A sixth-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts in 2018 out of Clemson, where he won a College Football National Championship in 2017, Cain’s NFL career was derailed early by a torn ACL in his first preseason game. Since then, he has bounced around the league, playing for the Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Philadelphia Eagles, with only 15 career games and six starts to his name. His NFL stats are modest—four receptions for 52 yards in 2019 with the Colts—but his recent dominance in spring football leagues has kept him on the radar.
Cain’s standout performances came with the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL and UFL. In July 2023, he earned MVP honors in the USFL Championship game, scoring three touchdowns to lead the Stallions to a title. After being released by the Bills in December 2024, Cain returned to the Stallions for the 2025 UFL season, amassing 29 receptions for 514 yards and six touchdowns in nine games, earning All-UFL honors. Bleacher Report named him one of five UFL players deserving an NFL shot in June 2025, and the Bills are banking on his spring league success translating to their roster.
A High-Risk, High-Reward Gamble
The decision to bring back Cain is a calculated risk for a Bills team with Super Bowl aspirations. With established receivers like Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer, and Curtis Samuel (when healthy) likely locking down roster spots, Cain faces an uphill battle to secure a place on the 53-man roster. His previous stints with Buffalo in 2024 yielded three catches for 28 yards in preseason action, and he spent time on the practice squad before his release in December. Yet, his familiarity with the Bills’ system and his proven playmaking ability in the UFL make him an intriguing option.
The Bills’ receiver depth is under intense scrutiny, especially after parting ways with veterans like Stefon Diggs, Tre’Davious White, and Jordan Poyer in the offseason to reshape the roster around quarterback Josh Allen. The injuries to Moore, Samuel, Shavers, and Prather expose vulnerabilities in a unit that cannot afford further setbacks. Cain, alongside other recent signings like undrafted rookie Kelly Akharaiyi, will have a chance to compete for a depth role, but the clock is ticking as the regular season approaches on September 7, 2025.
Opportunity Amid Adversity
While the injuries are a setback, they also open the door for players like Cain to prove their worth. McDermott’s philosophy of turning adversity into opportunity resonates as the Bills evaluate their depth chart. Cain’s 6-foot-2, 202-pound frame offers a physical presence that could complement Buffalo’s existing receivers, and his championship pedigree—both at Clemson and in the USFL/UFL—suggests he can rise to the occasion.
The Bills also worked out former Kansas City Chiefs receiver Justyn Ross and former New Orleans Saints starter Willie Snead on Monday, indicating they are exploring all options to address the injury crisis. However, Cain’s prior experience with the team gives him a slight edge in the race for a roster spot.
What’s Next for Buffalo?
As training camp progresses, the Bills’ priority will be getting their injured players back on the field. McDermott’s cautious optimism about Shavers’ recovery and the minor nature of Moore’s soreness provides some hope, but Samuel and Prather’s hamstring injuries could linger. The team’s decision to activate tight end Dawson Knox off the PUP list is a positive step, but his absence from practice suggests a conservative approach to his recovery.
For Deon Cain, this third stint with the Bills is a golden opportunity to rewrite his NFL story. His UFL dominance and championship experience make him a wildcard worth watching. Whether he can translate that success to the NFL stage remains to be seen, but with Buffalo’s receiver room in disarray, Cain’s gamble could pay off big—or fizzle out as another brief chapter in his nomadic career.
Bills fans, accustomed to the team’s resilience in the face of adversity, will be watching closely as training camp unfolds. Can Cain seize this moment, or will the injury bug continue to haunt Buffalo’s Super Bowl dreams? Only time will tell, but for now, the Bills are betting on a UFL star to help navigate their receiver nightmare.