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Buffalo Bills Reach Verbal Agreement to Sign Former Four-Time All-Pro Before Final Preseason Game

The Buffalo Bills have responded to their preseason struggles with a decisive roster move. After dropping their first two games, the team is addressing a glaring weakness in the secondary before the final exhibition matchup.

Defensive breakdowns have been costly, exposing depth concerns and forcing coaches to adjust. Injuries have only magnified the issue, leaving the roster without the veteran stability needed to withstand NFL competition as September approaches.

Taylor Rapp remains sidelined with a knee injury, while Jordan Hancock continues to recover from a shoulder issue. Although Cole Bishop has returned to limited practice, Buffalo’s coaching staff lacks faith in current backup options.

Damar Hamlin has disappointed in extended action, and Cam Lewis has struggled to provide consistency. With starter-level reliability in doubt, the Bills front office began exploring emergency options capable of stepping in immediately.

That urgency has led to a verbal agreement with Justin Simmons, one of the league’s most decorated safeties. The one-year pact is reportedly valued at $4 million, with a $1 million signing bonus included, pending finalization.

“He brings leadership, range, and instincts this defense desperately needs,” an AFC personnel source said. “Simmons has proven he can create turnovers, elevate teammates, and steady a unit in critical situations. This is a significant addition.”

 

A two-time Pro Bowler and four-time Second-Team All-Pro, Simmons has amassed 30 career interceptions, including an NFL-leading six in 2022. He also posted 93 tackles and 15 pass breakups in 2024, earning PFF’s top safety grade.

For Buffalo, the signing symbolizes urgency and ambition. If finalized, Simmons will provide the steadying presence their secondary has lacked, giving the Bills a chance to stabilize defensively before the regular season officially begins.

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Bills sign punter who looks just like famous comedian and their head coach
The Buffalo Bills were not joking around about upgrading their kicking game. They signed a punter who looks like comedian Bill Burr. Buffalo added Cameron Johnston and kicker Matt Prater to their active roster on Monday, waiving punter Brad Robbins after just one game. Sean McDermott now has a punter close to his likeness and a kicker close to his age. Cameron Johnston joins Bills   Johnston, 33, is an eight-year NFL veteran who has appeared in 96 games with the Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers, posting a career average of 47.3 yards per punt. Looking for a free mini puzzle? Play the USA TODAY Quick Cross now. A native of Victoria, Australia, he transitioned from Aussie rules football to punting at Ohio State, where he won a national title in 2014. He was Philadelphia’s starter from 2018–20, spent three seasons with Houston, and played in Pittsburgh in 2024 before a knee injury ended his year. Johnston lost the job in training camp to Corliss Waitman in Pittsburgh this year. Off the field, Johnston and his wife cover adoption fees for shelter dogs every time one of his punts lands inside the 20. He has 183 such kicks in his career. Bill Burr lookalike goes viral McDermott won't look to punt. But if he does, he'll think he's looking in the mirror. Johnston is a McDermott doppelgänger — bald head, fair skin and orange scruff — and has long been compared to stand-up comedian and actor Bill Burr. Burr acknowledged the resemblance on The Breakfast Club radio show. "Oh, yeah, I've seen that guy," Burr said. "It's scary. I concur. The guy definitely looks like me." Bills release Brad Robbins Robbins signed with Buffalo this offseason, but lasted just one game. He had the worst punting expected points added (EPA) and was next to last in punt average (39.5 yards) in Week 1. The Bills gave Robbins the boot on Monday. Matt Prater rewarded with roster spot   Prater, 41, is the NFL’s king of long kicks, holding the league record for most field goals from 50 yards or more (81). Elevated from the practice squad for Sunday night’s 41-40 win over the Ravens, he went 3-for-3 on field goals, including the 32-yard walk-off, and made both of his extra points. With Tyler Bass on injured reserve, Prater had already exhausted one of his three practice squad elevations. Prater is the second-oldest active player in the league, behind only Aaron Rodgers, and ranks 14th in NFL history \with 1,819 career points.