The All-American wide receiver did not play in the Week 1 win over the Houston Texans.
The NFL kicks off its traditional "Thursday Night Football" slate this week when the Buffalo Bills host the Detroit Lions at the all-new Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y.
It will be the first season in the new building for Buffalo, and this game will be a chance to show it off to a national audience in a standalone game.
The Bills enter play at 1-0 after a thrilling Week 1 against the Houston Texans while the Lions are 1-0 after an overtime survival against the New Orleans Saints. The Lions led 21-0 before surrendering the lead.
And while that's all well and good, there's really only one thing that UConn Huskies fans care about in this matchup, and that's whether or not UConn alum Skyler Bell will be active for the Bills.
The receiver, who was named an All-American last season, was taken by the Bills in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He didn't play in the first two preseason games but had seven catches for 49 yards, as well as 28 rushing yards and a touchdown, in the third and final preseason game.
He was listed as inactive in Week 1, but Bills people have been high on him throughout the preseason. Perhaps this is his opportunity.
About Bell at UConn
Bell helped the Huskies to a 9-4 record in 2025 under previous head coach Jim Mora. Pairing with star quarterback Joe Fagnano, Bell had 101 catches for 1,278 yards, and he became the first-ever Associated Press First-Team All-American in program history. He was also a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to the best pass catcher in the nation.
He was one of only two players in the country to have 100 catches or more and was one of only three players to have 1,200 yards or more. His 13 touchdowns were second nationally. He out-performed the likes of Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State), who is regarded as the best receiver in the country. Smith could end up being the No. 1 pick in the draft in 2027.
About the current Huskies
After a tough loss against Maryland on Saturday, UConn is back in action on Saturday night (7 p.m. ET) against Southern Miss. Both teams are 1-1, as the Golden Eagles are coming off a 43-8 loss at the hands of Auburn.
The Huskies rolled over Lafayette 56-7 in their opener on Sept. 5.
