Who are the surprises of this year’s Bills training camp?

Every summer, a few players maximize their chances and turn them into a spot on Buffalo’s 53-man roster. Former undrafted OL Alec Anderson went from the practice squad in his rookie year to the active roster in 2023.

With more roster turnover this offseason than in previous years, the situation could be ripe for some surprises from a few newcomers. Here’s a look at the players who surprised the camp this year.

The former practice squad tight end is back from an ACL injury in 2023 and appears ready to compete based on spring practice. Yes, he’s at a position with three proven players ahead of him on the depth chart (Kincaid, Knox, Morris), but Davidson offers playmaking ability in the passing game and is a giant target (6-7, 251). If a preseason injury occurs at that position, the offensive staff will likely turn to Davidson first.

Evans appeared to be closing in on the third running back role for the Bills last summer before Buffalo signed free agent Ty Johnson once he returned to full health and pushed the speedy back out of a roster spot.

Evans, 26, ended up being signed by Chicago, likely because of his strong performance against the Bears in Buffalo’s final preseason game (9 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD). He played in five games for Chicago before playing two more games for Miami last season.

Evans led the Bills in rushing last preseason, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. His skill set is more similar to James Cook than to power forwards Johnson and rookie Ray Davis. If one of the top three backs gets hurt, Evans is a viable option.