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HC Sean McDermott Cuts Bills Rookie From 53-Man Roster After Missing Post-Game Film Session

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Wande Owens has leadership skills Bills are looking for

Buffalo, NY – August 2025

Discipline doesn’t take days off. One morning after the preseason finale, while the rest of the Buffalo Bills filed into the darkened film room at One Bills Drive for “corrections day,” one chair sat empty. By afternoon, that absence had a cost: rookie safety Wande Owens was waived from the 53-man roster.

The decision was swift, the message sharper. Head coach Sean McDermott didn’t hesitate to draw a line in the turf:

“If you can’t show up for your teammates in the film room the next morning, then what you did on the field doesn’t mean much. Here, discipline comes first — if you don’t respect the process, you don’t play for the Buffalo Bills.”

For coaches and players alike, that film session isn’t optional. It’s the day when mistakes are confronted, corrections are hammered home, and trust is weighed before the final roster deadline. To miss it — no matter the excuse — isn’t just an oversight, it’s a crack in the foundation of professionalism.

Owens, humbled, issued his explanation:
“I grew up dreaming of wearing blue and red, believing I belonged here. I missed the film session because of a post-game travel issue — that’s on me. I’ve apologized to the coaches and my teammates. I just hope for one more chance to compete, even if it’s through the practice squad.”

Now the rookie waits. Waived from the 53, Owens could circle back onto the practice squad if he clears waivers. But at this stage, roster math is unforgiving: special teams reliability, secondary depth, and the discipline of week-to-week preparation weigh heavier than any single highlight from August.

For the Bills, the cultural message is clear. Training camp brilliance and preseason flashes may grab headlines, but in Buffalo, accountability is the true currency. McDermott’s move wasn’t just about one rookie. It was about reminding every player in blue and red that in this locker room, discipline isn’t negotiable.

Cowboys Reunite with a Former Starter, Bolstering a Battle-Tested Defense for the Stretch Run
Dallas, TX – In a surprising yet strategic move, the Dallas Cowboys have officially signed linebacker Luke Gifford on the afternoon of October 8, 2025, just hours after the San Francisco 49ers decided to cut the veteran. The one-year, $3.5 million deal (with performance bonuses up to $1.5 million) marks an emotional homecoming for Gifford to the franchise that launched his career, while also plugging an urgent hole in Dallas’ linebacker depth after multiple injuries out of Week 5.   Gifford, 29, was a reliable glue piece for the Cowboys from 2019 to 2022—an undrafted gem who carved out his role on special teams and situational defense in the star and stripes. After leaving Dallas, he spent time with the Tennessee Titans (2023) and 49ers (2024–2025), earning a reputation as a smart, assignment-sound linebacker who can play WILL/SAM and contribute immediately on kick coverage and sub-packages.   With San Francisco this year, Gifford appeared in four games before Tuesday night’s roster shuffle left him as the odd man out. Dallas pounced. “Luke knows our standard and our language,” head coach Mike McCarthy said after practice. “He’s tough, dependable, and versatile. Given where our linebacker room is right now, he’s exactly the kind of veteran who can stabilize us fast.”   For the Cowboys—leading the NFC East at 4–1 but juggling availability at linebacker—this is timely triage and culture reinforcement. Defensive coaches value Gifford’s communication and angles in space; special teams coordinator notes he can step in on all four core units immediately. Gifford, moments after signing, posted on X: “Back where it started. Let’s work. #HowBoutThemCowboys #DC4L”   Cowboys Nation erupted online as #GiffordReturns trended across the Metroplex, with many fans framing it as a subtle flex against the 49ers—Dallas’ recent playoff nemesis. NFL Network panels speculated Gifford could suit up as early as this weekend if paperwork clears, logging early snaps on special teams and dime looks while the staff ramps him into the defensive packages.   Beyond the depth chart math, the message is clear: Dallas is moving decisively to protect its defensive identity and keep the NFC East lead. If Gifford brings the same reliability and edge-setting discipline he showed in his first stint, the Cowboys may have found the steadying piece they needed for a stretch run.   Can Luke Gifford’s homecoming spark a sturdier second level and help Dallas tighten the screws in crunch time? We’ll know soon enough. #CowboysNation #DallasCowboys #HowBoutThemCowboys