The Buffalo Bills made a notable roster adjustment ahead of their preseason finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, bolstering their defensive backfield with a new addition. On Saturday, the team announced the signing of undrafted rookie cornerback Garnett Hollis to their 90-man roster, while waiving rookie safety Wande Owens with an injury designation in a corresponding move.
Hollis, a 23-year-old cornerback, is no stranger to the NFL’s roster churn. After going undrafted out of West Virginia in April, he initially signed with the Tennessee Titans in early May. However, the Titans released him following their rookie minicamp. Hollis resurfaced with the Green Bay Packers at the start of training camp in late July, where he played in two preseason games, logging 23 defensive snaps in a 23-19 road victory over the Indianapolis Colts on August 16. The Packers waived him shortly after, paving the way for his arrival in Buffalo.
Before finishing his collegiate career at West Virginia, Hollis was a starter at Northwestern, showcasing his versatility and experience in the secondary. His signing gives the Bills additional depth at cornerback as they approach the final roster cutdown deadline.
On the other side of the transaction, Wande Owens, one of the 12 undrafted rookies signed by Buffalo before their May rookie camp, was waived with an injury designation. Owens, who played the 2024 season at New Hampshire after four years at Yale, appeared in the Bills’ first two preseason games, recording 45 defensive snaps and 26 special teams reps. He contributed six tackles, including 1.0 tackle for loss. His early departure from Thursday’s practice with a trainer, as reported by multiple outlets, likely prompted the decision. If unclaimed, Owens will revert to the Bills’ Injured Reserve until an injury settlement is reached.
With the NFL roster cutdown deadline looming on August 26 at 4 p.m. ET, the Bills are making strategic moves to finalize their 53-man roster. Hollis, now with his third team since April, has a chance to make an impression in Buffalo’s preseason finale, while the team navigates the challenges of injuries and roster decisions.