Buffalo Bills Cut Former 1,000-Yard Wideout Ahead Of Preseason Finale

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

The Buffalo Bills parted ways with wide receiver Mac Dalena just ahead of their preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Buffalo announced the cut on Wednesday to clear a roster spot for center Sincere Haynesworth, officially signing the offensive lineman in a corresponding move.

Dalena had been with the team since June 1, having previously spent brief stints with both the New York Jets and Seattle Seahawks before landing in Buffalo.

The move comes as Buffalo prepares for a busy stretch before the cutdown week, with every team required to trim its roster to the final 53 players by Sunday, August 30.

Dalena Showed Plenty Of Production At Fresno State

Dalena entered the NFL after a strong final season at Fresno State. He caught 64 passes for 1,065 yards and eight touchdowns across 13 games in 2024.

That production earned him attention as a prospect, but he could not secure a lasting spot in the NFL.

NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein praised Dalena’s speed and toughness in his scouting report.

“Dalena has good straight-line speed and was a strong tester across the board at his pro day,” Zierlein wrote. “He’s tough in traffic and can catch when contested.”

Zierlein also pointed to areas that could hurt Dalena’s chances of making an NFL roster. He noted that Dalena struggled to create separation underneath and lacked the size to consistently win contested catches downfield.

Dalena’s release also highlights the tough decisions Buffalo faces at wide receiver.

The Bills still have uncertainty around veterans Mecole Hardman and Trent Sherfield. The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia recently called Hardman’s best route to the roster his work as a punt returner.

“Hardman’s best path to the 53-man roster is as the primary punt returner,” Buscaglia wrote.

ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg projects Buffalo to keep six receivers, DJ Moore, Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer, Skyler Bell and Hardman.

Getzenberg also noted, “The Bills showed they are wondering about it themselves by trying out Ray Davis, who is the primary kickoff returner, at punt returner to start both preseason games.”

For Dalena, the latest move ends his short run in Buffalo.