Bills Bubble Watch: Can Buffalo afford to keep an extra kicker?

Three players who are on the bubble as the Buffalo Bills get closer to the cut-down deadline for a 53-man roster heading into the 2012 NFL season.

By Mark Ludwiczak

Aug 25, 2012 at 3:04 pm ET • 2 min read

The race for the final Buffalo Bills roster spots is as close as it’s been in recent memory given the team’s improved depth across the board. Some players who would have likely made the team a few years ago aren’t even on the bubble this year.

The Bills have some interesting decisions to make when it comes to their final spots. Can they afford to keep an extra kicker as a kickoff specialist? Is an H-back a luxury? Who will help most on special teams?

Here are three players firmly on the bubble:

John Potter (K, seventh-round pick this season, boasts an incredibly strong leg) -- Potter has been exactly as advertised with the Bills, booting kicks out of the end zone with ease. Through Buffalo’s first two preseason games, he had a 100-percent success rate with touchbacks. His spot may be more of a philosophical choice -- can the Bills really afford to keep an extra kicker? They might, given its benefits.
Scott McKillop (LB, 2nd year, former fifth-round pick of San Francisco who is making his way back from injuries) -- McKillop is hoping to rejuvenate his career with the Bills after missing each of the past two seasons due to serious knee injuries. He was an outstanding special teams player as a rookie with San Francisco in 2009, leading the 49ers in special teams tackles that season. McKillop appeared to be the frontrunner for the backup middle linebacker job, but over the past week veteran Kirk Morrison saw more time in the middle with the second team. If Morrison proves that he can back up at two positions -- middle and strong side -- he may bump McKillop off the team.
Dorin Dickerson (FB/TE/H-back, 2nd year, offers plenty of versatility with his unique skill-set) -- Dickerson is an interesting prospect -- at 6-foot-2, 227 pounds, he’s not a true WR or a true TE. That’s why the Bills have used him as an H-back. Dickerson was impressive in the spring but hasn’t stood out as much this preseason. Still, his versatility is intriguing. One of the final spots could come down to Dickerson, TE Fendi Onobun and WR Ruvell Martin -- all players who could also contribute on special teams.