Andreeseen and Bills present their last case

The Buffalo Bills ended their preseason with a 31-26 loss to the Carolina Panthers at Highmark Stadium on Saturday. With Buffalo's starters on the bench, this was the last chance for players vying for a spot on the roster to prove they should make the cut.

BUFFALO JOE STARTS AGAIN

After his impressive performance last week against the Steelers, rookie linebacker Joe Andreessen started at center again against the Panthers and many wondered if the Western New York native would make the team for his hometown team. While he couldn't repeat the exceptional performance he showed in Pittsburgh, he still managed 8 tackles well into the second half. Andreessen, who played high school football at Lancaster High and finished his college career at the University at Buffalo, was on everyone's lips as he tried to go from an undrafted rookie tryout player to an NFL roster.

WR BATTLE

With the starters sidelined and the Bills without Ben DiNucci and Anthony Brown at quarterback, it was probably difficult to properly evaluate some of the wide receivers fighting for a spot on the roster. Tyrell Shavers, who stood out during training camp at St. John Fisher University, was targeted four times and caught two passes for 15 yards. Notably, DiNucci and Shavers narrowly missed a touchdown pass earlier in the game. KJ Hamler, who can also return kicks, caught three passes for 11 yards. It will be interesting to see if the Bills decide to keep just five wide receivers or expand to six. If Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Curtis Samuel are ready for the regular season opener, there is a scenario where those two are joined by Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir and Mack Hollins. If they want to keep six, it will likely be between Shavers and Hamler. Shavers spent last season on the Bills' practice squad.

WHAT IS THE QB SITUATION?

For the first time in three preseason games, the Bills offense was able to score a touchdown against the Panthers. DiNucci threw the ball to running back Darryton Evans, who ran down the sideline and scored an 18-yard touchdown. DiNucci, who played the entire first half before giving way to Anthony Brown, ran 11-15 for 76 yards and ran for another 14 yards. The big question is whether Mitchell Trubisky will be healthy enough to be Josh Allen's backup for the season opener, and whether the Bills are happy with his play throughout training camp and preseason to keep him at the position, or will they need to look elsewhere for quarterback reinforcements?

BASS FROM THE MARK

Tyler Bass made 1 of 2 field goal attempts on Saturday, but it's the misses that always draw the most ire from fans. His fourth-quarter kick went wide from 51 yards. Bass finished the preseason 6 of 7 field goal attempts. There was some concern about Bass this summer after he missed more field goal attempts than anyone would like to see in practice, but he had been perfect until that fourth-quarter miss in the finale. Bass also failed to sink some key kicks last season, including in the closing stages of the Bills' playoff loss to Kansas City. Head coach Sean McDermott publicly expressed his confidence in Bass in the days leading up to the season finale, but that hasn't stopped fans and observers from wondering if some of his issues will continue into the season. After the game, head coach Sean McDermott said of Bass's misses, “Those are the ones he has to make. He knows that.”

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

Frank Gore Jr. shined in the running game against the Panthers, finishing the game with 18 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Gore's father, Frank Gore Sr., was in attendance at Orchard Park, where he played for the Bills in 2019 and finished his career third on the all-time rushing list with 16,000 yards just four years ago. Gore Jr., who joined the club as an undrafted free agent, was the Bills' fourth running back throughout the preseason but likely has a chance to make the practice squad.

Squad cuts are imminent

The Bills and the 31 other NFL players have until 4 p.m. Tuesday to reduce their rosters to 53 and then set up their practice teams.

The Bills now begin preparations for their regular season opener against the Arizona Cardinals on September 8 at Highmark Stadium.