Bills Bring Back Veteran Just 2 Days After Cutting Him

The roster carousel has swung back around for Buffalo Bills tight end Matt Sokol, who returned to the team just two days after the team cut him.

Sokol is fighting for a spot on the roster but hit a roadblock earlier in the week when the team released him to make room for more depth in the secondary. Sokol barely had enough time to drive back home on the Thruway, with the Bills adding him back to the 90-man roster ahead of their second preseason game.

Bills Gave Hint of Plans for Matt Sokol at His Release

The Bills had already given an indication that Sokol could return when they cut him on August 12, with head coach Sean McDermott praising him and calling it a business decision.

“Appreciate everything Matt did. Really good person, player as well. Again, a reminder of the businesses here, the business side of things,” McDermott said, via SI.com.

The Bills used the vacant roster spot to add safety Tre Herndon, but quickly had another roster opening when wide receiver Jalen Virgil was waived with an injury designation.

Sokol’s return means he will get a chance to play in the team’s second preseason game on Sunday against the Chicago Bears. The team has not yet revealed how much the starters could play in the game, but most of the time is usually reserved for players fighting to earn a spot on the end of the roster, like Sokol.

Matt Sokol’s Roster Opportunity

Though the top of the tight end depth chart is set with veteran Dawson Knox and former first-round pick Dalton Kincaid, Sokol could have a chance to earn a spot near the end of the active roster. The Bills parted ways with last year’s No. 3 tight end, Quintin Morris, in the offseason and left an opening in the position.

There could be some tough competition, especially after the Bills used a fifth-round pick on tight end Jackson Hawes. Sokol will also be competing with longtime practice squad tight end Zach Davidson and undrafted rookie Keleki Latu.

As SI.com’s Ralph Ventre noted, Sokol has bounced around the NFL quite a bit in the last six seasons and has gotten a bit of game experience under his belt.

“Sokol, a Michigan State product, has made eight regular season appearances since entering the NFL after going undrafted in 2019,” Ventre wrote. “He has spent time with seven different franchises, but has logged only 53 career snaps on offense. Over the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Sokol was active for the New England Patriots on six occasions. In 2024, Sokol served a stint on the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad.”

Though the Bills were quick to bring back Sokol as soon as they had an opening on the roster, the fact that he was the player they released may not bode well for his chances this summer. Any chance of making the roster or even the practice squad could depend on his ability to play special teams, which helped Morris in keeping a roster spot for the past few seasons.