Who Will Bills Start at Receiver in Week 1?

After an offseason where the Buffalo Bills completely retooled their receiver room, the team may need to prepare for a few more slight changes before the regular-season begins.

Following the announcement that receivers Curtis Samuel and Marquez Valdes-Scantling will be missing multiple weeks, and potentially the start of the regular season, with injuries, there will certainly be some adjustments to the depth chart.

Veterans Khalil Shakir and Mack Hollins, who were originally listed as starters in the team's first unofficial depth chart, will likely stay in the starting group when the regular-season begins. However, with Samuel missing time, there is an opening in the starting group with multiple candidates to fill it.

Expect rookie Keon Coleman, offseason acquisition KJ Hamler, and Damiere Byrd, the group's newest addition, to all contend for snaps if Valdes-Scantling or Samuel aren't ready to go for Week 1. Coleman, the Bills' first selection in the 2024 draft, is likely first in line to take Samuel's spot in the starting group.

However, fans shouldn't be surprised if the team looks to free agency to add another receiver. The team already brought in veteran Corey Davis for a workout, and now, with two receivers missing time, there's a real possibility the Bills could look for another pickup simply to have another body on the field in practice. Veterans Michael Thomas, Hunter Renfrow, and JuJu Smith-Schuster are all available and viable options.

Related: Injury Update: Multiple Bills To Miss Time, Allen & Starters to Sit in Finale

Regardless of whether or not the team decides to bring in another veteran, fans should keep an eye on the receiving group in the Bills' preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers on Saturday as players look to earn snaps with the starting group.