The Buffalo Bills found a way to keep Phidarian Mathis around without giving up a spot on their 53-man roster.
After Mathis returned from his three-game suspension on Monday, the Bills released the veteran defensive tackle on Tuesday. One day later, Buffalo brought him back by signing him to the practice squad.
The move may look unusual on the surface, but there was an important detail working in the Bills' favor.
Mathis is a vested veteran, meaning he was not subject to waivers when Buffalo terminated his contract. The NFL's transaction log lists the move as the Bills terminating Mathis' contract as a vested veteran.
That gave Buffalo the opportunity to release Mathis, keep its 53-man roster intact and then attempt to bring him back without risking another player on the roster.
The Bills officially re-signed Mathis to their practice squad Wednesday.
Mathis had been placed on the reserve/suspended list after the NFL suspended him for the first three games of the season for violating the league's substance abuse policy. He became eligible for reinstatement on September 28.
The Bills activated him on Monday, which started the process of getting him back onto the roster. Rather than make another corresponding move to keep him on the 53-man roster, Buffalo ultimately released him.
But that clearly didn't mean the Bills were ready to move on from Mathis.
By signing him to the practice squad, Buffalo keeps a veteran defensive lineman in the organization while maintaining flexibility on its active roster. Mathis can now be elevated to the active roster at least three times when the Bills need him.
The timing also comes after a strong opening three games from Buffalo's defensive line.
DeWayne Carter, in particular, has played a significant role early in the season, making the decision to keep Mathis on the practice squad easier from a roster-construction standpoint. Buffalo also has veteran depth along the defensive front, giving the team the flexibility to keep Mathis off the 53-man roster for now.
Mathis was originally signed by Buffalo during the 2025 season after spending his first three seasons with the Washington Commanders and a cup of coffee with the New York Jets. He appeared in six games for the Bills last year, recording 13 tackles, and the team re-signed him to a one-year contract in February.
Now, rather than losing Mathis altogether, the Bills have found a way to keep him in the building.
Mathis will begin his return from suspension on the practice squad, giving Buffalo another experienced option along the defensive line if the need arises. For now, the team appears happy with the solution.
