Buffalo rested almost everyone expected to make the 53-man roster for this game, but Bell was an exception after missing the first two
weeks. He started and played nearly every snap with the starters, missing only two plays after a deep target. Bell saw snaps in both 11 and 12 personnel, an encouraging sign that Buffalo is willing to use him in two-receiver sets. He primarily lined up at Z and in the slot, and even his usage in 11 personnel was split between the two alignments. Mecole Hardman Jr. often moved into the slot when Bell lined up outside. Buffalo also put Bell in motion several times before the snap, notable given how little pre-snap motion most teams show during the preseason. The usage was generally encouraging for Bell. Coleman hasn’t played this preseason but has historically lined up at X, while Moore also played X during his limited preseason snaps. That could leave Palmer, Shakir and Bell rotating between Z and the slot. If Palmer struggles or Bell develops faster than expected, the rookie could have a path to a starting role at some point this season.